A Kwale lobby group has urged the national government to set aside funds to empower widows.
Tuwajali Wajane organisation founder and director Mwanasha Gaserego said most widows cannot access pensions left behind by their husbands who used to work in government.
She said the situation has caused widows to live deplorable lives as the burden of responsibilities falls on them.
"We have widows whose husbands were teachers while others served in the military, but years have passed without receiving a single penny from the government," Gaserego said.
She said the women are taken in circles when they inquire about their husbands' pensions.
Gaserego said the majority have given up as economic constraints tear them apart.
She said some have been unable to raise and educate their children for lack of money because their husbands' relatives have disowned them.
Others are physically assaulted and denied inheritance.
"We plead with the government to budget for the widows and have the money released to support them," she said.
Gaserego spoke during the launch of the Songeza Mjane programme in Msambweni.
The programme seeks to empower widows' socially and economically.
Gaserego said they are bringing the widows together and introducing them to various private and government-sponsored empowerment programmes and opportunities.
They include financial institutions where they can get loans and the Women Enterprise Fund.
More than 30 groups have so far enrolled and are yet to benefit.
Gaserego said the loans will assist the widows to establish businesses.
Beneficiary Priscilla Chulu said they are looking forward to starting savings and using the money to support their businesses.
She applauded Tuwajali Wajane for exposing them to opportunities they never knew existed.
"We are very happy. We didn't know there were certain funds to support women. We are going to take advantage of government projects to improve our lives," Chulu said.
A few months ago, Msambweni deputy county commissioner Lotiatia Kipkech urged the widows to make good use of government-funded programmes.
The widows had lodged complaints that they have been left out of government programmes.
But Kipkech denied the allegations, saying the government is committed to empowering women and protecting their rights.
Tuwajali Wajane is an NGO based in Kwale supporting widows.
It has 821 members and is funded by Samba Sports Youth Agenda under the Fazil Chinoy Fellowship.
Edited by A.N
