The government has been urged to come up with affirmative action that will help widows and the vulnerable in the society acquire land ownership documents.
A university don, Nicholas Kut Ochogo lamented that a number of widows were losing land and other property to unscrupulous relatives and brokers who take advantage of their ignorance and vulnerability.
He was speaking Tuesday at Masinde village in Central Alego location, Siaya County when he and other villagers joined hands to build a house for a widow, Mary Akinyi Odhiambo who has been living in a leaking grass thatched hut for the last 15 years.
Dr Kut, a lecturer at University of Nairobi, said land succession process should be reviewed so that bureaucracies that have seen most widows give up on succeeding their deceased husband’s lands are done away with.
“We are experiencing a lot of problems especially when it comes to land ownership for widows. I am asking the lands department to fast track the processing of title deed for this lady and others so that they can be able to live in a good and assured environment,” said Dr Kut.
Speaking during the occasion, the 35 year old widow expressed her gratitude to Dr Kut and the villagers for coming to her aid.
Mrs Odhiambo narrated how she was been forced to endure sufferings for the last 15 years, living in a leaking hut.
“When it rains, I literally sleep standing together with the children,” she narrated adding that her plea for assistance to local leaders and several institutions have not been successful in the past.
Masinde village elder, Benjamin Oloo Luo who is also the coordinator of Rona Foundation group that brings together widows and widowers in Alego/Usonga constituency urged local leaders to identify and help the needy in the society.
“We have quite a number of such cases who need assistance and my plea to the politicians and other leaders is that this is where we need support, not dishing hand-outs and buying the youth bootleg liquor,” he said.
By Philip Onyango
