Former Devolution CAS Gideon Mung’aro has assured widows that his administration will put a special consideration for them in the issuance of bursaries and also in the disbursement of Mbegu Fund.
Addressing widows at Matano Manne in Ganze during this year’s Widows International Day celebration, Mr Mung’aro said the bureaucracy in accessing public funds has affected widows while seeking funds to empower themselves.
He promised to end the vice.”I know that your lives are dearly affected after the loss of your husbands. It always becomes impossible to lead a normal life and hence subject you to the lives of misery and desperation. My assurance to you once I become the Kilifi Governor in August is to make a provision in the bursary act to make sure that widows are given special attention when it comes to the issuance of bursaries,” he said.
He further added that he will make sure that widows above 60 years will be getting a monthly stipend from the county government to supplement the already existing cash transfer program from the national government.
“We know that the Sh6,000 monthly stipend promised by our Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga is the best option by the national government. But as a county, I am also here to assure you that I will be equally committed to ending your plight by coming up with county legislation that will bring in the formation of a special kitty for widows once we form the next Kilifi county government,” he said.
State Department for Gender CAS Linah Jebii Kilimo who was the chief guest during the celebration told the widows that the national government has a special consideration for them and that they should not lose hope.
Ms Kilimo said the introduction of the Thamini Mjane loan, a loan funding by the national government aimed at empowering widows in the country was the ultimate choice to empower them.
” Remember last year after we launched the Thamini Mjane Loan, my colleague in the ministry Rachel Shebesh was sent to launch the same here in Kilifi by our CS Magret Kobia. I know there are concerns that have been addressed by Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO) here in Kilifi over the long process the widows are subjected to when seeking these loans. But that notwithstanding, you are now visible in the eyes of the government because the money you get is from the national treasury. At least with these interventions, you will no longer be invisible as it used to be in the yesteryears,” she said.
MYWO Kilifi County chairperson Witness Tsuma called for the lessening of the many processes widows undergo while applying for the Thamini Mjane government loan.
“This fund should be accessed with ease by the widows. What is bothering us is the long process which in the end discourages them from following up on the loan. Kindly and our plea to the government is to make the process easy,” she said.
Sarah Antony who is one of the widows said they undergo a lot of challenges in the society including the clear essence of denial within the society.
“Some of the widows become the victims of gender violence and it has even cost the lives of many. Kindly more interventions are needed to address this challenge,” she said.
Ms Prudence Kai of Hopes and Dreams told those in attendance of her journey of forming the organisation after the death of her husband in 2012.
“My husband died in 2012 and whatever IÂ went through informed the decision to start this organisation, mainly to give hope to other widows. Thank God that we have made a number of strides although we still face several challenges,” she said.
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