Homa Bay Single Father Battling Kidney Problem Appeals For Help: "Wife Left When I Became Sick"

• Fifty-eight-year-old Homa Bay man expressed frustration at fending for his family since he became sick
• Didacus Ouma revealed that his wife abandoned him nearly 10 years ago with three children, including an eight-month-old baby
• He pleaded with the government and well-wishers to support him to get back on his feet and provide for his young family

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Homa Bay - A 58-year-old man residing in Ruma-Kaksingri ward, Homa Bay county, shares his struggle amidst challenging circumstances as he contends with health issues while also shouldering the responsibility of educating his children without any external support.

Didacus Ouma, a father of four, has been solely responsible for his family for nearly a decade following the departure of his second wife, who left him when he began experiencing unusual symptoms in his feet.

In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, Ouma revealed that he has been grappling with swelling and pain in his feet, severely limiting his ability to perform daily tasks and provide for his children.

"My main economic activity has been motorbike repair. When my feet started to swell, I could hardly maintain my work. The inconsistency in my work and money flow at home, together with the deteriorating health, bothered my wife who opted to walk out of the marriage and got married elsewhere, leaving behind our three children including an eight-month-old baby," re recalled.

Currently, his youngest child is in second grade, the second youngest is in sixth grade, and his eldest daughter from his second marriage is in Form One.

What is Didacus Ouma suffering from?

Ouma expressed his desperation, revealing that over time, the swelling in his feet progressed to his stomach, causing him considerable distress. This prompted him to seek additional medical assistance to determine the underlying issue.

Further elaborating, he shared that medical professionals diagnosed him with a kidney problem, advising him to attend regular clinic appointments for fluid drainage from his abdomen.

"I could feel my stomach stretch painfully, but I didn't have enough finances, so my neighbours and well-wishers contributed some cash, and I was taken for a scan. Whenever the fluid is withdrawn, I feel relaxed and in less pain. But I have to go for the service after every month, which also requires fare to and fro," Ouma noted.

Ouma disclosed that he has been undergoing fluid drainage procedures for the past three months.

How has ailing Didacus Ouma been surviving?

Given his health limitations, Ouma has had to adapt his work approach. Instead of providing full services to his clients, he now only offers tools and charges for their use, rather than for his labour.

He further mentioned that his children have been a great support during school closures, assisting him with his work whenever possible.

"Most motorbike riders know how to repair them. So they can just use my tools and pay me a little money for the tools. That's how I pay school fees and feed my family. Both my daughter and his immediate followers know how to repair motorbikes. Whenever they close school, they help me raise a better amount," he added.

He pleaded with the government and any well-wishers to get him out of this distress so he could embark on doing my normal duties.

Kisii woman appeals for help for convulsing son

In a different story, a desperate widowed woman from Kisii country expressed frustrations in fending for her two children.

The woman disclosed that one of her children has been experiencing convulsions since 2020 due to the possession of many neurones.

She pleaded for help, as the state of her poverty-stricken family has overwhelmed her.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke