Meet Josephine: Nasio Guardian & Beneficiary
December 2020
Meet Josephine Mukoya Kweyu, one of the Nasio Trust’s Guardians and Beneficiaries.
Josephine, a widow and mother of 7 girls, was born in Bumini village in 1968. She was the firstborn in a family of 7 (2 boys and 5 girls). She attended Bumini primary school where she sat for her CPE in 1983, and later joined Shikoti Girls Secondary school, then Amukura Girls where she did her secondary school national exams.
She served as untrained secretary at Emurundu’s clinic at Shianda in Mumias East. In 1990 she joined Bungoma college where she attained a certificate as an accountant, but was unable to progress to a diploma as she couldn’t afford the school fees.
She started married life in the year 1992 with husband Mr Hamisi Omusebe Chweya. They were blessed with 7 girls before her husband sadly died in February 2006 leaving her with the full burden of taking care of the family.
Due to the family pressure and traditions of the Luhya Community, Josephine was subject to forced inheritance by one of her late husband’s family members. He was an alcoholic, and both violent and irresponsible. Rather than suffer his abuse, Jospehine chased the man out of her house and decided to live as a widow in 2007. It was at this time she was introduced to the Nasio Trust which has changed her life for good.
Josephine was able to gain skills that have now enabled her to work as a Community health volunteer.
Nasio was also able to help:
- Support her to create rental houses to generate income
- Support her in small scale farming activities
- Sponsor 2 of her girls throughout their education
- Offer access to the school feeding program which has given her some economic relief
- Satisfy other basic needs such as bedding for the children.
She is very proud and grateful of what the Nasio Trust has done to help her after losing her husband. She can now support her family without constraints. She is among the most-respected women in the community, and was even appointed as a village elder to help in solving minor cases in the community – as well as offering guiding and counselling to the surrounding people.
This story is listed in: Inspirational Women, Success Stories
