Mercy Owino, a resident of Kwabwai ward in Homabay County, was disinherited after her husband’s death. The 45-year-old mother of six was on the verge of homelessness before the intervention of ActionAid Kenya. With their assistance, she reclaimed the land through an alternative justice process, and a modest structure was built for her.
Years of deeply rooted cultural practices prevented women like Mercy from owning land or even discussing it, leading to discrimination and frustration, especially in the event of their husband’s death.
In response, ActionAid Kenya has been running a sensitization campaign and women’s empowerment program in the Kwabwai community about the importance of moving away from these practices.
“We want to create a platform for women to actively participate at various decision-making levels, starting from the homestead to national leadership. We have brought men on board as champions to transform others and reduce resistance,” said Euphemia Awour, a program coordinator.
She has been collaborating closely with chiefs who back the campaign by writing widows’ succession letters in accordance with the 2010 constitution, which mandates joint ownership and requires men to put their wives’ names on land titles to address the historical disenfranchisement of women and advance gender equality in land ownership.
Since the initiative’s inception in 2021, Kwabwai location chief George Odero has witnessed some encouraging progress as cases of widow land disinheritance have shrunk since community members now have a better understanding of women’s rights.
When the program began, the biggest challenge was community mapping due to a prevailing myth that the empowerment initiatives were instilling pride in women, making them less submissive to traditional norms and values. However, once the community understood the benefits associated with women’s empowerment, such as gaining financial independence and alleviating the burden on men, addressing issues like gender-based violence, and others, it gained greater acceptance.
“When we started involving the men, they began allowing women to come to various forums, and now attendance is about 50-50 for both genders,” said Orsila Atieno, a sensitization officer at Nyokal Women Group, which runs the ActionAid campaign in Kwabwai.
In addition to land rights, women have gained the confidence to address other sensitive issues. Orsila observed that women now report cases of child abuse and defilement due to their heightened sense of responsibility. Furthermore, more girls are attending school, and household chores are being shared more equally among children, allowing girls to dedicate more time to their studies.
The women’s empowerment program also prioritizes individuals who are marginalized and have disabilities, to receive the necessary support and resources. Eunice Ouru, a local teacher with a hand disability, has gained confidence and acquired new knowledge. She has learned modern sustainable and commercial agricultural practices and is a community champion for other persons with disabilities.