IMBOSA SKOLASTIKA KHAKAYI

Imbosa Skolastika Khakayi was born in 1959 in the rural village of Idakho, Ikolomani. She was raised in a small household as one of three children, having two sisters and one brother.

She began her education locally and attended school until she reached class four. Financial constraints meant her family could not afford her school uniform or fees, forcing her to withdraw from her studies.

After leaving school, she remained at home to assist her mother with domestic chores and manual labor. She spent her days washing clothes and tending to the family homestead to help the household survive.

Skolastika eventually moved to Shitaho, Kakamega, where she was married and started a family of her own. She and her husband worked as small-scale farmers and traded cattle to provide for their three children.

The family faced persistent hardship, often struggling to secure enough food to eat. Her children were unable to complete their education due to lack of funds and currently remain without stable employment or income.

Life became significantly more difficult after the death of her husband and her brother, leaving her as a primary pillar for her remaining relatives. She now lives in a mud house and fetches water from the Isikhu River for her daily needs.

Skolastika currently cares for six dependents, including a cousin battling cancer who requires constant attention. This responsibility prevents her from going to the market to sell tomatoes or working in the fields, leaving her with no way to buy food.

She first encountered Mama Ibado while acting as a caregiver for her husband. She would escort him to collect his supplies, and after he passed away, the organization recognized her own dire state of vulnerability.

Upon assessing her situation, Mama Ibado enrolled her in the seniors' program to ensure she no longer faced starvation. She now receives monthly rations including maize flour, porridge flour, rice, sugar, oil, salt, and tea leaves.

"Previously, the burden of finding the next meal left me weak and filled with constant stress. Now that my nutrition and health are cared for, I feel strong again and can focus on supporting my family."

Skolastika expresses deep gratitude for the restoration of her dignity and the energy she has regained through the program. The consistent support has provided a sense of peace that she had not known for many years.

Despite this help, she still lives in a fragile structure and carries the heavy weight of providing for six unemployed dependents and a terminally ill relative. Continued assistance is vital to ensure her household remains stable and her health is maintained.