On October 20, 2022, we highlighted a story of six orphans living in abject poverty in Obunga slums in Kisumu.
So bad has been their situation that 22-year-old Vivian Awino, the family’s firstborn, who is also a mother of one, and her sisters have been using their old clothes as sanitary pads.
They have had no home and have been using old torn clothes as bedding in a makeshift structure that gladly welcomes scorching sun in the day, and water when it rains.
Their fourth born Maureen Marenya, 17, is also a mother of one while Sheryl Atieno, 19, is in Form 4, as 18-year-old Reagan Otieno prepares for his KCPE exams.
Winslet Achieng, 12, and Juliet,8, are in classes 7 and 5 respectively.
Vivian, who now aspires to study Beauty Therapy, and Maureen had been forced to drop out of school.
The family now has a reason to smile after Kisumu Central Member of Parliament Joshua Oron came to their aid and promised to pay their school fees and take care of them.
According to Oron, he read about their story while in church on Sunday morning and promised to visit them in their Obunga home.
"I read about their sad story in the morning when I was in church and I decided to visit them so that I see for myself what the story is about. What I have found here is unique, in a way, it’s like children who are looking after children since two of the siblings are also mothers," he said.
"These young girls deserve better and they deserve to be in school or training in one way or another because the help we are giving today is not long-lasting. What we found here is abject poverty that is quite disheartening and a challenge to the community,” he said while donating household items including cooking flour, cooking oil, soap, rice, milk, four mattresses, two cartons of pads, and blankets among others.
While promising to ensure they get the right education, he hoped that they will study hard for success.
Vivian who could not hide her joy said her prayers were answered. "I have been praying and fasting to God to see my family through and indeed today I have seen how faithful he is, “she said.
She hopes that her siblings will study hard and lift her family in the coming days.
Read the family’s whole story here.
