Kenyan single mother

As women across the world mark International Women’s Day, Ogichoya Kimogol from northern Kenya describes how she has coped as a young, single mother. “When I became pregnant at 17, there was a lot of pressure to get rid of the baby because I was not married. “None of the villagers here would talk to me then. I felt bad, I was really down and depressed when they rejected me like that. I felt like I was no longer a human being. I was so ashamed of myself.”

Ogichoya's mother, Nkarkar, says that when a girl in the Rendille community becomes pregnant outside of wedlock, a common predicament because of a lack of education or the girls have no control over sexual partners, she faces the terrifying prospect of a forced abortion. When this happens, she is taken out into the woods by local women, who step on her belly until she miscarries. "I didn't want Ogichoya to go through it as so many girls who do have lost their lives," she says.

Nkarkar turned to her local church, where she had heard about a women’s group who assist single mothers. “The church women came to help me,” says Ogichoya, “as I did not want to get rid of the baby. “They assisted me in putting up my hut; they collected sacks and boxes to cover the frame to build it. They bought me cooking pots and cups. “When I gave birth they supported me and brought clothes for my baby.”

Traditionally livestock, the community’s source of wealth, is passed from father to son so women are dependent on fathers and husbands to provide for them. “In the past, single mothers have had no way of supporting themselves,” says Ogichoya. “But the women’s group helped me to start up my own business selling tea, sugar and batteries. “That’s when people started to accept me and to buy a few things from me.” She now receives a steady stream of customers at her home.

“I sell the goods from my hut. I use any profit I make to buy more stock as well as food and clothes for the family,” says Ogichoya. “I buy maize which I grind at the mill and use it to feed my family. “I buy maize which I grind at the mill and use it to feed my family. “And if I want to make myself beautiful I buy beads to make into necklaces.”

“I learnt how to manage my business at a workshop run by a local Catholic organisation, the Diocese of Marsabit," says Ogichoya. “As well as the workshops, I meet with other young mothers every week and we talk about our work, share ideas and help each other with our problems.”

“Life here is hard for women,” says Ogichoya. “We have to fetch water and firewood, cook, make milk gourds, build the huts, milk the goats. Women do more work than men. “Even if a man slaughters a camel, he just kills it but then the women have to skin it and prepare it for eating.”

Traditionally people here live off their animals, moving from place to place to find pasture and water. “My parents have two camels and 50 goats but they lost 100 goats and four camels during the drought last year,” says Ogichoya. "Through my business I was able to support them. What I was earning was not enough but it helped. If I can continue with my business I think it will really help if there is drought again.”

“People have changed their attitude towards girls like me,” says Ogichoya. “Through running my business I have become a role model in this village. Now I am happy, I am healthy and I have a son, Hilary, who I really love. “Through running my business I have become a role model in this village. Now I am happy, I am healthy and I have a son, Hilary, who I really love. “Women have taken a step. We are now in a better position, not like before.”

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