The government and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) have been urged to offer free legal services to widows engaged in property succession cases.
Ahadi Kenya Trust Executive Director Dr. Stanley Kamau has observed that many widows are struggling with succession cases as they cannot afford required legal fees.
He said legal experts, especially those from the government and LSK, offer free legal services to the widows and assist them get their property.
“Some widows are struggling to access properties of their late husbands. In some cases, the widows are being chased from their matrimonial homes and land and I appeal for legal experts to assist these mothers freely, said Kamau when he distributed food to more than 100 widows and the aged drawn from Kamahuha ward in Murang’a on Friday.
County governments, Kamau noted, can use ward and sub county administrators to establish families indulged in succession rows and assign lawyers to offer the affected free legal services.
He argued that widows who have been denied the right to own property of their late husbands have been reduced to beggars as they lack a source of livelihood.
In Murang’a County, cases of succession have been on rise and many widows and orphans continue to suffer as they cannot afford required legal fees.
“In the community we have lawyers and they can also come out and help the affected families solve land and property succession cases.
“We have witnessed widows who live by borrowing food from neighbours after families of their husbands deny them the right to own property of their beloved ones. That’s why as Ahadi we are appealing to the Office of Attorney General to offer free legal services to these mothers,” he added.
kamau who also donated foodstuff to the aged as the country marked international day for old persons, urged organizations and well-wishers to support the widows and orphans start income generating projects.
He noted that widows need resources and financial support to make them independent.
One of the widows, Agnes Njoki, reflected on how many local widows have been undergoing challenges to get land from their husbands.
She noted that some are being chased from their matrimonial homes subjecting them to a lot of suffering.
“If we can get free legal services, it will be of great benefit to many of us widows. We have formed a group of widows so as to seek support from well-wishers and mobilize what we get to start small income generating projects,” added Njoki.
She called members of the community to stop segregating widows and orphans saying it’s not their wish to be left as widows.
By Bernard Munyao
