BONDO, Siaya- For years, rain meant fear for Mweli Munyao.
When dark clouds gathered, water would seep through the roof of her leaking house, flooding the floor and forcing her to spend the night scooping water instead of sleeping.
Widowhood had stripped her not just of a partner, but of safety, dignity and stability.
Today, she stands in front of a solid roof over her head — dry, safe and her own.
“When I got married, I had a leaking house. Every time it rained, I had to remove water from the floor,” she says quietly. “But today, I thank God. I have a house.”
Mweli is among thousands of widows whose lives are being rebuilt through the Dr Raymond Omollo Widow Empowerment Programme, an initiative offering shelter, livelihoods and protection to some of Kenya’s most vulnerable women.
-Restoring dignity beyond shelter-
The programme goes beyond bricks and mortar. It supports widows to rebuild their lives economically, socially and emotionally.
In rural villages, women who once depended on handouts are now forming groups, starting small businesses, and earning their own income.
“We founded a group called the Kojier Widows Women Group to help us start businesses,” one beneficiary explains.
“But since its inception, we had not made much progress. This programme boosted our businesses. For the first time, we are moving forward.”
Plastic chairs and tents — modest as they may sound — have become income-generating tools, hired out during community events to support households that previously had no steady income.
-A programme spreading across the country-
What began as a local intervention has grown into a nationwide effort.
“This programme is no longer confined to our villages,” a coordinator says. “It has gone far and wide — Uasin Gishu, Turbo, Sugoi. Women in other parts of the country are receiving chairs, tents and support.”
The initiative is run by Interior Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo, whose involvement has earned him deep admiration among beneficiaries.
-I did not have a house. Now I do-
For Evelyn Owino, the transformation is deeply personal.
“I did not have a house before,” she says. “Now I do, since I was enrolled in this programme. I am happy.”
She says the support has helped her feed her children and protect her family from exploitation, a common risk faced by widows, particularly around land ownership.
“Through this programme, I was taught how to protect my household and my land,” she explains. “Widows are often targeted by relatives and others because they think we are weak.”
-A leader likened to Raila Odinga-
In Siaya and surrounding counties, some widows speak of Dr Omollo in almost reverential terms, drawing comparisons with ODM leader the late Raila Odinga, a political figure who has long shaped the region.
“To be sincere, Raymond Omollo is no different from Raila Odinga,” Owino says. “Just like Raila helped us, Raymond has done much. We have a new father now, a father of widows and their children.”
Another widow adds, “We are happy with Raymond. He helped us during this holiday season. Even widows from Siaya are benefiting. His leadership is effective.”
-Reaching women once cut off from government-
For Rose Anyango from Siaya County, the programme opened doors that had long been shut.
“Before this programme, we did not know how to reach the national government,” she says. “We only heard about Raymond Omollo and this programme, and when we met him, things changed.”
She believes the initiative reflects a leadership style rooted in empathy.
“Jaduong Raila had the heart of the people,” she says. “And Raymond has the same heart. He walks across the country helping everyone, regardless of tribe.”
-Numbers behind the impact-
So far, the programme has disbursed more than Sh200 million, empowering 22,620 widows across Kenya.
It has supported 377 women’s groups in 42 constituencies, while 601 bright and needy university students have received scholarships.
Environmental conservation is also built into the initiative. Sixty-nine women’s groups have received fruit and tree seedlings, an investment meant to mature into long-term income.
“In three to five years, these women will harvest timber, fruit and fodder,” Dr Omollo says. “This is climate action that pays rent, school fees and medical bills.”
In addition, the programme has donated over 2,200 plastic chairs, 500 water tanks for harvesting rainwater, and wheelchairs for women living with disabilities.
Its reach spans counties including Kisumu, Ndaragwa, Laikipia West, Makueni, Isiolo North, Kuria West, and Mwala.
-A gathering of hope in Bondo-
On December 28, hundreds of widows gathered at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Bondo, Siaya County, for another empowerment forum.
The event was attended by the programme’s patron, Dr Omollo, and ODM leader Oburu Odinga, a moment many widows described not just as political, but deeply personal.
For women like Mweli Munyao, the programme represents something simple yet profound; a chance to live without fear when it rains, to earn an income, and to raise children with dignity.
For the first time in years, the future no longer leaks.
