ARUNGULA JANE MUSANGA

Arungula Jane Musanga was born in 1953 in Ilesi Shinyalu, Kakamega County. She grew up in a large household of ten children, five boys and five girls, though three of her siblings have since passed away.

Jane attended school until standard seven before she was forced to drop out. Her education ended because her parents could no longer afford the required school fees and expenses.

After leaving school, she stayed at home to assist her parents with farm labor. They spent their days planting maize, cassava, and sweet potatoes to sustain the large family.

She later got married in Bukhulunya, Matende, and gave birth to four children. One of her children passed away, leaving her with one daughter and two sons to raise amidst great difficulty.

Her children were unable to secure a stable future, as their education was cut short by various hardships. Her eldest son reached the final year of secondary school before he was forced to drop out, while her other son relied on manual labor.

Life became increasingly difficult as her husband lost his eyesight, rendering him unable to work. Jane became the sole provider, struggling to find food through small vegetable sales and casual labor.

The family often faced days of hunger when there were no odd jobs available. They lived in a small mud house, constantly worried about where their next meal would come from.

A friend eventually introduced Jane to the Mama Ibado Seniors Programme to help her address her extreme poverty. She was officially enrolled on September 3, 2024, after the team assessed her desperate living conditions.

She now receives essential supplies including maize flour, cooking oil, salt, sugar, kale, and porridge flour. These monthly provisions have eased the burden of survival for her and the five dependents relying on her.

"Before I joined this program, I lived with constant stress about our next meal, but now I know I will not go without food. This support has given me the strength to care for my ailing husband and use my little energy for other household needs."

Jane continues to require assistance because she remains the primary caregiver for her blind husband and unemployed children. Her age and the lack of stable income in the household make this external support a critical lifeline for her family’s survival.