Family law reforms in Kenya: an overview

Abstract

This paper gives a broad overview of family law in Kenya, including its historical development. Further it gives an analysis of current status of Kenya’s family law vis-àvis international standards. In analysing the shortcomings inherent in the current laws, the paper notes the imperatives for urgent reforms in this area of the law. These include modern social, economic, cultural and political trends in the international arena, making the need for reforms in the laws inevitable. It further gives an overview of the draft Marriage Bill 2007, Family Protection Bill 2007 and the Matrimonial Property Bill 2007 as models for reforms.