How to set Kendo UI grid column widths programmatically

I would like to set Kendo UI grid column widths programmatically. I am using the following code:

function setColumnWidths(grid, options) {
    for (var i = 0; i < options.columns.length; i++) {
        grid.columns[i].width = options.columns[i].width;
    }
}

When debugging in chrome after the statements executed, grid.columns[i].width seems to be appropriately set to the new value, however nothing changes in the GUI, the column widths remain the same. What am I missing?

I've ended with this. Dion's solution gave me starting idea about using colgroups, however that solution is limited to not having locked columns, what are in different colgroups.

Also note: I do not want to use grid.setOptions, because its limitations, ruining attached events and header (in case of using ASP MVC helper to render the grid)

function setColumnWidths(grid, options) {
    var lockedCount = 0;
    for (var i = 0; i < options.columns.length; i++) {
        if (options.columns[i].hasOwnProperty('locked')) {
            if (options.columns[i].locked) {
                lockedCount++;
            }
        }
    }

    for (var i = 0; i < options.columns.length; i++) {
        var width = options.columns[i].width;
        grid.columns[i].width = width;
        if (options.columns[i].hasOwnProperty('locked') && options.columns[i].locked) {
            $("#grid .k-grid-header-locked").find("colgroup col").eq(i).width(width);
            $("#grid .k-grid-content-locked").find("colgroup col").eq(i).width(width);

        } else {
            $("#grid .k-grid-header-wrap").find("colgroup col").eq(i-lockedCount).width(width);
            $("#grid .k-grid-content").find("colgroup col").eq(i - lockedCount).width(width);
        }
    }
    // Hack to refresh grid visual state
    grid.reorderColumn(1, grid.columns[0]);
    grid.reorderColumn(1, grid.columns[0]);
}