Maseno South
Mothers’ Union worker: Josephine Owiti
This diocese covers an area around Kisumu to where hundreds of internally displaced people (IDPs) arrived in early 2008. Outreach work started at the transitory camp and members worked 24 hours a day to help the IDPs through counselling, prayers, donations of clothing and foodstuff and preparation of meals.
There are many activities in the diocese. Training has included subjects such as the role and relevance of Mothers’ Union in church and community, where members are role models. There have also been workshops for widows and training on goat keeping as well as a grain bank and clothes collection.
The diocese received a grant from Mary Sumner House and they were thrilled to be visited in 2009 by Rosemary Kempsall, Mothers’ Union worldwide President.
But the unpredictable weather results in food insecurity; mass cutbacks continue and unemployment is affecting small businesses. Poverty, prostitution, early marriage remain ever-present problems and cultural practices are still a hindrance to Mothers’ Union membership. There have been increased infections and deaths due to inadequate health facilities and hunger and poverty levels have trebled as a result of the skirmishes.
Bad roads make workers travel expensive, as fuel consumption is high and maintenance is costly.
