PROPERTY OWNERSHIP AND ITS INFLUENCE ON WIDOWS’ ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN SEME SUB-COUNTY, KISUMU COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
Statement of the Problem: Widows may face discriminatory inheritance practices, insecure property documentation and limited resources when pursuing legal remedies in rural Kenya.
Purpose of the Study: The study examined the influence of property ownership on access to justice among widows in Seme Sub-County, Kisumu County, Kenya.
Methodology: A cross-sectional design combined questionnaires with key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The target population comprised 9,438 widows across four wards, and the intended survey sample was 383. The occupation and residence summaries reported 357 respondents. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively and through regression, while qualitative responses were examined thematically.
Findings: Property ownership showed a positive and statistically significant association with access to justice (β = 0.339, p < .001). Legal awareness was reported to moderate this association (p = .005). Respondents valued empowerment programmes, and interview accounts emphasised the importance of ownership documentation and resources for meeting the costs of pursuing claims.
Conclusion: Property ownership and the ability to document property interests were associated with widows’ access to justice, although the cross-sectional design does not establish causation.
Recommendations: Strengthen accessible legal aid, succession and property documentation support, community legal education and protection from discriminatory property practices.
Keywords: access to justice, property ownership, widows, legal awareness, Seme Sub-County, Kenya
References
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