By Lorraine Anyango.
Kisumu buzzed with celebration as over 2,000 widows converged at Obambo Primary School to mark the International Day for Widows. The theme for this year’s event, “Accelerating Gender Equality through Equitable Land and Property Rights for Widows,” resonated deeply with the attendees.
Nyanam Organization, in partnership with Kisumu County, Transparency International, FIDA, Imago Dei Fund, and others, hosted the empowering event. The celebration offered the widows a platform for learning and support.
FIDA provided free legal aid on land issues, a critical concern for many widows. The Department of Health, led by Dr. Jeremiah Okuto in collaboration with Mart Dapper, conducted mental health screenings. Dr. Pharnice Ojore, Kisumu County Health Insurance Coordinator, also enlightened the widows on the significance of health insurance.
The event was graced by prominent guests including Ms. Beatrice A. Odongo, Kisumu County Executive Committee Member for Sports, Culture, Arts, Gender and Youth Affairs, and area MP Rozaa Buyu. Bishop Dr. Emily Onyango, the first ordained woman Bishop of the Anglican Church in Kenya, was among the inspiring women who spoke at the event, assuring the widows they are not alone.
Highlighting Nyanam’s impactful work for widows was their Founder and Executive Director, Jackie Odhiambo, Nyanam connected 1400 widows in Kisumu and Saya counties. They have been empowered on widow inheritance rights. 30% of widows were reported to have successfully challenged land inheritance procedures.
Nyanam offered holistic health group counseling to widows,500 widows were trained in comprehensive health. The organization provided support to 2 widows’ children for their education and trained 30 youths in robotics education and 26 in adult education.
They provided agricultural support by distributing 500 seedlings of Grevillea and 80 seedlings of pawpaw trees. Additionally, Nyanam provided 207 chicks to young people to aid in poultry farming.
The widows themselves were not merely passive participants. They actively showcased their learnings through skits and songs that conveyed messages of asset management, land rights, preparing traditional meals, and achieving land justice for widows. The day was filled with song, dance, and laughter, creating a powerful atmosphere of empowerment and solidarity.
