A group of farmers in Mathioya Sub county of Murang’a who were once infested with jiggers have donated farm produce to support poor families this time the country is faced by the threat of Covid -19.
The jigger survivors from Karunge location on Saturday donated green bananas and chicken to support about 150 families who have been facing challenges to get food following lack of casual jobs occasioned by coronavirus.
The survivors who were healed about five years ago, embarked on banana growing and rearing of chicken after they got support from Ahadi Kenya Trust, an organisation which for a long time has been fighting the jigger menace across the country.
Speaking while leading the distribution of the foodstuff to the vulnerable families, Ahadi Kenya Trust director Dr. Stanley Kamau said the survivors embraced farming thus lifting them up from abject poverty.
He said many survivors across the country have started income generating projects after they received support from the organisation and now are willing to support poor families this time the impact of Covid-19 is affecting many families.
The Trust on its behalf donated maize flour where every family received four packets of the flour, with Kamau vowing to ensure no one will die of hunger in the region.
Photograph by Bernard Munyao/KNA
“I appeal to National Covid-19 Secretariat to come at the grassroots and buy farm produce from these farmers who are having bumper harvests and take to the vulnerable families mostly affected by this virus,” added Kamau.
He further asked well-wishers to adopt and help poor families to get necessities saying Covid-19 has left many businesses closed, and loss of jobs for many Kenyans.
“Whatever little one can afford, it will go a long way to support poor families, let those who have something to donate reach the relevant government organizations entrusted to help the poor this time and give their donations,” added Kamau.
The anti-jigger campaigner last week through a social media group with membership drawn from all parts of the county reached 100 poor families where he donated money to help the households get food.
One of the jigger survivors, Lucy Nyambura said a few years ago her children were infested by jiggers and when the organisation came in the children got healed and they were given banana tubers to plant.
“In my farm I have a lot of bananas and I have given out some of the bananas to help families who have nothing to eat,” added Nyambura.
Chairman of the jigger survivors Mr. Harrison Macharia said they have 46 members who came together and started growing bananas and rearing chicken ten years ago.
He revealed how jiggers affected their livelihoods thanking Ahadi Kenya Trust for the assistance it gave to those who had been reduced to paupers by jiggers.
“In our farms we have a lot of produce and we are ready to sell them at affordable price to the government so as to assist poor families affected by coronavirus. Today we have donated several tons of bananas to poor families in this sub county,” added Macharia.
By Bernard Munyao
