A group of Humanists, who participate in different Thematic Tables of the World Humanist Forum, organized a visitation and engagement meeting with widow groups in Kisumu, Kenya.
The visit provided an opportunity to interact directly with collectives of widows, listen to their experiences, understand their existing economic and social initiatives, and identify opportunities for partnership and support. The engagement also created a platform for the women to share their views on issues affecting their livelihoods, family relationships, health, legal rights, psychosocial wellbeing, and economic independence.
The meeting brought together representatives from several widow groups within the network. Secretary Caroline highlighted the following groups: Women’s Will, Rupias Widows, Kadiju, Goethe, Welwor, Kichotan, Obed, Smart Widows, Kikital, Bungusta, Kamola, Mawasa, Blessed Chiga, Step Up, Kamrongo, Chogo Umpjmoja, Woth Kendi, Talented Joy, Kadhiambo, Blessed, Konya, Flaningo, Kanyaika, and Happy Widows.
The visitation demonstrated that although the groups have developed different initiatives to support their members, many continue to operate within difficult economic and social circumstances.
Engagement with Rupias Widows Group
The Rupias Widows Group provides a platform where members can air their views, support one another, participate in collective activities, and organize community events.
The group is involved in several initiatives, including Jitegemee 360 Basket; SRHR for Adolescent Girls; the Sugar initiative; Family Matters, focusing on positive parenting; My Health, My Choice, targeting children aged 9–12 years; Gender-Based Violence prevention and awareness and advocacy around land and property rights.
Table banking is the group’s main economic activity. Members are also involved in farming, mtumba businesses, savings initiatives, and other small-scale income-generating activities.
However, the women expressed concern that their current savings and economic activities are not sufficient to sustain their households and meet their needs. Other challenges identified affecting their members were family relationships and social isolation. Also land-related disputes are a significant concern, with widows often being disproportionately affected. They expressed the need of stronger connections with legal institutions and law-enforcement agencies. to have a better access to justice. In addition, was told that healthcare costs and access to services remain problematic for vulnerable women.
Engagement with Happy Widows Group
The Humanist Group also engaged the Happy Widows Group, which was represented by 23 participants.
The group’s main economic activity is table banking. Members also received a machine for producing chlorine for sale and are seeking to improve branding and marketability. A political aspirant has expressed interest in visiting the group and potentially supporting the branding process.
Hairdressing and salon-related activities were also identified as income-generating opportunities. The group expressed interest in farming but highlighted challenges affecting agricultural activities in the Kano area.
Engagement with NEDP Representative
The meeting also engaged Lavina Achieng Oduor, a representative of the National Economic Development Party (NEDP). The engagement provided an opportunity to explore how the party’s networks and development structures could potentially support the Happy Widows Community-Based Organization through development opportunities, partnerships, skills development, institutional linkages and advocacy for programmes benefiting vulnerable women and communities.
It was further recommended that widow groups in Kisumu explore collective approaches to accessing women-focused development funds and other empowerment programmes.
Engagement with the Survivors Group
The Humanist Group also engaged the Survivors Group, represented by Coordinator Rachael.
The group was established in 2019 and has continued to operate despite significant challenges, including the effects of post-election violence. Some members experienced sexual violence during the post-election period. Their experiences highlight the continuing need for psychosocial support, economic empowerment, protection, access to justice, and long-term recovery programmes for survivors.
The Survivors Group is engaged in various economic empowerment and community initiatives, such as Bread making, Weaving, Crocheting, Soap making, Charcoal-related activities, Pad drives, Women’s economic empowerment and life coaching and mentorship for young people.
The group’s continued existence demonstrates considerable resilience among its members.
Innovation in the fish industry
Felix shared an innovative initiative within the fish industry under the slogan “Eat Fish, Wear Fish.” The initiative explores value addition through the use of fish skin to produce products such as bags, shoes, and ornaments.
This demonstrates how locally available resources can be transformed into marketable products, creating employment opportunities and alternative livelihoods. The initiative presents an opportunity for further support in product development, branding, marketing, business skills, and access to markets.
Cross-Cutting Issues Identified
Although the groups operate differently, several common challenges emerged. Firstly their economic vulnerability: Most groups depend on small-scale activities that often provide insufficient income. Secondly, their psychosocial wellbeing is strongly affected: Widows and survivors continue to experience isolation, neglect, trauma and family conflicts. Moreover, they lack proper access to justice. Land disputes, Gender Based Violence, property rights, and other violations require stronger legal and justice linkages.
All the groups require support to understand and access government empowerment programmes while stronger partnerships with healthcare providers are needed. Finally, several initiatives remain constrained by limited branding, capital, skills, and access to reliable markets.
Proposed Areas of Collaboration with the Humanist organization
Many areas of collaboration were identified during the exchanges. Among them, psychosocial support and counselling, economic empowerment, entrepreneurship training and literacy in finances and savings programmes.
As an important field of partnering is to improve the legal and human-rights awareness, to support family strengthening and reintegration as well as programs for the prevention of Gender Based Violence and survivors support.
Other areas to explore are the development of agricultural and livestock projects, capacity building in different skills, vocational training, market linkage and product development strategies.
To help by a stronger networking and advocacy among widow groups, arranging courses for youth mentorship and life coaching, and develop possibilities of partnership with government, churches, financial institutions, and civil-society organizations.
Conclusion
The Humanist Group’s visitation to widow groups in Kisumu provided valuable insight into the realities facing widows and survivors while also demonstrating their resilience, creativity, and determination to build better lives for themselves and their families.
The engagement showed that the women are not simply recipients of support. They are already organizing, saving, creating businesses, developing skills, supporting young people, advocating for their rights, and building community resilience.
However, their ability to achieve sustainable independence remains constrained by limited capital, inadequate market access, weak social support systems, legal challenges, healthcare barriers, and limited access to government and financial opportunities.
The findings point towards the need for a partnership-based and empowerment-focused approach. Interventions should combine economic empowerment, psychosocial support, family strengthening, legal protection, healthcare access, and community networking.
The Humanist Group can play an important convening role by bringing together widow groups, government institutions, civil-society organizations, financial institutions, churches, legal actors, and other development partners.
Ultimately, the goal should be to move the groups from vulnerability and survival towards dignity, resilience, economic independence, stronger families, and meaningful participation in community development.
