A widow from Malindi is crying for justice after she failed to secure compensation for her husband, who died in a road accident nine years ago.
Charles Okong'o was an employee of Malindi Water and Sewerage Company.
Gladys Tatu, a mother of two, said the water company officials have been giving her false promises for years.
She broke down while narrating her ordeal to journalists at her home in Kaoyeni in the outskirts of Malindi town, where she moved after her husband's death.
"My husband died on August 21, 2012, that is years ago but for me, it feels like today because of what I have gone through in the last nine years. It's so sad, it has not been easy with the children, but I thank God he has been with me all those days," she said.
Tatu said her two children, one of whom in in college studying water engineering, and the other one a Form 2 student at Dr Kraph Memorial High School, have had fees challenges as her saloon business has gone down due to the tough economic times.
She said MAWASCO officials always ask her to wait for her husband's dues but to date, she has not received anything and wondered why they are not giving her the money in time to help her educate her children.
"I have been struggling for years yet their father's money is lying there. My children are suffering a lot, it's so painful, I pray for them to have mercy on me and my children to complete the process," she said.
Contacted for a comment, MAWASCO managing director Gerald Mwabire confirmed that the woman is yet to be compensated but disclosed that the matter was being handled by the company's insurance.
Tatu said if her husband was alive she would not be struggling as she is and prayed that her plea would be heard for the compensation to be released.
The husband, she said, was knocked down by a vehicle while on duty at Msabaha.
"The officials are telling me they are following up on insurance funds," she said.
Tatu is now planning on going to the Middle East to work and recently got a sponsor who paid Sh25,000 for her training in Mombasa and passport processing and is waiting for a chance to travel.
Her son, who is in Form 2, was sent home two weeks before exams due to fees arrears.
Trevor Oluoch Okong'o, who was with his mother at home during the interview, said when his father was alive, life was smooth as there was no time they would be sent home due to lack of fees.
However, currently, he said getting three meals a day is impossible and even what they eat is not enough.
"I pray that they have mercy on us so that we continue with our education like before, I work hard in school to have a better life in the future, without education life will be miserable," he said.
He said his mother has been applying for a bursary but had not succeeded all through which forces her to struggle.
-Edited by SKanyara
