Across western Kenya, a silent crisis unfolds as thousands of widows face the devastating loss of their family land and homes following the deaths of their husbands. Stripped of their livelihoods and subjected to illegal cultural practices, these women are now finding their voice, with some fighting back through the courts and new legislation.
The Plight of the Disinherited Widow
Rebecca Anyango, 70, has lived in her home for 26 years, but now stands to lose it. Her late husband's family have threatened her with eviction for years, claiming she has no right to the property, and have now filed a lawsuit against her. With no legal representation, she fears for her future, gesturing to her husband's grave just steps from her door. "Where do I take the grave?" she asks.
Anyango's story is tragically common. In the Luo, Luhya, and Kisii communities, widowhood can trigger archaic customs that violate Kenya's constitution. These include "sexual cleansing" – where a widow is forced to have sex with another man to remove a so-called 'dark cloud' – and "wife inheritance," where she is taken as a wife by her late husband's brother. Refusal often leads to isolation and disinheritance.
"If the woman is not aware of what protects her, then she will be disinherited," explained Simiyu Waddimba, an anthropology professor at the University of Nairobi.
A Legislative Beacon and Grassroots Resistance
Hope, however, is emerging. In November 2025, the local assembly in Siaya County, where Anyango lives, unanimously passed a Widows Protection Bill. Championed by county legislator Scholastica Madowo, a widow herself, the bill would criminalise forced disinheritance and remarriage if signed by the governor.
"Those cultural practices are actually a violation of their rights unless the woman does it willingly," Madowo stated, revealing she faced vicious insinuations about her own widowhood during her campaign.
Elsewhere, women are taking matters into their own hands. After being stripped of her home and business in 1997, Anne Bonareri, now 60, worked three jobs to rebuild her life. Her daughter, Emma Mong’ute, founded the Amandla MEK Foundation in 2019 to offer legal aid. The foundation is considering pushing for legislation similar to Siaya's bill, highlighting how disinheritance plunges hundreds of thousands of children into poverty.
Knowledge as the Ultimate Defence
Experts state that most disinheritance occurs due to ignorance of Kenya's land succession laws, which explicitly recognise widows and children as rightful heirs. Easter Okech of the Kenya Female Advisory Organisation now provides legal training so women can represent themselves in court.
Her advice underscores a powerful tool: encouraging people, especially in rural areas, to write wills with a neutral executor.
The story of 87-year-old former teacher Marie Owino proves that awareness and financial independence can be a formidable shield. Confident in her legal rights after her husband died 33 years ago, her in-laws "didn't dare" to try and disinherit her. She remains in the home they shared, a testament to the respect earned by establishing one's own agency.
This issue resonates across Africa, where tension between general law and customary practices often leaves widows vulnerable, a point noted by Misheck Dube, a former associate professor at the University of Limpopo in South Africa.
