The night Rhoda lost her husband, she also lost her place in the world. Grief had barely settled before her in-laws arrived, not with comfort, but with demands. They ordered her to be “inherited” by one of them, a practice she could not accept. Her refusal cost her everything: her home was torn down, and she and her children were left to sleep in an open-air market for seven years.
Just when hope seemed out of reach, Rhoda met the Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV (KELIN), a lifeline for women like her who are caught between the weight of culture and the promise of justice. KELIN listened to her story with compassion and walked beside her as she sought to reclaim her rights. Through both the formal courts and the guidance of traditional elders, the organisation helped her challenge her disinheritance and rebuild her life. With this support, Rhoda not only regained her land but also her sense of belonging and dignity.
Empowered, Rhoda chose to turn her pain into purpose. She joined cultural structures programme, a project initiated by Senator Catherine Mumma to champion the rights of widows facing injustices. This project innovatively works with elders to intervene in human rights violations through alternative justice systems, including peacekeeping among communities, land transactions, and other family disputes. The authority of elders can also influence and provide protection in other matters, including sexual and gender-based violence, elimination of harmful practices.
Building on this remarkable journey, on 23rd October 2025, KELIN, in partnership with Afro films International, premiered The Widow Champion at Prestige Cinemas in Nairobi. The film captures the powerful true story of Rhoda, a woman whose courage and determination transformed personal tragedy into a movement for justice.
The film stands as a testament to Rhoda’s resilience and to KELIN’s ongoing work to challenge discriminatory traditions, promote justice, and ensure that every woman has the right to land, dignity, and a voice of her own.
KELIN remains steadfast in upholding Kenya’s constitutional guarantees on family, property, and gender equality as outlined in Articles 27, 40, and 45. We continue to train and support elders in applying Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) to resolve disputes in line with Article 159 of the Constitution. Through these initiatives, KELIN seeks to challenge and eliminate harmful cultural practices that limit women’s access to land and property rights.
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Website: www.kelinkenya.org
For more information, please contact.
Trevor Mwangi|Program Associate,
Women, Land & Property Rights
P O Box 112 – 00202 KNH Nairobi,
Tel: 020, 2515790 │Mobile: +254710261408
Email: Trevormwangi@kelinkenya.org
