Sofia Rajab Hassan

Sophia Rajab Hassan was born in 1967 in Busia, Sioport and was the firstborn in a family of four children. Her father earned a small living by fishing, and her mother was a smallholder farmer.

Neither had steady employment. They survived on fishing and odd jobs for other people so that the family could eat.

Her parents struggled to pay for her education, and she studied up to class seven before they could no longer afford to keep her in school. She stayed home and helped her mother until the time came for her to marry.

Sophia married a man from Kakamega and moved there to start her own family. Her husband worked hard as a casual construction laborer, building houses to support them, while Sophia stayed at home as a housewife.

God blessed them with seven children. Raising and educating them was a great struggle, but they pushed through together. Three of the children have since married, and the others are still growing.

Sadly, Sophia's husband was involved in an accident and passed away, leaving her to carry the family's responsibilities alone. To keep the household going, she started making and selling samosas, sold a few vegetables, and joined small women's table-banking groups. Through these efforts, and with whatever grace God provided, she managed to educate her children.

Later, Sophia was diagnosed with asthma and hypertension. Every time she fried samosas, the smoke and heat sent her to hospital, and the doctors strictly warned her to stay away from both. She had to give up the samosa business and switch to selling kale, tomatoes and onions, which earns her only a small profit.

Her daily income is far from enough for the family's needs. She lives with two grandchildren who depend on her for food and schooling, and she needs continuous treatment for her asthma. Buying medicine while feeding the household became an overwhelming daily struggle.

In August 2026, Sophia was enrolled in the Mama Ibado Seniors Feeding Programme. She now lives in a semi-permanent house in Majengo, Amalemba, Kakamega, with her two grandchildren. Each month she receives a food hamper of sugar, milk, tea leaves, maize flour, porridge flour, cooking oil and salt.

Sophia says the hamper has changed her days. She no longer sleeps hungry, and she no longer worries about whether there will be something to cook. The food cushions her through the weeks when business is slow, and it has made life much easier for her and her grandchildren.

Because food is now covered, the little she earns from selling vegetables can go toward other needs, including her medicine and the children's schooling. Her grandchildren eat well and go to bed with full stomachs, and that peace of mind means a great deal to her.

Sophia is deeply grateful to Mama Ibado and everyone who makes the programme possible. She thanks Almighty God and prays that He rewards their kindness and blesses them even more abundantly. As a widow doing her best for her family, she says the support has helped her sustain herself and her grandchildren. She is truly thankful.