By OSDP
Alice Ruto who spoke on behalf of more than 2,000 widows who had gathered for a meeting at Geta, Cherangany Constituency commended the spouse of the Deputy President for remembering the plight of the widow in the nation.
Ms Ruto said for a long time the widow was forgotten despite facing different economic, social and physical challenges upon the demise of their partner.
“Thank you, Your Excellency, for identifying with the life of a widow. We have faced so many setbacks in life, but we still look smart and healthy because God has helped us. However, the children we struggled to raise and educate do not have jobs, and this is our biggest problem,” said Ms Ruto.
MP Kiminini Maurice Kaikai identified with the concern by the widows, saying, “It is unfortunate that widows have worked hard and taken their children to school, and they should now be independent and helping their mother, but they are jobless.”
Cherangany MP Patrick Simiyu also commended Pastor Dorcas for the work she was doing for the vulnerable.
TransNzoia Woman Representative Lillian Siyoi said that as a measure to protect the widows from injustice from society and family members, she could push for a bill in parliament advancing the cause of the widow.
“I will push for a bill in parliament to make sure the widow gets her right. My office will also work with widows from the ward level,” said MP Siyoi.
TransNzoia Senator Allan Chesang commended Pastor Dorcas for her acts of compassion to the people of the county. He said the last person in the Presidency, who visited Geta, was the late President, Mwai Kibaki many years ago.
Pastor Dorcas shared her widowed mother’s story with the widows, encouraging them not to give up in life. “When I work towards dignifying the widow, it is because there is a journey we have gone through,” she said.
“We were sent home because of school fees as my mother did not have KSh20. However, in a miraculous way, I managed to go through Alliance, St. Francis and Kenyatta University, and I became and worked in the banking industry,” said Pastor Dorcas.
She urged the widows to form groups through which they would initiate projects.
The widows meeting marked the end of three days of Pastor Dorcas in TransNzoia County where PWDs, medical camp, clergy meeting, high school preventive program against alcohol and drugs, and the widows meetings were held in line with the vision of ‘A Dignified Future for Vulnerable Populations’.
Mt Kenya Times