Widows attend a mentorship programme in Arujo Ward, Homa Bay Town Constituency, March 15, 2025. /HANDOUTMany women in rural Kenya depend on their husbands for financial support, and when death strikes, robbing them of their spouse, many are left languishing in untold economic hardship.
Coupled with harmful traditional practices and property disputes, widowhood often pushes most women to the brink, leaving them feeling discriminated against and socially isolated due to stigma.
They often struggle to access essential resources like land, credit, and education, further hindering their ability to improve their economic status as some of them lack education and skills.
The loss of a spouse can also be a traumatic experience to some, leading to depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.
But thanks to the Widows Empowerment Program, an initiative backed by Interior PS Raymond Omollo, widows in his Homa Bay county, where many face economic hardships after losing their spouses, have been handed a fresh opportunity to live fulfilled lives.
The women have embraced the programme in their numbers and are receiving the support they need towards achieving self-reliance through training, access to credit facilities, and mentorship.
Speaking at Arujo Ward in Homa Bay Town Constituency over the weekend, the programme’s leadership emphasised the need to ensure widows receive both short-term support and the necessary tools to enable them to thrive independently.
“This initiative is transforming lives by equipping widows with essential skills, financial opportunities, and the support needed to achieve economic independence and secure a better future for their families,” Programme Coordinator Victor Ayugi said.
Findings show that widows in rural Africa face multiple challenges, including limited healthcare access, property rights, social support, and harmful traditional practices, which collectively negatively impact their well-being.
In Kenya, widows make up about 15 per cent of the population, with research showing a significant 50 per cent lose their spouses before the age of 40.
Limited awareness, resource constraints, legal barriers, cultural norms, and limited access to education are all complex challenges that hinder their access to economic opportunities, leaving them vulnerable to poverty.
To alleviate these hardships calls for collaborative implementation of strategies, including legal reforms, economic empowerment, sensitisation campaigns, and the provision of essential resources.
Ruga Widows group in Arujo Ward of Homa Bay Town Constituency during a mentorship programme, March 15, 2025. /HANDOUTSpeaking during a past interview, PS Omollo said his empowerment programme targets to work with 120 women groups and grant them different forms of support for their businesses.
"Having been brought up by a widow myself, this is personal, hence this personal initiative to work with these widows," said the PS Omollo.
He said the programme further educates the widows on various government programmes and encourages them to enroll.
"We have been able to engage and educate them on things like the Taifa Care so that the limited resources they generate do not disappear when their families get sick," he revealed.
