KELIN trained twenty-seven messengers on effective communication, land, inheritance, and property rights to promote WLPR advocacy on the 23rd and 24th January 2025. The training was informed by research conducted in 2018-2021 by KELIN jointly with Goodwin Simon Strategic Research looking into communication for social change. The findings indicated mixed awareness on rights, and harmful cultural practices at the core of human rights violations especially against women and vulnerable children. The knowledge build-up training held in Bondo attracted human rights defenders from sub-counties of Siaya County.
At the initial stages of the training, some men on one hand defended their cultural practices stating that it brings order in community. Additionally, they said that their culture is progressive since it has mechanisms in place to safeguard women and children and has permitted women to inherit. On the other hand, women said that their cultural customs make them feel at ease but voiced concern about polygamy and marriage registration. Notably, one of the champions stated that she sought to become a Chief of their area just to be able to restrain her uncle’s violation of her mother’s right to land. Another messenger stated that his uncles have been trying to encroach onto their land claiming he only begot daughters who do not require land despite this being their rights.
There is a need for community sensitization because the primary issues identified were ignorance and backward cultural practices. Noting the community structures for dispute resolution were operational albeit biased towards men, KELIN plans to support the community in restructuring these systems to align with the constitution 2010 and the AJS policy 2020. Further, to mitigate rampant violation of women’s right to land, and inheritance reported, the messengers were encouraged to form grassroot intervention network that they would use to sensitize their community at the Chief’s barazas and their respective religious units.
KELIN augments the human rights actors’ capacity to champion the wellbeing of everyone from a rights-based approach lens and to support community sensitization programs as well as legal aid programs to curb the said challenges. We have planned mediation forums with the champions and will recruit elders too to initiate shaping of a positive outlook on women’s land and property rights. KELIN will also hold a follow up training on social norms in Siaya to influence equitable practices that are protective of women’s rights and security of family future.
To contribute to the discussions on this forum, follow KELIN on our social media platforms using the hashtag:
#EquitableLandRights #WomenLandRights #EquitableSocialNorms
Twitter: @KELINKenya @SYFFKenya
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya https://www.facebook.com/SYFFKenya/
For more information, please contact.
Kenneth Otieno Akach
Program Officer, Women Land & Property Rights
Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN)
Nyalenda Railways Estate, Block 9/220
Off Nairobi Road, Opposite YMCA
P.O. Box 7708| 40100 Kisumu – Kenya
Email: kotieno@kelinkenya.org
