AMBEVA HEZBON LUDENYO

Ambeva Hezbon Ludenyo was born in 1952 in Vigulu Village, Vihiga County. He was raised in a family of five children consisting of two boys and three girls, though one of his brothers has since passed away.

He began his education at Kakamega Township Primary School before proceeding to Musingu High School. He later joined Kaimosi for further studies, which enabled him to qualify as a teacher.

Upon completion, he returned home and served as a teacher in several institutions. He eventually concluded his teaching career at Shivakhala, where he worked for many years.

After retiring from his teaching service, Hezbon returned to his home in Shivakhala to focus on his family life. He is a father of seven children who are currently living at home with him.

Despite his efforts to educate them, his children have remained without stable employment after finishing their studies. They spend their days looking for small manual labor jobs around the village to survive.

The family has faced long periods of financial strain as the children’s casual earnings are never enough. This situation often forced the family to skip meals throughout the day.

Hezbon recalls times when they would go without lunch and hope for a small meal in the evening. The lack of a steady income made the basic need for food a daily source of anxiety.

He was eventually enrolled in the Mama Ibado Seniors Programme on May 22, 2018, to help address these hardships.

He now receives a monthly food hamper containing essential items like rice, flour, cooking oil, salt, and sugar. These supplies ensure that his household no longer faces the threat of starvation.

The support has significantly reduced the pressure on his limited resources and improved his quality of life. He now spends his energy supporting his children as they continue to search for better opportunities.

"In the past, getting a meal was a difficult struggle that often left us hungry until nightfall, but now we have the dignity of knowing our kitchen is never empty. The presence of Mama Ibado in our lives has removed the heavy burden of food insecurity from my shoulders."

Hezbon still needs continuous help because he supports a large household of seven children who lack formal jobs. His retirement status and the high cost of living make this food assistance a vital lifeline for his family.