Over 500 families in Kinango Sub County of Kwale have benefited from a food donation worth one million shillings sponsored by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
The food is being distributed to widows and underprivileged families from the Muslim community in the county who are currently observing the holy month of Ramadhan.
Ramadhan, currently being observed worldwide, is a month of fasting, reflection, devotion, generosity, and sacrifice observed by Muslims annually around the world.
The items given out during the KPA Ramadhan charity campaign included bags of rice, maize, beans, and cartons of cooking oil, salt and sugar.
KPA Board Chairman Benjamin Tayari handed over the donation to the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM’s) Kwale branch chairman Sheikh Faraj Abubakar.
Tayari says the KPA Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme dubbed ‘Tunahusika’ implements community programmes with a focus on the areas of education, health and environmental conservation, sports and humanitarian causes.
Addressing the beneficiaries at the Kinango Muslim Academy, Tayari noted that the current hard economic times made it necessary for KPA to step in and support the poor and the destitute families in the region.
He says KPA is aware that during Ramadhan, many Muslim families will likely struggle to access food for iftar, the daily breaking of the fast during the holy month.
“So as KPA, we are working to make sure that Muslim communities, especially the less fortunate members of the society are nourished and safe during this time of fasting,” he said.
“Our CSI programme is there to help alleviate the suffering of those in need,” said Tayari, adding that the donation is also a source of help and support to the vulnerable in the society, especially for those observing the fast.
The KPA Chairman says the Tunahusika initiative is spending Sh3 million in the distribution of food packages to the most deprived and poor groups of people in the counties of Kwale, Lamu and Taita Taveta.
“KPA has started donating assorted food items to needy families and households who have nowhere else to turn to in Kwale, Lamu and Taita Taveta in connection with this year’s Ramadhan,” he said.
He says through the CSI programme, KPA has constructed schools, dispensaries and libraries, supported sports through sponsorships of clubs like Bandari FC and adopted the growth and rehabilitation of mangroves to protect the sea ecosystem among other initiatives.
Sheikh Abubakar who received the donation thanked KPA for the kind gesture and promised to ensure that the food will be distributed to the vulnerable families such as widows, orphans, and the disabled.
He thanked KPA for reaching out to the poor Muslim households especially during the holy month of Ramadhan.
The cleric advised the beneficiaries to use the food items for its intended purpose and not sell them off for money.
Sheikh Abubakar said the donation of food to the people during Ramadhan is meant to provide the poor and less endowed with the much needed support to be able to take part in fasting.
He says the practice of the month-long Ramadhan fasting period is intended to help teach Muslim Ummah (community) self-discipline, self-restraint and generosity.
By Hussein Abdullahi
