Mwanahawa Sophia Tua

Mwanahawa Sophia Tua was born in Kakamega, Shitao. Due to extreme poverty, her formal education ceased after Class Four. As a child, she assisted her mother and elder brother with chores and work at home.

At the age of 15, she married. This marriage resulted in one child before her husband became mentally unstable. She returned home to her family with her child. Facing crushing poverty, where even farming only yielded paltry earnings and food was scarce, Mwanahawa sought work elsewhere. Her subsequent employment in Nairobi paid a meager 400 shillings per month.

After returning home, she remarried and later became a widow when her second husband passed away. Managing life on her own was a constant struggle, with securing daily food being a persistent challenge.

To ensure she and her child could eat, Mwanahawa relied heavily on casual labor. She would take on physically demanding jobs like tilling people's farms and washing clothes for others. However, as she aged and her strength waned, maintaining this punishing routine became impossible, leaving her vulnerable and food insecure.

Mwanahawa's only child, a daughter, was married off, but her marriage remains unstable. Her daughter’s husband struggles to find consistent employment and relies solely on casual work. Due to this instability and financial hardship, the couple brought their children—Mwanahawa’s three grandchildren—and left them in her care. Mwanahawa's daughter’s marriage is constantly plagued by problems, and the task of feeding and caring for three young grandchildren on her own is a monumental challenge.

Mwanahawa’s life changed when she learned about the Mama Ibado Seniors Feeding Program. The program now provides essential support, including food rations. Crucially, she also receives medical assistance. Previously, she struggled to walk due to a swollen leg and suffered from high blood pressure. Now, she visits the clinic every Thursday for check-ups, and her health is improving: her leg is healing, and her blood pressure is being managed.

Mwanahawa expresses deep gratitude for the assistance, stating, "May God protect your life, may you never cease to help us."

The need for continued help is critical. Mwanahawa is an aging woman who lacks the strength to perform the casual labor she once relied on. She is the sole caregiver for her three grandchildren. Since none of the household members have steady income and her daughter lacks a stable home, the family is entirely dependent on the aid received through the Mama Ibado program to survive.