A new survey reveals that Kilifi, Meru and Migori Counties tops in divorce cases and separation triggered by land matters.
The National Crime Research Center (NCRC), in its Baseline Study on Land-Related Crimes and Offences in Kenya report, confirmed that a total of 200 divorce cases have so far been reported from the three counties in the past year due to land disputes.
The divorces were linked to about 13.6 per cent of land cases reported to the Ministry of Lands, according to the study.
The report quoted a Kitui livestock officer who noted that some divorce cases happened because of unresolved issues in the relationships as a result of time spent in courts resolving land disputes.
According to the report “The consequences range from animosity and fighting hence referrals to police and courts thus a lot of money is wasted on lawyers and court processes and of course, community disharmony creeps in. All this drains resources from the owners, community disharmony and family disunity, also no place to do farming,”
The report further confirmed that, when a land-related case results in eviction, it is common for couples to assign blame and harbor resentment towards each other, especially if the dispute is related to the partner’s action or decision. The blame game can escalate conflicts and push the couple towards divorce as they struggle to find a resolution.
