CFCA stories

Kenyan widow rebounds after losing everything

March 17, 2010

Anna's life has been turned upside down
since the death of her husband. Traditions
in her community allow kinsmen of the
deceased to inherit women.

In west Kenya, in a small house in the slums of Kisumu, Anna dreams of a better life. A life she once had. A life she hopes to reclaim.

There was a time when Anna was a flourishing businesswoman, transporting and selling charcoal to retailers in the area. She had a supportive husband who made good money as an accountant. They were doing well enough that they decided to buy land to build rental houses as an investment. The couple was unable to have children, so they adopted a son.

Life was looking up, Anna said.

But life would never be the same for Anna and her family.

Tragedy strikes

In 2000, when their son, Eric, was 2 years old, Anna’s husband passed away. It was a devastating time for Anna, but her situation would only get worse.

In the community where Anna lives, traditional laws state widows and their belongings can be inherited by the husband’s kinsmen. The traditions date back to the 18th century. Under current Kenyan laws a woman can contest the right to her husband’s property, but in Anna's community traditional laws still hold power in the court system.

After her husband’s burial, Anna’s in-laws took everything from her, she said.

“My in-laws turned against me,” Anna said. “Everything that I had worked for with my late husband was stripped off me.”

Anna tried to take legal action, but she said her in-laws were able to influence the legal process, and her efforts were in vain.

She had no one to help her and nothing to call her own.

Staying strong

Despite everything that she had been through, Anna did not give up.

“My son needed a mother, and I had to be strong,” Anna said.

She started cooking and selling githeri to locals. Githeri is made with corn and beans. With the little money she makes, she is able to afford rent and food. But, she said sometimes it can be hard to get through each day.

CFCA offers hope

In 2001, the CFCA community reached out to Anna and her son, Eric, who was 3 when he became sponsored.

“CFCA stretched their hands out to me when I needed help most,” Anna said. “When I had no hope that my son would ever be enrolled in school, because I could not afford tuition,CFCA stepped in and paid his school fees. They supply him with everything he needs in school, from school uniforms to school supplies.”

Besides educational help for Eric, Anna receives a portion of food each month, which she says goes a long way to helping her meet the needs of her household.

Anna’s life has also been enriched through mothers groups. Mothers in CFCA projects meet regularly to share experiences and resources.

“I have interacted with other widows who have been through the same things,” Anna said. “Seeing them take up the pieces and build their lives encourages me a lot. CFCA has handed me a lifeline and I am truly grateful.”

Along with emotional support, mothers in the groups can contribute money, which is matched by CFCA. The mothers can draw loans on the account to help them improve their standard of living, and repay the loans on terms they define. These women would otherwise have limited or no access to this type of capital.

Looking to the future

Anna now has a reason to smile again. There was a time she felt like life was not worth living, she said. But with the help of sponsorship, she has renewed hope for a better future—a future, perhaps, more like her past.

“I would like to go back to being the successful business lady that I was before my husband passed,” Anna said. “I would like to revive my charcoal business and be able to provide for my family.”