Through Thick and Thin: Kemunto’s Widowhood Journey
In the village of Marani, Marani subcounty in Kisii, Kenya, we find Kemunto Mariera a widow of seven children who was widowed at a time she needed her husband the most. The husband who died after a short illness left Kemunto shouldering the responsibility of raising her children without any support.
She’s been through thick and thin just to make sure that she provided enough food on the table for her family. She’s been into small scale farming in her small piece of land which has been her only source of livelihood until she fell ill. We thank GOD that the children are all grown but they cannot offer enough support to their old ailing mother because they do depend on menial casual jobs. The only small piece of land that was her source of living was shared amongst her children and she was only left with a small kitchen garden which cannot sustain her.
In the year 2022, the widow Kemunto Mariera, despite suffering from illness and neglect, found her aging and dilapidated residence plagued by a sagging roof due to severe rust and deterioration. The torrential rains of May and June 2022 exacerbated her plight, compelling her to endure frigid nights at her son’s place.
As Action Smiles International, with our limited resources at the time, we first facilitated her admission to KISII TEACHING AND REFERRAL HOSPITAL for treatment for malaria and to address the alarming deterioration of her legs. Following her hospitalization, we undertook the construction of a simple two-room dwelling, ensuring that she would be adequately sheltered from both the relentless rains and the biting cold. By the end of July, we successfully relocated her into her new home.
Action Smiles International Director, Richard Mosoongo with another member present food donations to the helpful neighbour on behalf of Mrs Kemunto (seated, partialy hidden)
Kemunto at the Door of her House
The Simple House Built by Action Smiles for Kemunto Mariera After Her Original House Caved-in
Together with Others and Action Smiles Director Consoling Kemunto (with shawl on her shoulders) on the Burial Day of her Sister
On our visit day, we found her with a volunteer from the community who had come to help her around the house because she had been sick for sometime and she could not manage doing anything on her own. Let’s not forget that Kemunto lives all alone in her mud house. Kemunto suffers from elephantiasis: both her legs are permanently swollen and need specially designed shoes to aid her walk around. She too needs constant medication, a feat that’s beyond her reach.
A smile was lit all over her face upon seeing us walk into her mud, cold house carrying along some food provisions for her. She delightfully welcomed us and with humility she confessed that she had nothing in the house and that she had slept on an empty stomach for some days. We were so glad that we could put a smile on her face and as the team of Action Smiles, we enjoyed helping her around by preparing some food, cleaning and even helping her around in her kitchen garden.
Action Smiles members tending to Kemunto’s kitchen garden
Action Smiles Practical Solution
- We were so glad to have put a smile on her face by providing emergency food relief which included household items.
- Lease some piece of land for her after sourcing funds from our partners and plant nappier grass since it doesn’t require much effort till it’s harvested to enable her sustain her remaining days on earth.
- We seek same minded partners to help her out of her perennial medical attention among other problems she goes through.
Given her advanced age and ongoing health issues, she has since remained under our care, receiving assistance with food provision and frequent hospital visits. Kemunto is not suffering alone. We have since been referred to other many more widows from that locality going through diverse problems not limited to hunger and disease.
Action Smiles members and neighbor sweeping clean Kemunto’s compound
Kemunto, seated center, with members of Action Smiles International when they visited her home