Hundreds of widows from across Kenya converged at Uhuru Park on Tuesday, June 23 to mark International Widows Day under the theme “Justice, Dignity and Economic Power for Widows.”

Speakers called for urgent legal reforms and stronger protection of widows’ rights, particularly on inheritance and property.

Hope A Life International President Beatrice Musindai urged legislators to amend existing laws to safeguard widows’ interests.

“We must amend laws to protect widows, especially on inheritance,” Musindai said.

She also encouraged widows to form groups for economic empowerment to secure a stable future and called on the government to honour its international commitments.

“We must eliminate all forms of discrimination against women,” she said, referring to obligations under international instruments including the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Principal Secretary for Public Service and Social Capital Jane Imbunya urged widows to assert their rights.

“Fight for your rights. No one should eject you from your matrimonial home — not even your brother‑in‑law,” she told the gathering.

Widows at the event recounted ordeals of dispossession and mistreatment by in‑laws. Irene, a widow whose husband was killed during the 2007 post‑election violence, appealed to the government to include widows in compensation programs.

“We are also victims of violence, and when the government is compensating victims we should be included as widows of the 2007 post‑election violence,” she said.

The International Day of Widows, commemorated annually on June 23, focuses on empowering widows, eliminating harmful cultural practices, and securing their legal, financial and property rights.

Globally, over 250 million widows face marginalization, systemic poverty and abuse; the United Nations established this observance to highlight their needs and spur action.