By OSDP
Worth Noting:
- Swedi Balozi, 53, also urged the government to start initiatives and projects that would assist the children of widows. “We have struggled to raise the children singlehandedly, even taking them to school. We hope to see them engaged in activities that bring them an income not wasting away in the streets and home,” said Ms Balozi.
- Nyevu Kahindi, 43, said widows were hardworking people and with a little bit of support, they would stop being dependents and add value to the country.
- In her speech, Pastor Dorcas said the widows from Kilifi would be involved in mangrove restoration and make an income through carbon credit funding, and also establish an institution to inform about carbon credit in the area.
More than 1,600 widows attended a meeting convened by the office of the spouse of the Deputy President (OSDP) at Gede Primary School Grounds in Kilifi County.
Sidi Wanyahe, 71, said that with her four co-wives lost their husband exposing them to hardships together with their children. She said that over the years, three of her co-wives have since died, leaving her with one co-wife and the many dependents.
Ms Wanyahe also decried the failure of farming in Kilifi County saying it added to the burden of the widows. “We have mangoes in the shamba, but no where to take them. They just rot. We used to grow cotton, but this also stopped. We also have korosho, but the market is not good. Our children collect the korosho and sell them on the road even before we can harvest and make proper sales,” she said.
Her story paints the story state of the thousands of widows living in Kilifi County. She begged Pastor Dorcas Rigathi to bring projects in the county that would transform the lives of widows, and her dependents.
Swedi Balozi, 53, also urged the government to start initiatives and projects that would assist the children of widows. “We have struggled to raise the children singlehandedly, even taking them to school. We hope to see them engaged in activities that bring them an income not wasting away in the streets and home,” said Ms Balozi.
Nyevu Kahindi, 43, said widows were hardworking people and with a little bit of support, they would stop being dependents and add value to the country.
In her speech, Pastor Dorcas said the widows from Kilifi would be involved in mangrove restoration and make an income through carbon credit funding, and also establish an institution to inform about carbon credit in the area.
“We shall have mangrove restoration and involve the widows and boy child from Kilifi. They can benefit from the carbon credit, and we shall also involve an investor who shall establish a carbon credit institute. We can create a value chain that benefits the government, investors, community, widows and the boy child,” said Pastor Dorcas.
Pastor Dorcas shared her lifestyle being brought up by a widowhood, the hardships, and pain of the siblings, identifying with the life of the widows from Kilifi.
Kilifi Deputy Governor Flora Mbetsa encouraged the widows telling them, “You matter, I matter, and we all matter. This high office has remembered the widow. You have been recognized,” said DG Mbetsa.
The spouse of the Kilifi Governor, Susan Mungaro also shared her personal story of the lengths her mother went to bring up her brother and herself as a widow. “Widowhood affected my mother. Our family was in great darkness after losing our breadwinner. As women leaders, we should support and empower women,” said Ms Mungaro.
Bishop Amos Lewa decried the high number of widows in Kilifi, saying three-quarters of most congregations comprises widows.
“There are tough rituals among the Mijikenda community that widows undergo, and also problems of property inheritance,” said Bishop Lewa.
