The young widow who made it all happen

By Lucianne Limo

My mother was widowed at a very young age. She was only 41 when my father succumbed to cancer in 1987. He left her, a primary school teacher, with seven children, four of them in high school, to look after.

I was only 11 and did not understand the impact of my father’s death. But my mother did. She knew she had to continue to provide us with the best education and life my father, a senior cooperative officer, had given us and ensure we lacked nothing.

I look back 22 years later and cannot help but wonder how mother managed to bring us up single-handedly.

To describe my mother as courageous, independent, proud, intelligent, warm and a workaholic is an understatement.

She single-handedly saw us through primary and secondary school and college without running to friends and relatives for help. We lacked nothing.

Despite losing her husband at 41, Limo’s mother ensured her six children lacked nothing and successfully went through school. Lucianne Limo. Photo: courtesy

My brother, Emmanuel, and sisters, Catherine, Lydia, Caroline, Gracelyne, Tracy and I can proudly say we are, who we are because of our mother. Among us we have a PhD, Masters and Bachelor degrees to thank mother for.

Mother is a proud person who never discussed her problems with anyone. Whether it was school fees, land issues or teenage problems, my mother handled the problem on her own.

She was courageous and believed she could conquer whatever challenges came her way.

A religious woman, my mother instilled in us the fear of God. Going to church is very important to her. I remember one time I took my daughter, Sasha Koki, to visit my mother — Koki’s grandmother — and she asked her to sing a song. My then three-year-old daughter sang a jingle for a brewing company.

Mother was upset and reminded us of the benefits of taking our children to church. Since then, I make sure my child attends church.

One of the greatest virtues my mother taught us is the importance of focus in life. A mother of six girls, she was very harsh with the boys who seemed interested in us. She told us education was very important and that relationships could wait.

This is what I hold dear as I bring up my daughter. It seemed she was overprotective then, but now I understand and appreciate her arguments.

My mother also loves the good life and is organised. She keeps boasting to us that her father was a chief during the colonial times hence they lived like wazungus.

Cleanliness and organisation is something we have all embraced as her children.

She also taught us not to flaunt one’s money. At no point in our young lives did we ever know when my mother had money.

She was careful with finances and planned her money to the last coin.

A hard worker, my mother also beat all odds in her career and ended up climbing the ladder. She retired as an education officer. She has always told me to work hard and do whatever I do to the best of my ability.

Thank you, dear mother, for making me who I am.