Nakuru, Kenya – The High Court of Kenya has delivered a landmark judgment affirming that women have equal rights to inherit land following the death of their fathers, a decision that effectively overturns long-standing customary practices in some communities that denied daughters equal inheritance rights compared to sons. The court unequivocally declared such discriminatory customs unconstitutional and void.

Aligning with Constitutional Principles

In their ruling, the judges stated that this decision aligns with Kenya’s Constitution and existing laws on gender equality and non-discrimination. Human rights activists and women's advocacy groups have hailed the judgment as a significant victory for women’s rights in Kenya, promising to work towards ensuring its full implementation and enforcement across all counties. The government has indicated that it will review prevailing customary practices related to inheritance to ensure they are in full compliance with the constitutional provisions and this new legal precedent. This ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications for gender equality and property rights in the country.