Zainabu Zalesa

Born in 1945 in Nanyuki, Laikipia County, Zainabu Zalesa’s life has been defined by perseverance. The second-born among four siblings, she never had the opportunity to attend school. Instead, she stayed home, helping her mother with household chores, unaware of the hardships that lay ahead.

At 20, she married her first husband, and together they had five children. Her husband worked as a driver, providing for the family while Zainabu cared for their home. But life took an unexpected turn—the couple separated, leaving Zainabu to raise their children alone.
With no prior work experience, she struggled to provide for her family. In time, she met and remarried another man, with whom she had two more children. He helped raise all the children, offering her some stability. But once again, fate was unkind. Marital conflicts led to another painful separation, and this time, her husband took their two children and disappeared, leaving Zainabu to fend for herself and her remaining children.

As the years passed, life became even harder. She worked as a house help, doing whatever she could to put food on the table. But the constant stress and exhaustion took a toll on her health, and she developed low blood pressure. Just when she thought she had endured enough, another unexpected twist came—her first husband returned, now bedridden with hypertension. Despite her own struggles, Zainabu took him in and cared for him, choosing compassion over resentment.

Together, they lived in fragile health, relying on the kindness of well-wishers and distant relatives. Some days, they had nothing to eat. In this desperate situation, Zainabu encountered Mama Ibado Charity. After sharing her story, she was enrolled in the feeding program, bringing her much-needed relief.