March 1-15, 2012
ISSUE 057
A bimonthly newspaper by the Media Diversity Centre, a project of African Woman and Child Feature Service
Abandoned wife now wants Government to intervene By Paul Olale
Over the last three years, a woman with five children has been living under pathetic conditions after the husband and the children’s father abandoned them. Julia Itiku, 49, has been living in a dilapidated house with her five children after the husband allegedly abandoned them three years ago in Eshisitswi sub-location, Marama Central Location, Butere District. She is now asking that the Government grant her and the children their social rights as well as compel the husband to meet his obligations. “If my husband does not want me, the Government should ensure my right to a good house, food and education of the children,” she said. Itiku says she is aware that these rights are provided for in the new Constitution under the Bill of Rights. Their house was damaged by a thunderstorm, but the husband, Jackson Lubanga, an employee of Ministry of Public Works in Nairobi, has so far failed to repair it. Itiku said instead, the man took all the furniture and other items from the house, and gave them to another woman he is alleged to have married after the incident.
Rights
Itiku noted that the husband accused her of being unfaithful, but according to her, the man started being hostile when she demanded he pays dowry to her parents, which he has failed to fulfil in their 30 years of marriage. “The man has since stopped sup-
porting the family including the education of the children,” he lamented. Attempts to compel him to provide for the family by the provincial administration and Eshinamwenyuli Youth Group, a local community-based organisation, and orders from Butere Law Court have so far failed. It is alleged the man parts with bribes to block these moves and also enjoys the protection of a powerful politician.
Plea
The woman is now asking that the Government to ensure her and the children get their due rights. “I have struggled through well wishers to pay fees for a boy child who sat for last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary of Education examinations but he may fail to go further if no action is taken immediately,” Itiku explains. She is banking so much hope on the child, who according to school reports, performs well and hopes to be doctor in future. She wants the husband to be compelled to repair the house, pay the long overdue dowry and school fees for the children, three of whom have dropped out. Together they have nine children,
Julia Itiku at the dilapidated house she lives in with her five children in Eshisitwi, Butere District after her husband allegedly abandoned them three years ago. Below: Some of her children cutting firewood to cook food a the home. Picture: Paul Olale four of whom died in the last three years due to the abject conditions they live in.
Tough conditions
Lukas Matendechere, the secretary of the area elder’s council, says according to the Luhya culture, it is wrong for the husband and relatives to abandon their traditional obligation of taking care of a wife and children. “The woman and the children also belong to the local ‘abamarama’ community and not just to Lubanga. As we censure him we should also play
“If my husband does not want me, the Government should ensure my right to a good house, food and education of the children.” — Julia Itiku, abandoned woman in Butere
our role,” observed Matendechere. The council’s attempts to press upon the man to give support and care for the family have so far failed. The surviving children are aged between 15 and 25 years. Itiku said she and the children survive on food donations from well-wishers. The poor state of the house forces them to bear the brunt of sunshine, wind and much worse, rainfall. When contacted on telephone, Lubanga stated that he only wanted the woman to go back to her parents for good, but she should leave the children behind and he was ready to support them however possible.
“The obstacle is the woman, and nobody can force me to love her again, why should she stick at our home?” he posed. So far Itiku’s hope is in the implementation of the new Constitution by the government, which states under Bill of Rights that every person has the right to accessible and adequate housing, and to reasonable standards of sanitation, and to be free from hunger. If other attempts to salvage the situation have failed, especially attaching the husband’s salary, then at least the Government is obliged to act under these provisions.
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