70 widows from Chepsaita location in Uasin Gishu County now want the government to give them a National widows day.
They said this will help them share their problems and encourage each other and also meet leaders to listen to their challenges.
“We are undergoing abuse that go unnoticed and even normalized hence the need to have a special day that can provide an opportunity action towards achieving full rights and recognition for widows across the country,” said Betty Ekwang, one of the widows.
The widows spoke at Chepsaita location during a sensitization meeting organized by the Center for human rights and mediation (CHRM) on Thursday.
“We face stigmatization, being shunned and shamed, struggling for basic needs and their human rights and dignity are challenges we experience which require unique local initiatives and attention,” added Matrina Chebet Kebenei, a widow from Ng'enyilel.
They urged county government assemblies to come up with laws that will protect widows against being denied inheritance rights to the piece of land that they rely on for a livelihood or being evicted from their homes, forced into unwanted marriages or traumatizing widowhood rituals.
They further said if proper laws are enacted by county governments to protect widows then violence against widows and their children will end and there will be poverty alleviation, education and other support to widows won’t be a problem in society.
Naomi Wanjiru monitoring and evaluation officer at CHRM said the number of widows who continue to suffer due to lack of information is increasing day by day and the sensitization meeting dubbed Haki na Uadilifu Mashinani trains widows on succession Act.