Celebration of International Widows Day 2022

Celebration of International Widows Day 2022

State Department for Gender Chief Administrative Secretary Hon. Dr. Jebii Kilimo presided over the International Widows Day 2022 event themed; “Dignity -Economic Empowerment and Social Justice for Widows.”


International Widows Day sheds light on the epidemic of widowhood, a humanitarian crisis that has gone unnoticed for long.


In her keynote address during the event held in Siaya County yesterday, Hon Linah Jebii Kilimo highlighted that the Ministry is happy to work with Widows of Kenya and to see their lives changing because they have a difficult task of taking care of the family in the absence of their spouses.


“As a Ministry, we are committed to supporting women through empowerment programmes and that’s why we came up with Thamini loan to help uplift the livelihood for widows, we commit to work with you in addressing injustices and any other issues that affect widows” said Hon. Kilimo.


Come Together Widows and Orphans Organization founder Ms Dianah Kamande said that the organisation will at all time continue to protect and safeguard the rights of widows and orphans.
“I would like to call on State and non state actors to work together in ensuring Widows are protected” said Ms Kamande.


Widows and their children make upto 15% of the world’s population which translated to 258 million widows, 115 million of whom live in extreme poverty, according to a 2010 study.


Women Enterprise Fund disbursed Ksh 30 Million to various women groups in Siaya County .
The Ministry of Public Service, Gender, SeniorCitizensAffairs and Special Programmes has been in the front line in Making Widows Matter by Empowering them Economically through Thamini Mjane Special Loan Product which was specifically tailor made for Widows by Women Enterprise Fund.
Also present was ; Hon. James Orengo, Senator Siaya County, Ms Bernadette Loloju CEO Anti FGM Board, Mr. Peter Lengapiani, CEO Uwezo Fund, Commissioner Njoki Kahiga Chairperson WEF.

Winnie Mburu

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