cusing him of indulging into sex with other four women whom he had inherited just like in her case. The man a close family relative will always spent most of his time drinking and battered her on his arrival demanding food and other necessities.

“It was painful for me to spend in the cold with children after this man

Herine Awino (not her real name) has a vibrant, cheerful spirit and comforting smile that invites friends and strangers alike into an easy prolonged conversation. She also has HIV Aids. In addition, unlike most HIV-positive women in Nyando district, Nyanza province, Aoko wants people to know her status.

“Have been really waiting for you. Waited yesterday until late and decided to attend a burial of a grand mother nearby. It is good you have come, welcome. First of all let us pray,” she says once we were inside her one bed roomed house.

Her husband succumbed to death in 1990 to a disease not diagnosed but the 45 years old woman strongly believe her husband was never down with HIV Aids.

“My husband died as a result of other diseases, not Aids, by then no body had dreamt of the disease in this area,” she says.

Blessed with six children with whom one, the last born now 15 years of age was sired with a close relative who had walked into her house immediately after burial of her husband in their Kadianga village as part of the Luo customary law to cleanse her.

Three of her children died subsequently almost seven years later leaving her with three others aged 15,18 and 21.

She took only two years with the inheritor who she threw away from her house accusing him of indulging into sex with other four women whom he had inherited just like in her case. The man a close family relative will always spent most of his time drinking and battered her on his arrival demanding food and other necessities.

“It was painful for me to spend in the cold with children after this man c

lly waiting for you. Waited yesterday until late and decided to attend a burial of a grand mother nearby. It is good you have come, welcome. First of all let us pray,” she says once we were inside her one bed roomed house.

Her husband succumbed to death in 1990 to a disease not diagnosed but the 45 years old woman strongly believe her husband was never down with HIV Aids.

“My husband died as a result of other diseases, not Aids, by then no body had dreamt of the disease in this area,” she says.

Blessed with six children with whom one, the last born now 15 years of age was sired with a close relative who had walked into her house immediately after burial of her husband in their Kadianga village as part of the Luo customary law to cleanse her.

Three of her children died subsequently almost seven years later leaving her with three others aged 15,18 and 21.

She took only two years with the inheritor who she threw away from her house accusing him of indulging into sex with other four women whom he had inherited just like in her case. The man a close family relative will always spent most of his time drinking and battered her on his arrival demanding food and other necessities.

“It was painful for me to spend in the cold with children after this man

ongly believe her husband was never down with HIV Aids.

“My husband died as a result of other diseases, not Aids, by then no body had dreamt of the disease in this area,” she says.

Blessed with six children with whom one, the last born now 15 years of age was sired with a close relative who had walked into her house immediately after burial of her husband in their Kadianga village as part of the Luo customary law to cleanse her.

Three of her children died subsequently almost seven years later leaving her with three others aged 15,18 and 21.

She took only two years with the inheritor who she threw away from her house accusing him of indulging into sex with other four women whom he had inherited just like in her case. The man a close family relative will always spent most of his time drinking and battered her on his arrival demanding food and other necessities.

“It was painful for me to spend in the cold with children after this man

ouse immediately after burial of her husband in their Kadianga village as part of the Luo customary law to cleanse her.

Three of her children died subsequently almost seven years later leaving her with three others aged 15,18 and 21.

She took only two years with the inheritor who she threw away from her house accusing him of indulging into sex with other four women whom he had inherited just like in her case. The man a close family relative will always spent most of his time drinking and battered her on his arrival demanding food and other necessities.

“It was painful for me to spend in the cold with children after this man

cusing him of indulging into sex with other four women whom he had inherited just like in her case. The man a close family relative will always spent most of his time drinking and battered her on his arrival demanding food and other necessities.

“It was painful for me to spend in the cold with children after this man chased us away from the house not his. I took the courage and told him off,” she says.

Awino later learnt that the man died in Siaya district where he had gone to cleanse other women whose husbands had passed away.

Determined still to have a partner, another in law walked into the life of Awino and they stayed four years before she shown him the door after following the foot steps of the former inheritor.

She called it off and never shared a room with another man. What followed after difficult times in the hands of her in laws was sickness to be confirmed for the second time at a Voluntary Counselling and Testing at a hospital in Kericho Rift Valley province nearly 100 kilometres a way.

A woman who was mesmerised by wild thoughts after getting the first result of her status at Nyabondo mission hospital now says a local organisation of people living with HIV-Aids has totally changed her life.

Aoko feared the worst, but could not bring herself to face the possibility that she might be infected with HIV-Aids. After more than two weeks in bed, with no energy to move, Aoko visited Nyabondo mission hospital in the company of her in law.

“I was hoping that the diagnosis would reveal something – anything – other than Aids, but the results were positive.