For several years, women have being struggling to achieve equality in the country and the new constitution has seen them achieve what they had been denied for a long time in its brief existence.
Many communities in the country do not approve women inheriting property or land from their deceased husbands or family but the new law has seen women challenge this outdated culture in the courts of law.
The latest incident was in a Mombasa court on Wednesday where Monica Jesang Katam was allowed to inherit properties worth millions from her deceased husband after her family members opposing it.
The one third principle in the new constitution which provides that in each Government and public office a certain ratio of women should occupy state offices has seen women occupy posts that were previously reserved for men.
Currently, women are represented in the judiciary through the appointment of Nancy Barasa as the deputy Chief Justice and Njoki Ndungu as a judge in the Supreme Court. Already five female ministers are in the Cabinet and the 10th Parliament has the largest number of female members ever. Despite such a fete, women are bound to occupy more seats in parliament in the coming general elections thanks to the new law.
When President Mwai Kibaki appointed nominees to occup key judicial posts in a move that contravened the new law, the nominations where overturned by the High Court after women rights NGOs filed a law suit to oppose the same. This shows that, unlike in the past, women are keeping watch to ensure the constitution is followed to the letter.
