JOSAM REMA

As we (Mama Ibado officials) arrived at Josam Rema's compound, we found her busy cooking porridge. She warmly welcomed us with a hug before ushering us to sit in the shade outside. Born in 1952 in Kakamega, she grew up facing the daily realities of a humble and demanding home.

She went to Muslim Primary School, studying in class one, class two, and reaching class three before she had to stop her education right there. Leaving school at that early stage meant she had no other place of learning to go to, closing the door to formal employment and shaping her lifelong path.

After stopping school, she started small businesses like making mandazis and frying things like samosas to earn a living. She later got married in Tiriki, where she remains up to today, and her daily work is now looking after homestead things like chickens and cattle.

She gave birth to five children, but two of them died, leaving her with two surviving children who have no jobs or anything of their own. Her husband is completely jobless, has nothing to his name, and stays at home all the time without any means of provision.

Before meeting Mama Ibado, life was extremely hard as she struggled walking back and forth trying to find food, sometimes finding it and other times missing out completely. She used to go wash people's clothes to earn a living, but even after working hard she would still suffer at home with no income and struggle just to get something to eat.

One day, while walking to Amalemba mosque, she met the son of Omar Rajab Sururu, who told her about Mama Ibado and explained what the organization does to help seniors.

He then led her to the Mama Ibado offices, where she shared all her problems, and after carefully listening to her story, Mama Ibado officials visited her home to assess her situation and confirm if she qualified for assistance.

Finding that she indeed suited the program, she was officially registered on April 13, 2023, and now receives monthly support consisting of maize flour, sugar, milk, tea leaves, salt, and cooking oil.

"Mama Ibado has helped me in a big way from where I was stuck, and I want to thank her twice because now my life has relief compared to the past when getting food was a daily struggle," Josam Rema states regarding the transformation in her life.

Living in a mud house without electricity, she continues to suffer severely from high blood pressure, arthritis, stomach ulcers, chronic gastritis, and failing eyesight that makes her vision very blurry, and she urgently needs continued help and medical care.