Your land, your title, but first: Are you married?

Mariah* is still trying to get her head around one thing that has left her bewildered.

In 2017, she bought a piece of agricultural land in Nakuru with her own money, without help from a partner or husband, as she was not married at the time. The title deed is registered in her name, and she has been paying land rates since then.

A few days ago, she sold the land. While she needed the chief's letter and a sale agreement for the transaction, what surprised her most was being asked to swear an affidavit declaring her marital status in relation to the land.