Ayietsa Roselani Muhonja

Ayietsa Roselani Muhonja, born in 1948 in Mbihi, Vihiga County, is 77 years old. Her childhood was difficult; after losing her mother, she lived with a stepmother.

Though her father ensured she attended primary school, Roselani was forced to drop out in Standard Seven because the family lacked the funds for school fees. 

To escape a difficult home situation, she married early. Her husband later moved them to Kakamega in 1980 for construction work, where they have rented a home ever since.

Roselani and her husband had seven children, but three sons have since passed away. She is now the sole support for her large household, including her husband, who is too frail to work. One surviving son struggles with severe alcoholism, and her three unemployed daughters, along with their children, all depend entirely on her. Roselani struggles to pay the rent.

Roselani previously earned money farming for neighbors, but due to severe health issues—high blood pressure and crippling leg pain—she is no longer strong enough to walk or work. This inability to earn meant the family faced a desperate situation, often going days without food.

Her fortune changed when she encountered field officers from the Mama Ibado Charity Foundation visiting her village. She approached them, explaining her plight and the hunger her grandchildren faced. After a home visit confirmed her desperate situation, she was registered as a beneficiary.

Roselani now receives a monthly food ration from Mama Ibado, which keeps her entire household fed. This food security has brought immense relief to her family.

Roselani expresses deep gratitude to the organization for stepping in when she felt she was "in total darkness," hoping they can continue to grow.

She requires continued help because she has no income, is elderly, is physically limited by severe health issues, and is the sole provider for her frail husband and a large, dependent extended family.