Kenya on Monday joined the rest of the world in marking the 21st International Widows’ Day with a national event held at Buga Primary School in Nyamira County.
The ceremony was presided over by First Lady Rachel Ruto, who delivered a heartfelt call to action focused on restoring dignity, advancing economic empowerment, and ending the marginalization of widows across the country.
In her keynote address, the First Lady reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting widows through both policy and practical initiatives, highlighting the strides made to ensure they are not left behind in the country’s development agenda.
“Widows deserve empowerment, not exclusion. They should be given opportunities to participate fully in economic and social life,” she stated.
Mrs. Ruto noted that over 15,000 widows have so far benefited from financial support under government programs such as the Hustler Fund and county-level women enterprise initiatives, enabling many to revive or start businesses. Additionally, more than 2,000 widows have obtained Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) certificates, opening doors to government tenders and contracts.
While lauding these achievements, the First Lady stressed that economic empowerment alone is insufficient if harmful cultural practices persist.
“We must confront deep-rooted traditions that rob widows of their dignity, property, and voice. True empowerment requires changing both mindsets and systems,” she urged.
She encouraged widows to join self-help groups and community-based organizations, which she said are crucial platforms for accessing various government empowerment funds and services.
Mrs. Ruto further appealed to the broader public to step up and support widows in their communities, not just through policy but through daily acts of compassion and generosity.
“Let’s visit them, listen to them, and share what we have from our homes, farms, or even our time. It is all part of nation-building,” she said.
Responding to growing calls for the establishment of a special government fund for widows, Harriette Chiggai, President Ruto’s Advisor on Women’s Rights, clarified that while no dedicated fund will be created, widows are encouraged to align with existing government financing mechanisms.
“Many state programs already exist. What we need is better alignment and awareness so that widows can fully benefit,” she said.
Nominated MP Irene Mayaka announced plans to table a formal request in Parliament for the creation of a centralized database of widows in Kenya. The goal, she said, is to gather accurate data to enhance policy planning, resource allocation, and budget responsiveness.
“We can only effectively cater to widows’ needs if we have reliable statistics. This is the first step toward responsive governance,” Mayaka emphasized.
