The guardian angel of widowed women: One man's fight for land justice in Western Kenya
George Alambo, Western Kenya Human Rights Network chairperson during an interview at the Nation Media Group offices in Kisumu on November 29, 2024.
What you need to know:
- For a decade, George Alambo has been answering desperate calls from widows who face losing their land to grabbers who use tactics like removing roofs at night to drive them away from their rightful property.
- His relentless pursuit of justice has saved countless homes - including a recent victory where he helped secure a widow's right to her one-acre plot just months before her death.
- Through his work, he handles at least three cases daily across multiple counties in Western Kenya.
The late afternoon sun was setting over Migori County when George Alambo's phone rang with a call that would save a widow's home. On the other end, a man's voice trembled as he shared his mother's struggle – a widow fighting to keep their one-acre family land from a seller who, having found a higher bidder, was attempting to reclaim what he had already sold.
For Alambo, chairperson of the Western Kenya Human Rights Network, such calls have become a haunting symphony of injustice. But this case struck a particular chord – the woman's husband, a police officer who had devoted his life to upholding justice, had barely been laid to rest when the land grabbers began circling.
"When I learnt the case had been stagnating in court for more than two years without resolution, I knew I had to act," Alambo recalls, his eyes reflecting the determination that has become his trademark.
Within days, he was bumping along the dusty roads to Migori, notebook in hand, ready to join another widow's fight for justice.
His investigation led him through the corridors of the Kisii Environment and Lands Court, where he discovered a stalled investigation team and a case gathering dust.
Drawing on years of experience, Alambo quickly mobilised his network, engaging the Director of Criminal Investigations and judicial officers. By March 12, 2024, justice prevailed – the court declared the widow the rightful owner of the land.
But fate had a cruel twist in store. Just weeks after her victory, the widow passed away. Even in death, she wasn't spared – the land grabber attempted to block her burial on the very soil she had fought to protect. "We stood firm," Alambo says, a quiet pride in his voice. "On April 18, 2024, she was laid to rest on her land, and today her children live there, carrying forward her legacy of resilience."
For a decade now, Alambo has walked alongside countless widows in Western Kenya, fighting battles that often begin before the earth on their husbands' graves has settled. His mobile phone rarely stays silent, ringing at least three times daily with reports of women being pushed off their land by relatives, neighbours, or opportunistic sellers.
"The demand for land has reached fever pitch across the country," he explains, gesturing towards the green horizons of Kisumu County. "Unfortunately, some unscrupulous individuals specifically target widows and women landowners, viewing them as easy prey."
The stories he encounters would break most hearts. Women forced to flee their homes in the dead of night, clutching their children and whatever possessions they can carry. Some find themselves in single-room rental houses just kilometres from the farms they rightfully own, while others face more sinister tactics.
"One of the most heart-breaking tactics I've witnessed is when perpetrators destroy these women's homes," Alambo reveals, his voice heavy with concern. "They remove roofs and doors, literally trying to smoke them out of their own property."
Since January alone, Alambo has presented 27 cases to the lands court from just two sub-counties in Kisumu. His work spans the informal settlements of Manyatta and Nyalenda, where land disputes simmer in the crowded alleys, to the emerging leafy suburbs of Kisumu East and the fertile soils of Muhoroni Sub-county, where land grabbing has found new fertile ground.
The challenges these women face are as diverse as they are devastating. Some widows lose their land because their husbands relied on handshake agreements instead of proper documentation. Others fall prey to corrupt local authorities or, most heartbreakingly, to individuals who promise help only to grab the land themselves.
In Manyatta, he recently took up the case of a widow who fled her home after extended family members threatened to sell her land to an investor. The case now sits active in the Kisumu Law Courts, another testament to Alambo's refusal to back down.
"The vulnerable women are not safe even in the hands of those whom they trust to help them," he notes grimly. "This is especially a common challenge among widows with disabilities, where some people pretend to help, only to subdivide the land for their own gain."
Operating across multiple counties including Migori, Kisumu, Kakamega, and Vihiga, Alambo has become a beacon of hope for countless women. When mediation fails at the local level – through chiefs and elders – he moves cases to court, often reaching into his own pockets to secure legal representation for the women.
Working through a network that includes pro-bono lawyers and organisations like the Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV/Aids (Kelin) and Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida), Alambo has helped turn the tide for many women. But the battles are far from over.
"Sometimes these cases drain not just energy but resources," he admits, sitting in his modest office surrounded by case files. "I often have to dig deep into my own pockets to look for alternative lawyers to represent these women."
Yet, for Alambo, every victory, no matter how small, fuels his mission. "I've built my reputation on persistence," he says with quiet pride. "When I take up a case, my clients know I won't rest until justice is served."
As the sun sets over Western Kenya, Alambo's phone rings again. Another widow, another threat, another battle beginning. But in the growing darkness, his determination shines like a beacon, lighting the path towards justice for those who need it most.
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