Borrowers changed to Lenders.

Borrowing from banks and microfinance institutions has been a good thing. It has been so effective till Covid-19 emerged. Most women in Kathonzweni Kenya depended on borrowing fund for educating children and doing small businesses least did they know that the pandemic would lead them to more problems.

Ofter lock down the normal routine was resumed. The bank and microfinance institutions employees set out to recover the funds that had been borrowed by families in our community. Finding out that the families can not pay back the funds because of the effects of Covid-19, they decided to do things that were worse to the families in question and the guaranters to the loans.

I was number one guaranter. They arrived in my home very early in the morning in a convoy of motorbikes and a lorry. Accompanied by some security officers. Without any questions they started taking anything they came across in my compound. They took all my animals,chairs, tables and many others worthy thousands of money.

They did the same to our other members of the group in turn and the whole village was in total mess. Some women were chased away from home other were rejected by their husbands and relatives. We lost ten times more than what we had borrowed.

What we thought was a solution to our problem changed to a source of multiple problems. Children never went back to school, some families had no roofs and doors on their houses because they were also removed and carried away. Nobody was willing to assist.

Personally I had no loan. I was Just a group leader and guaranter. Tears roll down my cheeks when I remember the day it was on 24th of December the Christmas Eve. Instead of celebration it was sorrow. It was just some few days to school opening. What a challenge.

To be a leader it needs strength. I assembled the affected families and talked to them. I told them to keep praying though it was very difficult to make them understand.

We worked hard in difficulties by doing any casual work around to generate small income.

We started an intiative called Kithyululu development intiative. This initiative helped us acquire small internal loans to cater for food and upkeep.

We have succeeded in buying a few  dairy cows to the families to help empower them. We are hoping to have our own microfinance in future. Many other groups are joining kithyululu development initiative to learn and take control of their own finances. Our children are back to school and our house are particularly replaced. It hasn't been easy as the initiator of the project. I have undergone many challenges. Being a widow it has been difficult to access fairness but I have always stood firm in advocacy for the women and girls in the community.

I am happy to say giving is more fulfilling than taking. Visit  Kithyululu development initiative page.