How one woman's struggle for her father's land moved Kenyans abroad to act

Petition concept with text on sticker with judge hammer. [Courtesy, GettyImages] An online petition by Kenyan women in the diaspora calling for support and justice for disinherited women in Kenya has gathered support of more than 400 signatures. The petitioners are seeking signatures from the public to push for urgent funding in judiciary, hiring of more judges to hear cases affecting women and clear deadlines in inheritance cases. "We want equal protection of daughters under the law and tougher punishment for inter-meddlers of the estate we are supposed to rightfully inherit," reads the petition. In the public petition, titled 'My Inheritance, My Right: Demand Justice for ALL Disinherited Women in Kenya', posted at change.org website, one of the women, Margaret Njenga tells her story. Ms Njenga describes herself as a betrayed daughter who turned out to be a national voice for women's inheritance justice. Njenga has been battling for her rightful inheritance for over two decades. She says she was profoundly betrayed and faced injustice at the hands of her own family. "Njenga's fight for her rightful inheritance underscores the urgent need for judicial reform in Kenya," reads the petition. As a firstborn and only daughter, Njenga was raised by her mother, after the tragic loss of her father. When her mother died in 2004, Njenga, believing in fairness, proposed a simple, equal three-way division of the estate with her two brothers. However, Njenga says her youngest brother allegedly colluded with her uncle, and in a twisted custom believes, took over their Nairobi home, locking her out. "The brother went further and fraudulently transferred their father's Naivasha land into his own name, erasing Njenga from her father's legacy, forcing her to move to court," reads the petition. Njenga is said to have successfully obtained an order that paved the way for the succession case, to ensure everyone gets their rightful share. However, her attempt at mediation failed as the court battle dragged on for years. "She has been threatened, arrested, humiliated in public, and left to live in poverty while her own brothers continue to thrive," reads the petition. Her business collapsed four years ago, following which she was arrested, locked in a police cell for four nights. "Desperate, she recorded a tearful video from her cell. It went viral and former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko came to her aid and obtained her release," reads the petition. The petition states that other women approached and told her, narrating how they were also stripped off their rights for being female. Njenga founded Women Inclusivity Network (WIN), a movement standing as a national voice. The movement pushes for succession law reform, faster court processes, judiciary funding, and penalties for those who sabotage inheritance justice, among others, especially for women. "Njenga's story is no longer hers alone. It is our story and a reflection of what too many Kenyan women go through in silence. We are calling for Kenyans to stand with Njenga and others," read the petition.

How one woman's struggle for her father's land moved Kenyans abroad to act

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How one woman's struggle for her father's land moved Kenyans abroad to act

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