Homa Bay widows appeal for State, well-wisher support

Some widows in Homa Bay County have urged the State to come up with programmes for supporting them economically to become self reliance.

The widows said many of them suffer so much after their husbands died.

Some of them are left with young children after they get into marriage.

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The situation makes it difficult for them to make ends meet and raise their children.

The women are also appealing to well wishers to help them to improve livelihoods.

Through their chairperson Millicent Mboya, the widows expressed concerns that most of them undergo numerous challenges after deaths of their spouses.

Mboya suggested that it would be important if the government makes policies which establish some empowerment programmes for widows.

She argued that such programmes will enable the windows to create income generating activities for their families.

“It will be prudent if the State introduces policies that create economic empowerment programmes for widows. We're appealing to well-wishers to join hands in helping widows," Mboya said.

Speaking when a well-wisher John Odek constructed a house for Erca Adhiambo, a widow who lived in a dilapidated house at Kodumo West Sub-location in Kabondo Kasipul constituency, Mboya said they also get difficulties in acquiring title deeds for their lands.

Adhiambo said death of her husband had subjected their family into abject poverty.

The situation has maked it difficult in raising children.

She testified that the death of her husband forced her to live with her six children in a dilapidated house which compromised their health.

“My house had a dilapidated roof that forced me and my children to wake up at night when it is raining. All of us had to shelter in one corner until the rain could subside,” Adhiambo said.

She expressed joy that her new house will improve their health.

“I am confident that this new house will enable us to live in a safe environment. I expected the diseases which used to infect my children due to the poor environment to reduce,” she said.

Odek, who is also a director at the National Museums of Kenya, said his objective is to improve the lives of widows and orphans in the area.

“ Adhiambo actually lived in a dilapidated house and they were at risk of contracting diseases associated with poor health.That is why I decided to build this house for her,” Odek said.

The director said he has received more than 50 widows who are in need of new house.