Widows demand change of law to protect their inheritance rights
By Francis Muli, June 23, 2026Hundreds of widows from across the country gathered at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park on Monday, June 23, 2026, to mark International Widows Day, using the occasion to demand stronger legal protections against property grabbing, discrimination and economic exclusion.
The widows, who converged under the theme “Justice, Dignity and Economic Power for Widows,” called for urgent reforms to safeguard their inheritance and property rights, saying many continue to face dispossession and mistreatment following the death of their spouses.
Speaking during the event, Hope International President Beatrice Musindai urged lawmakers to amend existing laws to better protect widows, particularly in matters relating to inheritance.
“We must amend laws to protect widows, especially on inheritance,” Musindai said.
She also encouraged widows to form groups to enhance their economic empowerment and secure their future, while calling on the government to uphold its commitments under international conventions protecting women’s rights.
“We must eliminate all forms of discrimination against women,” she said.
Musindai noted that despite constitutional guarantees and existing legal frameworks, many widows continue to face challenges accessing property and economic opportunities after losing their spouses.
Principal Secretary for Public Service and Social Capital Jane Imbunya challenged widows to stand up for their rights and resist attempts by relatives to dispossess them of family property.
“Fight for your rights. No one should eject you from your matrimonial home — not even your brother-in-law,” Imbunya told the gathering.
She said the government remains committed to protecting vulnerable groups and ensuring that widows are treated with dignity and fairness.
The event also provided a platform for widows to share personal experiences of hardship, exclusion and property disputes.
Among them was Irene, whose husband was killed during the 2007 post-election violence. She appealed to the government to recognise widows as victims in compensation programmes.
“We are also victims of violence, and when the government is compensating victims we should be included as widows of the 2007 post-election violence,” she said.
Irene said many widows continue to struggle years after losing their spouses, often raising children alone while facing economic challenges and legal battles over property.
Participants at the event expressed concern over harmful cultural practices that continue to deny widows access to land, inheritance and financial resources, leaving many vulnerable to poverty and abuse.
The International Day of Widows is commemorated annually on June 23 to raise awareness about the challenges faced by widows and to promote policies that protect their legal, financial and property rights.
According to the United Nations, more than 250 million widows worldwide face marginalisation, discrimination, poverty and abuse. The observance was established to draw global attention to their plight and encourage governments and stakeholders to take action to improve their welfare.
The widows who attended the Nairobi event called on the government, lawmakers and society at large to ensure that widowhood does not become a pathway to poverty, exclusion and loss of dignity.