Habiba Hemed

Habiba remembers spending her early years herding goats and mastering the craft of rope-making, skillfully transforming tree bark fibers into ropes used for daily life.

At 16, her life took a dramatic turn when a Somali soldier serving the British, and later the Kenyan military, fell deeply in love with her. Guided by youthful courage, she eloped with him to his military camp in Nanyuki. Their early years were marked by relative stability as they moved between military postings, though tragedy struck with the loss of two children in infancy.

When her husband retired, the stability unraveled. Her daughter became inexplicably paralyzed, her condition a mystery even to modern medicine, leaving her dependent on Habiba's care. Another son succumbed to mental illness caused by deep depression, and another lost his battle with epilepsy. The final blow came when her husband passed away from kidney failure, leaving Habiba widowed and burdened with grief.

Haunted by memories of her departed loved ones, Habiba’s nights are filled with vivid dreams of her son smiling at her from the doorway, reassuring her, “I am fine.” But each morning, she awakens to face a harsh reality, her heart heavy with sorrow.

Amid this hardship, Mama Ibado Charity has stepped in as a beacon of hope. Through their seniors feeding program, Habiba now receives essential food rations, easing her struggle to provide for herself and her immobile daughter. The charity's support has restored a semblance of stability to her life, allowing her to focus on caregiving and maintaining her fragile health.

Habiba’s story is a testament to resilience, but she still needs help. Your contribution to Mama Ibado Charity can ensure that Habiba and others like her continue to receive the care and support they desperately need.