Husband: Bokaa Vitine, 46

Children: Six, five of her own and one for her husband’s ex-wife, they range in age from 2 - 15.

 

Teresia, 33, is also known as Mama Mia. In Kenya, parents are sometimes given nicknames after one of their children, usually the first born. One of Teresia’s daughter’s is named Mia.

Bokaa is a wood carver, but last year a shaving went into his eye and he hasn’t been able to see well since. He didn’t finish treatment because it would have taken three months to recover. He could not stop working for that long because his family would go hungry. Teresia sells kangas and carvings from her husband and those she buys from other carvers.

When the post-election chaos broke out, Teresia and her family headed for the Tanzanian border. While they were gone their home was broken into and all of Teresia’s stock was stolen. “We lost everything,” Teresia said. “Without anything to sell, we have not been able to make an income. There are no tourists to buy the few pieces I managed to save. We have not paid rent since December and we are being threatened with eviction.

”The worst time was when these political problems started and we became refugees in our own country. My children are malnourished and cry themselves to sleep.

“If I had a boost of 50,000/=ksh ($830) I would build my family a house for 30,000/=ksh, use 10,000/=ksh to buy wood for carving and 10,000/=ksh to buy kangas for selling. With the profit I will be getting wings to fly.”