Malindi Water and Sewerage Company (MAWASCO) has failed to compensate a woman whose husband was an employee of the company but died nine years ago in a tragic road accident.
Gladys Tatu a mother of two said the water company officials have been giving false promises for years with no success of her getting the compensation.
It has been a traumatizing experience for the middle-aged woman who broke down several times when interviewed by a journalist at her Kaoyeni home in the outskirts of Malindi town.
She moved to the village after the death of his husband.
“My husband died in 2012 On August 21, that day is a long time but I see it like today because of what I have gone through for the past nine years seeking compensation. It has not been easy with my children but God has stood along with me in the way,” she said amid sobs.
The widow said her two children one of whom is a first-year student at Nairobi Water Studying water engineering and the other form two at Dr. Kraph memorial high school have had challenges of school fees as her saloon business has gone down due to the tough economic times.
MAWASCO officials she said have always been telling her to wait for her husband’s dues but to date, nothing has matured. She wondered why they could not push for the money to be compensated in time to help her educate her children.
"I have been struggling for years yet their father's money is lying there my children are suffering a lot it's so painful, I pray for them to have mercy on me and my children to complete the process," she said.
Ms Tatu said if her husband was alive she could not have undergone such problems and prayed that her plea would be heard for the compensation to be released.
The husband she said was knocked down by a vehicle while on duty at Msabaha and saw his body the second day.
She wondered why the compensation had been delayed and the MAWASCO officials do not care how she is coping with life.
"The officials are telling me they are following up on insurance funds but the compensation from the company is not there I do not know where it went," she said.
Forced by circumstances, she has decided to go to the Middle East to work thereafter she got a sponsor who paid Sh25, 000 for her training in Mombasa and passport processing and waiting for a chance to travel.
Two weeks ago, her son, a Form Two student was chased out of school only weeks before the exams after the Principal refused to allow him due to fees arrears.
Trevor Oluoch Okong’o who was with his mother at home said when his father was alive life was smooth as there was no time they would be chased due to lack of school fees.
However, currently, he said getting a three-course meal is impossible and even what they eat is not enough.
"I pray that they have mercy on us so that we continue with our education like before, I work hard in school so as to have a better life in the future, without education life will be miserable,' he said.
Her mother she said has been applying for a bursary but had not succeeded all through which forces her to struggle.
MAWASCO Managing Director Gerald Mwambire confirmed that the woman is yet to be compensated but disclosed that the matter was being handled by the company’s insurance.
