Kilifi senator Stewart Madzayo addresses widows in Malindi town, Kilifi County where he donated Sh. 300,000 towards their welfare and promised to help widows, widowers and orphans in navigating inheritance and succession cases in courts. Photo by Ben Okweingoti. 
By Ben Okweingoti.
The Kilifi County Government has allocated Sh10 million to facilitate the registration of widows, widowers and orphans into the Social Health Authority (SHA), in a major intervention aimed at improving healthcare access for some of the county's most vulnerable residents.
The announcement was made by Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro during a widows' empowerment programme held at Barani Secondary School grounds, where he also pledged legal support for widows and orphans facing inheritance disputes.
Governor Mung'aro said the fund will primarily target vulnerable families who have been unable to afford SHA registration, leaving many without access to essential healthcare services.
He directed the leadership of the Kilifi Widows Association, led by its president Elizabeth Muthoka, to conduct a comprehensive registration exercise to identify widows who are yet to be enrolled under SHA.
"We want all widows to be registered with SHA so that whenever they seek medical treatment, they do not face challenges in paying hospital bills," the governor said.
Beyond healthcare, Mung'aro announced that the county government would provide free legal representation to widows involved in land and inheritance disputes, noting that many have been dispossessed of their property following the deaths of their spouses.
He said beneficiaries would only be required to meet the mandatory court filing fees, while county lawyers would offer legal representation at no cost.
"They will only pay the fees required by the courts, but our lawyers will represent them to ensure they get justice," he said.
The governor further directed his deputy, County Executive Committee Members and chief officers to develop programmes specifically targeting widows to improve their economic wellbeing through county-funded empowerment initiatives.
Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo, who attended the event, donated Sh300,000 towards the widows' welfare programme and pledged continued support in helping them pursue justice in inheritance-related cases.
He said legal protection was critical in safeguarding the rights of widows, many of whom continue to face discrimination and unlawful eviction from their matrimonial homes.
Elizabeth Muthoka, popularly known as Mama Dadu and the patron of widows in Kilifi County, described the hardships facing widows across the county as heartbreaking.
"Some widows are living in extremely difficult conditions. Their suffering brings me to tears. I appeal to county government lawyers and FIDA to stand with these women and protect their rights," she said.
Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi urged all widows in the county to register with the association, saying a comprehensive database would enable both the national and county governments to design targeted support programmes and ensure assistance reaches those who need it most.
