By Phostine Wekesa, DevReporter, Trans Nzoia
Six of every ten Kenyan women are likely to be single mothers by the time they reach 45 years of age, one of the highest rates for single-parent households in Africa, according to a 2020 research. The pan-African study conducted by two Canadian sociologists reveals an astounding new face of the Kenyan household whereby a growing number of Kenyan women are being drawn into single parenthood by a variety of reasons.
This trend of single parenthood has become common in Trans Nzoia County in the recent past and it is attributable to factors like irresponsible fathers, struggle to cope with modernisation and peer pressure. Throughout their single parenthood, mothers in Trans Nzoia, as is in other places around the country, face a myriad of difficulties raising their children.
Single Motherhood Journey
The causes and repercussions of single parenthood have not received considerable attention in Trans Nzoia County despite single mothers facing daunting challenges. The high levels of unemployment minimise the ability of single mothers to earn a decent salary, which leads them to live in conditions of extreme poverty.
For instance, single mothers living in poverty often struggle to provide food and clean drinking water to their children without mentioning access to appropriate housing facilities or shelter. Access to basic provisions crucial to the health and overall wellbeing of their children is always a challenge.
Sarah, a single mother to 5 children from Kipsongo area in Kitale narrates her story and the struggles she has gone through to raise her family. “Some of us chose to be single parents, others forced into it by circumstances. Regardless of the reasons, one often feels immensely unprepared for the task ahead,” Sarah said.
She has been a single mother for more than 10 years now. She shares a glimpse into her journey and how she manages to raise and educate her children.
According to her, the journey has had its fair share of struggles. Sarah pays Ksh 300 monthly rent for her single room house in Kipsongo while also having to settle other bills and feed her family.
She runs a small business selling vegetables and farm produce. In addition, she works in peoples’ farms doing menial jobs as well as other house chores to raise money for food and other utilities. She says that the amount she is paid is barely enough to feed her family and educate the children.
On a good day Sarah raises Ksh 1000 to Ksh 1500 whereas on a bad day she can go home with as low as Ksh 300, and sometimes nothing. With the steadily rising cost of living, she says that it is becoming increasingly difficult for her to sustain herself and her family.
Despite all the challenges she faces as the sole provider for her household, Sarah has managed to take two of her children to high school with the help of bursary that she gets from the Constituency Development Fund and from the well-wishers for whom she sometimes works.
She says that “it is the joy of every parent to see her kids in school, I work hard to make sure that the money I get helps in supporting their dreams. Some days I go out not knowing what to do but that has never killed my hope”.
When she was asked about what keeps her going, she stated: “Focusing on the kids no matter how hard and overwhelmed I may get has been my biggest motivation.”
Hope At The End Of The Dark Tunnel
Albeit with difficulty, Sarah has never relented in providing for her children’s basic needs. Single women sacrifice a lot, including saving the little they earn, even going hungry during the day to save money and provide education for their children in the hope that it will increase their chances of getting decent jobs and in turn help them navigate their way out of poverty.
Poverty Reduction Measures by the Government
One hundred and twenty-eight needy students have so far benefited from Elimu Scholarship in the County of Trans Nzoia which was flagged off by the county commissioner Mr Samson Ojwang and Mr Michael Chege, the Equity Bank Kitale branch manager. The scholarship has gone a long way to ensure that needy students are able to stay in school
The county government has promised to reduce poverty levels through helping the needy to improve their living standards.
