By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 30 December 2025 - The colourful Widows’ Day gathering hosted by Kisumu West MP Rozaah Buyu at Ojola on Saturday was more than an end-of-year charity event.
It offered a glimpse into how the widows’ agenda is increasingly being framed as a governance and policy issue, driven both at the grassroots by elected leaders and at the national level by Interior and National Administration Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo.
Thousands of widows streamed into the venue, far exceeding expectations and forcing last-minute adjustments to logistics.
The turnout itself told a story of deep need and long-standing neglect. For analysts, the scale of the response underscored why widows have become a growing focus of social protection debates, particularly in regions where poverty, land disputes and social exclusion intersect.
MP Buyu said the event was deliberately timed to coincide with the festive season, when widows often feel most invisible.
“This is a day to bring widows together, especially at a time when many people are celebrating and forgetting about those who are most vulnerable in our society,” she said.
Each widow received food supplies, including three kilogrammes of rice and three kilogrammes of beans.
When it became clear that the numbers had surpassed 5,000, Buyu opted to stretch her resources rather than turn anyone away.
“There are over 5,000 and I don’t know how much it’s going to cost, but this is what leadership is all about. I’m going to do it,” she said, drawing cheers.
Beyond the symbolism of generosity, Buyu’s remarks reflected a broader shift in political thinking around widowhood — from episodic handouts to structured empowerment.
She announced plans to organise widows into forums at sub-location level across Kisumu West’s 23 sub-locations, a move aimed at improving coordination, access to programmes and advocacy.
“We want to organise widows into forums within each sub-location so that we can meet them in smaller, manageable groups and help them more effectively,” Buyu said.
This approach mirrors national conversations championed by PS Raymond Omollo, who has been quietly but steadily pushing the widows’ agenda within government systems.
Through his role overseeing national administration, Omollo has emphasised the need for accurate data, organised networks and collaboration between chiefs, county structures and elected leaders to reach widows who often fall through the cracks of conventional social protection schemes.
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Analysts note that Omollo’s influence has helped elevate widows’ issues from purely social or religious spaces into administrative and policy forums. In encouraging local organisation and engagement with state structures, the agenda has shifted towards sustainability rather than one-off relief.
Buyu’s initiative in Kisumu West fits squarely within this framework. While informal widow groups exist, she acknowledged that many are loosely organised and therefore struggle to benefit from training, funding or government programmes.
Formalising them at sub-location level could make them visible to both county and national interventions.
Religious leaders at the Ojola event reinforced the social dimension of the agenda, offering counselling and urging widows to support one another. One reverend reminded the women that widowhood should not be equated with hopelessness, a message that resonated strongly with attendees.
For widows like Jane Sioles from Maseno, the day was about more than food.
“We are thankful for what we have received, and we know that we can get more. May God bless those who have helped us and open more hands to support widows,” Buyu said.
Several women shared stories of survival through small-scale farming, caring for children and grandchildren, and navigating life without formal employment.
Their testimonies highlighted why policymakers like Omollo have argued that widows should be seen as economic actors who need tools, not just sympathy.
As Kenya grapples with inequality and social protection gaps, the convergence of grassroots initiatives like Buyu’s and policy advocacy driven by PS Omollo suggests a maturing widows’ agenda.
The focus is slowly shifting toward dignity, organisation, and inclusion in development planning.
For now, the Ojola gathering served as both a celebration and a reminder.
Widows are numerous, resilient, and increasingly organised, and their place in public policy can no longer be an afterthought.
Why Widows Are Becoming a Key Focus in Kenya's Social Protection Debates
Widows Need Structured Empowerment, Not Episodic Handouts
