Inside PS Raymond Omollo’s Programme Building Houses For Widows

Love is knowing the vow till death do us part is going to apply to you one day and your identity will probably be forever changed by this promise.

Widows in Kenya irrespective of class or tribe have endured silent struggles, rejection, dispossession, and for most the eventual crushing weight of abject poverty amidst a culture that is rife with harsh judgement for any decision she will make concerning herself, her children or property.

A startling, convoluted tragedy is that 50 per cent of widows lost their partners before the age of 40 years according to research carried out in Egypt, Kenya and Malawi and are about 15% of Kenya’s population. There are over 8 million widows whose love story is different this season.

The familiarity of support, partnership, commonality of purpose in bringing up children and the cherished responsibility of caring for parents together cushioned with warmth, belonging and love suddenly falls off from beneath their feet. Suddenly they are exposed in ways they will never recover from.

Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo’s Widows Empowerment Programme is a passion that is committed to putting back a solid foundation beneath the feet of widows around the country. Giving them the dignity of a home to renew their confidence in their communities and lift their once pained countenance as parents to offer a spring of hope for their children.

Eunice Ogallo, a widow from Kisumu, is finally breathing a sigh of relief after getting a three room home built by the Widows Empowerment Program.

“We used to sleep with cows because we had no house” said the 63-year-old who since the demise of her husband five years ago, she and her three grandchildren endured harsh conditions, struggling through cold nights and heavy rains that left them soaked, with water filling their shelter.

Forced to sleep outside with her three grandchildren due to the deplorable state of her house she endured unimaginable hardship. The roof was completely damaged, offering no protection and dignity but now, those painful days are behind them.

Today, Ogallo and her grandchildren have a safe and comfortable place to call home, marking a fresh start after years of struggle.

In Siaya County, Jane Atieno from Sifuno Widows Empowerment group is also a happy woman. The group has 150 widows.

Jane said that her widows’ group received financial assistance of Ksh 100,000, enabling them to purchase chairs and establish a table banking program. According to her, the funding was a breakthrough, giving widows access to loans to start their own businesses and achieve financial independence.

“Many of us used to work for others, drying or selling fish all day just to earn Ksh 200. But with this initiative, widows can now borrow funds, invest in their businesses, and repay with a small interest,” she said.

Atieno said the widows’ group has expanded their financial ventures by leasing chairs for weddings and burial ceremonies, generating additional income to sustain and grow their projects.

She said the program has not only empowered them economically but has also given them a renewed sense of hope and self-reliance. The widows are empowered and can put food on the table. She further noted that the widows’ living standards and overall well-being have significantly improved.

“We were once looked down upon, struggling daily just to survive. But now, we are flourishing. You can see it on my face—we had lost weight due to hardship, but today, we are nourished, both physically and emotionally,” she said.

Triza Mokasa, a member of the Uchumi Widows Empowerment Group in Migori County, shares a similar story of transformation.

She says the program has uplifted their lives, turning despair into hope. Many of them once lived in makeshift or dilapidated houses, but today, they proudly own permanent homes.

“The program opened our eyes and helped us rebuild our lives,” she said. Their group received Ksh 100,000, which they used to purchase chairs for hire, while the remaining amount was invested in table banking.

Mokasa said the financial boost has enabled all 120 widows in her group to venture into various small-scale businesses, helping them thrive like never before.

She said currently, there is cash flow, and their homesteads are filled with happiness because they can afford food and other basic needs.

PS Raymond Omollos Widows Empowerment Program is a beacon of hope that is turning pain into power and struggles into success. The program has not only transformed thousands of lives, restoring joy and stability in homes that once knew only hardship, uncertainty and pain.

The initiative has given widows a second chance to heal, rebuild, and thrive. Now, they stand empowered, no longer defined by loss but by strength, resilience, and the promise of a better tomorrow.

Beatrice Okinyi, a member of the Widows of Virtue group has experienced the challenges many widows face after losing their husbands, with most having their property taken away, leaving them with nothing. She said through the program many widows have become self-dependent and are actively rebuilding their lives and shaping a better future.

Pitalis Ogendo, the Project Manager of the Widows Empowerment Program mission is to uplift widows by providing financial support, business management training, and practical solutions to their daily challenges. According to Ogendo, the program also trains widows in table banking, equipping them with essential financial skills to create job opportunities and enhance economic stability.

Love is the universal language that needs more action than words yet widows often get neither. The prominent issue facing widows in Kenya is property rights and that spells doom, homelessness and poverty for widows and their children. This Valentine, make it easier for a widow to safely own or inherit a property.

Victor Ayugi who is the chairman of Widows Empowerment Programme reiterates that mothers are the anchor of communities and homes and it is Mission Critical that they are reinforced especially when widowed so that we guarantee the safety and progress of our children in health, education, nutrition, security and simply summed up love.