Victims of the recent Kibra fire in Nairobi have a reason to smile after they were supplied with personal items and construction materials.
The materials were donated by pastor Dorcas Rigathi and other well-wishers.
Those who benefited are six widows who are among the beneficiaries of the widows and orphans program under Pastor Dorcas Rigathi and the Deputy President who runs the Dorcas Rigathi Foundation.
The six received blankets, foodstuffs, dignity kits that included toiletries and soaps, and reconstruction material for their homes following the destructive inferno.
“The donated items will assist the widows and their children during this time of great need,” said Esther Waiganjo, the Director of the Widows Program at the office.
She was joined by other well-wishers who also donated different items to assist the affected.
They included Bishop John Parit who also supports widows in Kajiado County through different empowerment projects and works closely with Pastor Dorcas.
Pastor Dorcas works closely with clergy from across faiths- Muslim, Christian, and Hindu – to reach the vulnerable in society including persons with disabilities (PWDs), widows and orphans and the boy child lost in alcohol, drug, and substance abuse.
Pastor Dorcas started working with widows during her days as a student at Kenyatta University, a passion that sprung from being raised by a widow.
The widows and orphans program has, however, grown to impact more than 13,000 widows in different counties including Nairobi, Kajiado, Embu, Bomet, Nakuru, Migori, Kilifi, Laikipia, Nyeri, and TransNzoia.
The six widows are part of the Nairobi Widows Chapter that meets regularly at the House of Grace, Nairobi West, where they have established a tree nursery, engage in crocheting, beadwork, mat making, detergent making, and also candle making among other initiatives.
The widows in different countries have initiated economic projects suitable for their region.
Widows face unique challenges as they work towards bringing up their children single-handedly, and issues of discrimination and stigmatization following the loss of their spouses.