Agneta Kedogo, born on December 31, 1945, in Kenya, had her formal education cut short after Standard Four due to the crushing weight of poverty and an inability to afford school fees. After leaving school, she eventually married and moved to Nairobi with her husband, and they started a family with one son and two daughters. However, her husband's earnings from his job at the City Council were insufficient to adequately support the family, leading them to relocate back to Kakamega. Soon after their return, her husband passed away, leaving her a widow and the sole provider for her young children.Raising her three children alone without any income was a monumental task, and she was unable to afford their education. The hardship forced her two daughters to marry early. Further misfortune struck when her son suffered an accident that necessitated the amputation of his leg. To secure food, Agneta was compelled to engage in physically demanding casual labor, locally known as vibarua. She would till people's farms and wash clothes for others, relying purely on luck to secure enough work just to put a meager meal on the table. The struggle extended even to housing, as she often had to plead and seek temporary shelter on other people's land.Agneta's fortunes changed when a sibling informed her about the Mama Ibado Seniors Feeding Program. She immediately reached out, saying she had prayed to God for assistance for herself and her children. Her prayers were answered, and she was accepted into the program, which provides essential comprehensive support. She now receives crucial food rations, including flour, sugar, milk, porridge flour, tea leaves, and salt, which she gratefully notes have stabilized the family's food security. Beyond sustenance, the program offers vital medical assistance; Agneta, who previously suffered from high blood pressure and dizzy spells, was diagnosed with high blood pressure and now receives medication. Her health has shown significant improvement, with her blood pressure beginning to reduce, and she diligently visits the clinic every Thursday for check-ups.Agneta expresses profound gratitude for the help, stating, "I am very happy with Mama Ibado. God bless her! Thank you so much for the work she has done for me, taking me from a place where I was suffering, struggling with my grandchildren for food." The need for continued assistance is critical because Agneta is an elderly woman who no longer possesses the strength for manual labor. Furthermore, she faces the challenging reality of being the primary caregiver for her handicapped son and other dependents, making the Mama Ibado program her sole, reliable source of food and medical care.
