Eleven businesspeople from Maua town who were victims of a fire incident that razed their businesses earlier this month had a sigh of relief yesterday after receiving a Sh1million donation from President Dr William Ruto.
Speaking during the handover of the donation to the victims, Igembe South MP John Paul Mwirigi said the donation will help the businesspeople to get a starting point before they fully recover from the losses.
“This donation might not reinstate the victims to their original status but it will at least help them to have somewhere to start from before other interventions are made,” said Mr Mwirigi.
The donation comes after the MP pleaded with the President to intervene during a thanksgiving ceremony that was held at Maua stadium on September 11.
The MP said his office will continue to work together with the victims even in the forthcoming fundraisers to ensure they recover from the losses.
“We want to thank the president for responding to our pleadings and we assure him that we are in full support of his government in its quest to take the country through an economic recovery process,” the MP said.
Ms Alice Karambu said the incident that took place on September 7 razed down her business and residential house leaving her and her three children homeless.
“We were left begging for food, clothing and even shelter but now we are happy that the donation from the president will at least help us buy a few basic commodities for our use,” said Ms Karambu.
Another victim Mr Harun Ndume whose boutique was razed down by the fire said he lost a new stock worth Sh500,000 that he had bought.
“I had just received a stock of new clothes from Nairobi which were all burnt down before selling even a single clothe from the same,” said Mr Ndume.
Ms Judy Mwiti had a similar story but she expressed her gratitude to the president and the MP for coming to their rescue at the very hour of need.
“We will at least use the money to pay school fees for some of our children and hoping that other well-wishers will chip in to help us at least recover from the huge losses,” said Ms Mwiti.
By Dickson Mwiti
