A mother of five in Mwatate, Taita Taveta county, has finally found stable shelter after spending more than three months living in a cave with her children, following an alleged eviction by relatives from the land where she had been residing.
Suzan Maktau, widely known in the area as Chuchu, sought refuge in the cave in Wusi after what she described as a series of painful experiences that left her with nowhere else to turn.
Why can’t Suzan go anywhere else?
She told Citizen TV that the suffering she had endured made it impossible for her to consider returning to her relatives.
“I cannot go anywhere else because of the difficult and painful experiences I have gone through. I decided to return here, and I have now stayed here for more than three months,” she said.
Surviving the cold Wusi nights with five children was no small feat. During the rainy season, Suzan improvised shelter using timber and open fire to keep her children from the elements.
How did Suzan keep her kids warm?
“I would put large pieces of wood to shield us from the rain and help keep the children warm. I would then light a fire so that the smoke and heat could reach them and keep them warm,” she explained.
Regional administration officials who spoke on the matter pointed to a troubling pattern of land inheritance disputes driving women and children into desperate situations.
In Suzan’s case, officials alleged that her family not only rejected her but also subjected her to physical abuse and false accusations that resulted in repeated arrests and court appearances.
Community members refuse to construct house for Suzan
On one occasion, she reportedly spent approximately three months in prison over what officials characterised as minor family disagreements.
Not everyone in the village was immediately supportive. A local resident noted that some community members initially resisted efforts to construct a house for Suzan, arguing she should be sent back to her uncle’s home.
Others pushed back, saying no one could fully know what she had endured there or force her to return against her will.
Mwatate MP gifts Taita taveta mum house
Ultimately, Mwatate MP Peter took up her cause and arranged for a house to be built, giving Suzan and her children a proper roof for the first time in months.
The legislator called on the wider community to extend compassion to those going through hardship, noting that every person’s journey in life is unique.
Suzan, now settled in her new home, echoed that message, urging those around her to look out for people in vulnerable situations and offer support where they can.
