William Ochieng’ Radido

In the quiet corners of Kakamega’s Alkareem slums lives William Ocheng' Radido, a man whose weathered hands and steady spirit tell a story of endurance. Born in 1958 in Ugenya, Siaya County, William’s journey has been marked by hardship, but also by an unyielding determination to keep moving forward.

Life’s challenges pushed him away from home at a young age, leading him to Kakamega where he found work as a security guard. In 1982, he married, and together with his wife, raised seven children. She sold vegetables by the roadside while William tried different ventures, including selling household items. But the relentless weight of economic struggles eventually sank the small business.

To survive, William turned to making ropes from sisal, a skill that has kept food on the table, but never enough to lift his family out of poverty. Today, his grown children face the same uncertainties he battled in his youth.

A turning point came when Mama Ibado Charity stepped in. The organization provides William with food supplies that now sustain not just him, but also his children and grandchildren who live under his roof. He also receives free medical care at the charity’s weekly clinic, including treatment for an eye problem he could not have afforded.

“I pray to God to bless Mama Ibado Charity so that it continues supporting vulnerable seniors like myself,” William says, his voice a blend of gratitude and hope.

For William, each day remains a struggle, but thanks to the kindness of Mama Ibado Charity, the burden is a little lighter, and the future feels a little less uncertain.