A 63-year-old widow from Rangwe in Homa-Bay County has benefited from a housing charitable programme sponsored by Habitat for Humanity- Kenya, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
The delighted widow, Ruth Anyango, a resident of Nyaliech village said the support was life changing saying they had endured harsh conditions in the makeshift structure they called a home for many years.
Speaking at the construction site where the organisation is putting up a modern house for the family, Anyango expressed gratitude for the charitable organisations’ support.
She said their house collapsed five years ago and they were forced to live in a makeshift structure which leaks heavily during rainy seasons.
Anyango said some nights they occasionally sleep in neighbours’ houses. “We live in abject poverty with lack of basic necessities like food, clothing and decent housing,” she added.
She said she lost her husband in 1973 after living with him for only three years after which life turned for the worse.
Anyango and her five grandchildren who are also orphans are expected to move to a modern house upon completion of the construction in the next few weeks.
The Habitat for Humanity- Kenya Community Development Officer Vivian Lutsenjia said they have built 48 houses for vulnerable families since they started the programme.
“We want to cushion the beneficiaries against contracting diseases besides enabling them to engage in economic activities,” Lutsenjia said.
The organisation’s steering committee Chairman in Rangwe, Michael Otiego said they have identified more people who need houses and set to be included in the programme.
He said many people don’t have the ability to construct comfortable houses due to high poverty levels in the area.
By Davis Langat
