Widows in a Changing Society: A Case Study on Widows' Challenges and Support Mechanisms in Select P.C.E.A. Churches in Nairobi

Abstract

Widowhood is becoming a crisis in Africa due to many political conflicts. In the escalating death rates, Kenya also has its share of men's untimely deaths due to causes like the AIDS epidemic and motor accidents, among others. Men die in greater numbers because of the nature of work involved. These deaths leave many young and some elderly widows. Since 80% of the Kenyan population is said to be Christian, many widows are found within the Church. The Church has not been known for doing much about her widows. What is the future of our Church widows in a changing society that has discarded traditional leviratic practises which were meant as a measure to care for widows? The purpose of this study was to explore, describe and analyze Church widows' challenges and the support mechanisms they apply to cope with widowhood. This was done by surveying widows from six Presbyterian Church of East Africa (P.C.E.A) churches in Nairobi, selected because of convenience and judgmental criteria. They were easy to reach due to their location in the city and the fact that the researcher had some knowledge of this denomination, being a full member. This study has found that widows have enormous challenges socially, eco- nomically, psychologically and religiously. Widows were found to be exploited and a hurting people due to their new life status. They felt severely deprived and abused by the society as a result of which they had become very sensitive and 'silent. They were not easy to probe because opening to anybody was to them exposing their 'self for possible exploitation especially by the opposite sex. De- spite this, they exposed such challenges that were real and disturbing in life and that were supported to be true by church leaders who interacted with widows in the course of their church ministry. Widows were found to be suffering from lack of companionship because they were afraid of just any company for fear of being scandalized, mostly by other women as well as the rest of the society, Widows felt stigmatized and vulnerable to the society which they blamed for spying on their character. The situation was made worse by the fact that their friends were not genuine anymore after their loss and were known to have cut off relationships with them for fear of interfering with their on-going marriages.