SAIDI MWANAHAWA MUSHIERE

Saidi Mwanahawa Mushiere was born in 1940 in the village of Shisiru, Kakamega County. She was raised in a humble household where resources were scarce, and as a result, she never had the opportunity to step into a classroom.

Without an education, Saidi spent her younger years performing heavy manual labor and domestic chores to survive. She eventually married Said Mangala Juma, a man who had only a basic primary education and worked irregular manual jobs.

The couple initially settled in Bukura, where they began their life together under a cloud of deep grief. Saidi gave birth to three children during their time there, but all three passed away in their infancy, leaving the couple heartbroken and searching for a fresh start.

They moved to Kakamega town, where they lived in a rented room while both took on grueling casual labor to keep moving forward. In total, Saidi bore eleven children, but the weight of poverty and disease was relentless; nine of her children passed away, leaving only two surviving siblings and Saidi herself.

Her husband eventually secured a minor role as a village elder, but his income was never enough to provide stability for the growing family. After his death, Saidi was left entirely on her own to navigate the challenges of old age and the responsibility of her remaining family.

To put food on the table, she worked for years as a manual laborer, breaking down old mud houses and later selling vegetables along the dusty roadsides of Kakamega. As she aged, the long hours of standing and walking became impossible, especially as she developed severe arthritis and persistent ear problems.

She now lives in a two-room, semi-permanent house in Lutonyi, a structure gifted to her family by a sympathetic relative. The home is a picture of struggle, housing Saidi and her five grandchildren, all of whom rely on her surviving son, who works in the "Jua Kali" sector after being forced to drop out of school at Form Four to support her.

The family lived in a constant state of hunger and uncertainty, often spending nights in the dark because there was no money for food or basic utilities. The breakthrough came on May 17, 2021, when Mama Ibado Charity officers visited her home, assessed her dire living conditions, and enrolled her into the seniors’ program.

"The support from Mama Ibado has lifted a heavy burden from my shoulders, allowing me to eat even when my body is too weak to work. It has also helped my son, as he can now focus the little he earns on his own children's schooling because my basic needs are met."

Saidi now receives a monthly supply of rice, milk, sugar, porridge flour, and maize flour, which ensures her household is never completely empty.

Despite this life-changing assistance, Saidi remains in a vulnerable state with no personal income and a large family of grandchildren to protect. Continued support is vital to ensure her health does not fail and that she can live out her final years with the dignity she deserves.