A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has recruited elders in various sub-counties in Nyanza region to help solve issues of land and property inheritance especially for widows.
The Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV/Aids (KELIN) has identified Luo elders to help women especially those widowed as a result of HIV/Aids to ensure they have a right to land and property especially after losing their husbands.
KELIN Nyanza representative Mr Ondeng’ Opudo said most widows in the Luo community are always frustrated and at times even sent away from their homes after the death of their husbands.
“What widows undergo is not pleasant and that is why KELIN has stepped in to help them,” he said.
Opudo said they have identified and trained Luo elders in Kabondo, Kasipul Kabondo, Seme, Kisumu, Muhoroni and Nyando sub-counties to help in solving such issues.
Speaking in Kisumu on Monday during the launch of a manual on how best to handle such mediation, Opudo said the elders who have undergone the training have the sole responsibility to identify such affected women from the community.
He said the elders then sit down with the widows and the in-laws and then starts a mediation process to ensure the issues are solved amicably.
“From last year we have tackled close to 300 cases of which 250 cases have been completed successful and amicable solution arrived at,” he revealed.
Opudo said solving the issue of land and property in courts takes time and is expensive adding that as KELIN, they are championing for alternative dispute resolution which is also in the constitution.