Vihiga County on Wednesday convened a special empowerment forum bringing together widows from all the six sub-counties, each represented by their respective group chairladies.
The meeting sought to address the social and economic challenges faced by widows and encourage them to form strong networks that could support their livelihoods and wellbeing.
Speaking during the forum, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Gender, Culture, Youth and Sports Dr. Ruth Agesa urged the widows to embrace unity by forming registered groups instead of remaining isolated.
She noted that organised groups stood a better chance of accessing government support, including credit facilities, training programmes and community development opportunities.
Dr. Agesa reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for widows to thrive.
She noted that through collaboration, access to information and stronger community networks, widows across Vihiga County would be better positioned to rebuild their lives.
She promised that all the widows would be included in all county development initiatives without discrimination as partners had already come forth and ready to offer them trainings.
During the discussions, several widows highlighted the various difficulties they faced such as land ownership disputes, delayed access to title deeds, and challenges in securing government assistance.
The Director for Gender, Children and Social Services Arthur Lisimba encouraged the women to continue educating and supporting one another within their groups.
He emphasised the importance of mentorship, sharing experiences and building resilience as key steps toward economic empowerment and social inclusion.
The forum brought together over 200 widows.
By Sarah Mwanisa
