Hundreds of widows from Nakuru West Subcounty on Monday converged at Shabab Social Hall for their monthly support group meeting.
The widows, under the guidance of their mentor, Eunice Ng'ang'a, gather regularly for support group meetings for mentorship, spiritual support, sports activities, and networking.
The aim is to help them boldly face widows-related challenges that they face.
They were joined by Nakuru County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Youth, Sports, Gender and Social Services, Josephine Atieno.
Atieno lauded Ng'ang'a for her unwavering commitment to supporting widows in the region, though she is not a widow herself.
She encouraged the widows to remain focused, resilient, and dedicated to shaping their children's lives.
Atieno conveyed a message from Governor Susan Kihika, assuring them of the county government's continued support.
Divya Nitin Shah, a representative from the Lion’s Club, and Joel Nyandieka, the Governor's coordinator, echoed the governor’s sentiment, emphasising the importance of supporting widows through various county empowerment programmes.
Ng’ang’a said widowhood in Kenya, as in many parts of Africa, is often a harrowing and traumatic experience marked by immense challenges.
She said despite constitutional protections, societal norms and harmful traditional practices continue to marginalise and discriminate against widows.
Ng’ang’a said widows often face severe financial difficulties because they lose access to resources and income streams upon their husband’s death.
Worse still societal stigma and discrimination, including accusations of witchcraft, often lead to social isolation and ostracism.
She said many widows may be deprived of their rightful inheritance, leading to homelessness and poverty, as many lack awareness of their legal rights and struggle to access justice when their rights are violated which is why she decided to assist them, despite not being a widow.
Ng’ang’a appealed to the government to endeavour to meaningfully address the widows’ plight through a multifaceted approach such as the provision of financial support and empower them to understand their rights plus the inheritance process.
She urged the government to support income-generating activities, such as microfinance and skills training, to help widows become financially independent, besides implementing policies and programs that protect the rights of widows.
Ng’ang’a said by taking these steps, Kenya can work towards a future where widows are empowered, respected, and able to live with dignity.
