Mwanaidi Ramadhan

Mwanaidi Ramadhan, a widow from Majengo, Kakamega County, has faced a lifetime of adversity with unwavering resilience. Her struggles began at the tender age of three, when she developed complications in her right leg, leaving her disabled and unable to walk properly.

Despite numerous hospital visits, doctors could not determine the cause, and her parents sought help from traditional healers, but nothing worked. Eventually, they lost hope that she would ever regain full mobility, forcing her to navigate life with a disability from an early age.

At 17, Mwanaidi married and became a mother to three children—two daughters and one son. However, tragedy struck early, and one of her daughters passed away at just seven months old.

Though married, Mwanaidi carried the full weight of providing for her family, running a small business selling mandazis. Her husband, unmotivated and passive, contributed little, leaving her to struggle alone. Then, one fateful day, he passed away, marking the beginning of a new wave of hardship.

With no financial support and no means to educate her children, her in-laws took advantage of her vulnerability. They kicked her out of her matrimonial home, knowing her children were too young to defend their inheritance. The stress and constant struggles took a toll on her health, leading to high blood pressure and ulcers.

Determined not to lose everything, Mwanaidi took her grievances to the Kadhi’s Court. After a legal battle, the ruling was in her favor, but life remained an uphill battle.

As her children grew older, they set out to find their own way, leaving Mwanaidi to survive on minimal means. Her daughter, however, was not so lucky. She married, but when her marriage failed due to financial struggles, she returned home with her five children, adding another layer of hardship to Mwanaidi’s life. Her son, a casual laborer, still struggles to make ends meet.

Despite everything, Mwanaidi believes in education. Now, she encourages her grandchildren to pursue their dreams, hoping they can break the cycle of poverty that has defined her life.

Amidst these challenges, Mwanaidi was enrolled in the senior feeding program in 2018, receiving monthly food rations that have significantly improved her health and household food security. She also attends healthcare clinics at Mama Ibado Charity, ensuring she gets medical attention to manage her health conditions.

Though life has tested her in every way imaginable, Mwanaidi continues to push forward, refusing to be defeated by circumstance.

“I have lived through many struggles, but I still have hope. My grandchildren deserve a future, and I will do everything I can to support them,” she says.