The Effects of Property Rights Violations on Economic Independence of Widows in Rarieda Sub-County

The right of women to possess, enjoy and dispose of their property is a universal human right recognized by international human rights treaties, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, among many other regional and national instruments. Even with the enactment of laws protecting women's property rights, widows' deprivation has continued unabated. Most widows live in conditions out of the need to conform to social norms demands and meet the most basic of their needs and that of their children. The study determined a) factors influencing property rights violations b) effects of property rights on the economic independence of widows. This study employed a cross-sectional descriptive research design, and semi-structured and unstructured questionnaires were used to collect data. This design helped collect accurate data on property rights violations faced by the study population and how they influenced their economic independence. The study population consisted of widows in Rarieda Sub County. Systematic random sampling technique was used to obtain the 230 respondents to whom questionnaires were administered to obtain quantitative and qualitative data. The study found that major causes of these violations included customs and traditions, poverty, lack of knowledge of laws governing property ownership, and lack of proper enforcement of these laws by the government. 76.5% (176) of the widows were found to have not gained any property post losing their husbands. These widows indicated to have relied on aid from the government, NGOs, and willing family members to make ends meet. The study findings showed clearly that most widows suffer property rights violations in Rarieda sub-county, Siaya County. This, in turn, affects their economic independence. Cultural norms and traditions were found to be among the major factors which influence property rights violations among widows. Traditions do not allow women to inherit their father's or father-in-law's property; hence they are always left at the mercy of the husband's family. The study recommends that the community be encouraged to rethink their customary laws and align this to the provisions of various statutes/laws that grant women the right to inherit property. Keywords: Economic Independence, Property Rights, Widow, Inheritance

Information Communication Technology Use Related Challenges and their Coping Strategies in Monastic Religious Life

The study attempted to investigate the challenges that the monastic religious encounter in the use of information communication technologies with reference to internet, mobile phones, computers/laptops and digital televisions; and their coping strategies, a case of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing (MBST) in Nairobi Priory, Kenya. The world today is witnessing tremendous changes and development in the information and communication technologies. However, there is scanty literature that addresses the challenges and the strategies that can be used by religious consecrated men and women, to cope up with the modern communication technologies effectively. The study employed sequential explanatory mixed methods. The target population included the perpetually professed sisters, junior sisters in the leadership team (superiors, formators and administrators) of the monastic religious congregation of the MBST Nairobi Priory, Kenya. Questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussion (FGD) were the instruments used to collect data. The findings of the study in which both the challenges and the strategies were presented in a 4-point Likert scale and respondents were asked to indicate their choices from; 4=Strongly agree, 3=Agree, 2=Disagree, 1=Strongly disagree revealed that: With the challenges the use of ICTs pose to the monastic lifestyle (community life and the evangelical counsels); majority of them in all the 14 challenges presented, agreed and strongly agreed to them. Likewise the interviews and FGD had similar experiences with the same challenges. The strategies for coping up with the challenges too showed similar responses to a greater extent in agreement. From the study it is clear that, as monastic religious, the MBST cannot not afford to be alien to the modern means of communication as they are the chief means of information and education, of guidance and inspiration. Since they are unavoidably embedded in daily life, the religious consecrated should use them conscientiously and responsibly to become a factor of humanization, which calls for a proper formation of conscience. Keywords: Information Communication Technology, Challenges, Coping Strategies, Monastic Religious Life, Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, Kenya