Kajiado ‘used shoes’ NGO setting up houses for widows

More than 500 widows from Kajiado County will get shelter and source of livelihood from proceeds of second shoes donated by American well-wishers.

Most of the widows were kicked out of their matrimonial homes by relatives after the death of their husbands.

The widows decried ill-treatment by the relatives with their children being traumatised by people they earlier trusted.

However, for the last five years, a Non-Governmental Organization, Hope International, has been working with the widows to alleviate their suffering.

The NGO started by organizing the women into small prayer groups but has since extended its activities to collecting used shoes from abroad and shipping them into the country.

The donated shoes are sold in the local market and the money used for development initiatives.

Beneficiaries say the aid is a turnaround in their lives.

The NGO Director, Zipporah Nat, say that they have since bought some land in several parts of Kajiado and are now sub dividing it and putting up shelters for the widows.