Ester Maikuri, Kenya

Ester Maikuri’s modest home stands on a gentle slope, surrounded by small fields of corn and millet with banana trees. She lives in the fertile highland of northwest Kenya. The mother of three lost her husband six years ago. Her status as a widow defines her existence. She lives on her father-in-law’s farm, and helps when and where she can. This prosperous man owns three farms with a total of over five hectares. Round here, that makes him a large-scale farmer.

Ester is allowed 20 plots? ares of farmland for her and the children. Like most of her neighbors, she grows corn and finger millet. She also has a few banana trees. Together with four head of cattle and some hens, this keeps the family fed - provided that the crops stay free of pests and disease. Tea thrives up here, and brings in a little cash for fertilizer. If she needs more, Ester hires with a local farmer. A day’s labor earns her 50 Kenyan shillings, around 67 US cents.

For Ester, fieldwork is women’s work. That is simply the way it is. However, men make take 90 percent of the farm and domestic decisions. In this relatively prosperous, densely inhabited region, whose inhabitants receive an above-average education, single women account for just five percent of households.

Communal saving gives women new opportunities

Ester Maikuri founded a women’s group that pools money. Its 20 members pay 120 shillings a month into their communal fund. 100 of those join the savings deposit for the group’s micro-credit business. The remaining 20 shillings go into what they call a ‘merry-go-round’ kitty. This rotating fund lets each member in turn buy something she could not otherwise afford.

Ester would like the widows in the group to meet separately as well, because they have specific problems. For her, the greatest handicap is lacking the funds to rent additional land or hire day labor. That was no problem when her husband was still alive. His small agricultural business regularly contributed household cash. Ester was able to farm triple the current area.

When asked what she wants to do with her life, given that she is still very young, Ester has a clear answer: “I will raise my children here”. Elementary school is now free, so she does not need to look for additional work. A second marriage and starting a new family would be practically impossible. The husband would have to move in with her, which could only happen if he came from her father-in-law’s extended family. In other regions, families ensure young widows’ livelihood by “bequeathing” them to a brother of the dead husband, but that does not happen round here.

Ester Maikuri will go on planting millet and the popular corn variety ‘614’ in her small fields. She will continue to fear pests and crop diseases. And she will remain a good example of how strong the desire can be to improve one’s lot – for example by founding a savings club.