Chiefs in Gusii region have been challenged to protect properties of deceased parents on behalf of their surviving children whose welfare is taken care of by guardians.
The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kisii County chairman Benjamin Onkoba (KNCCI)has decried increasing cases where vulnerable children under the care of guardians and children's homes lose their deceased parents' property, leaving them homeless and in abject poverty.
Speaking to this writer in Kisii town on Thursday, Onkoba cited cases of street boys whose lives had been transformed through rehabilitation courtesy of well wishers and charitable organisations go back to their ancestral homes and find their deceased parents' land has already been sold by their relatives while they were away.
Onkoba challenged chiefs and their assistants to ensure administration of deceased parents estates and change of user is done with the consent of their surviving children to avoid them being rendered homeless.
"I am challenging chiefs and their assistants to ensure all copies of documents pertaining estates of deceased parents are captured in their records and in case of sale of any of the properties, they should follow up the matter to ensure the children are involved to avert cases of depriving them of their parents' property through questionable procedures,"stated Onkoba
He, however, suggested that the chiefs, in consultation with guardians and well wishers supporting the vulnerable children can put caution on the land in question until the children mature to take charge, arguing this will protect the land from grabbers and questionable disposal by greedy relatives.