JUMBE HABIBA ATOLA

Jumbe Habiba Atola was born on August 24, 1958, in Ebrenga, Kakamega County.

When she was ten years old, her father took her to Kakamega to live with her grandmother, who had not been blessed with children of her own, so that Habiba could assist her with household duties.

Growing up during that time, her parents believed that educating a girl was a waste of resources and that it was better for a daughter to marry so the family could receive dowry; consequently, Habiba never went to school.

At the age of fourteen, while still a young girl, she was provided with a house in Amalemba. She eventually married, and together with her husband, she was blessed with six children.

During their marriage, life was stable because her husband worked hard to provide food and a good life for the family. However, her situation changed significantly after her husband passed away, leaving her to care for their children alone, one of whom had just started Form One at Kakamega High School.

Stepping into the role of both mother and father, she began running a canteen at the school to support them until a change in administration led to her losing that business. Seeking help from the Provincial Commissioner at the time, she secured a manual cleaning job at the General Hospital, though the meager pay of 1,400 shillings was often delayed for months.

To survive, she opened a small grocery stall at her home selling tomatoes and onions, which sustained her family for many years.

It was during her time running this small business that she encountered the Mama Ibado Charity after a community leader advocated for the inclusion of elderly women from the Majengo and Amalemba areas. Since joining the program, her life has been much easier as she no longer has to struggle with the physical demands of business while dealing with health issues.

She now receives a comprehensive food basket that includes four bags of maize flour, four kilograms of rice, ten packets of milk, tea leaves, salt, cooking oil, and porridge flour. Beyond the food support, Habiba benefits greatly from the organization’s health initiatives, which are vital for her as she manages high blood pressure and severe arthritis.

She now visits the clinic every Thursday for medical check-ups to monitor her condition and ensure she remains healthy. Habiba is deeply thankful to the Mama Ibado family, praying that the Almighty opens doors for them and protects them from all evil.

She continues to require this assistance because her age and painful health conditions prevent her from performing manual labor or running a business, and the consistent support from the charity is what allows her to eat and manage her medical needs with dignity.