Rotary Club of Nakuru in partnership with Gilanis Supermarket have stepped in to assist vulnerable Internally Displaced Persons at Athinai, Rongai Subcounty of Nakuru county.
The groups on Thursday visited the camp and made food and non food stuff donations to the IDPs.
Athinai camp is not a political camp but people who were employed to work in a sisal farm in the area.
They were able to provide a livelihood for themselves and their families until this farm later got auctioned and all the workers were laid off.
In this farm, there were also people who were squatters and they too were chassed out of the said farm.
These people called this farm their “home” and most of them were born and grew up there.
Having nowhere the squatters moved out first and settled in the market place and since they were a big number, the market closed down so as to accommodate these large number of squatters.
Those who were working in the farm were able to find themselves small houses in which they now live in and pay some small amount for rent.
The camp has been in existence for the last 3 years and has very old men and women who depend entirely on donations.
There are also men and women who are in dire need of medical attention as they do not get any assistance from the Government.
Speaking at Makongeni Chief’s office after handing over the donation, Shamsher Gilani noted that the harsh life the locals are facing is what prompted them to make donation.
“These people are really vulnerable. They depend on well-wishers and have absolutely no income. The few strong ones go to look for casual jobs in the nearby Marigat Centre. All the children spend their day in the camp as they are unable to go to school. We thought it wise to assist them” said Shamsher.
Shamsher who is also chairman Board of Trustees at Street Children Assistance Network Nakuru (SCANN) also vowed to sponsor some of the vulnerable children from the camp for education studies.
According to him, education is key in transferring the society.
“We have agreed that we will have some of the vulnerable children here to our SCANN home so that we can have them in school” he said.
The camp has approximately 70 families living in dilapidated shacks built close to each other and made of polyethene.
Rotary Club of Nakuru President Joab Okello called for need for collaboration among well-wishers to uplift the lives of these vulnerable families.
“These people are in dire need. As Rotary we cannot do it alone. We call on well wishers to step in and through partnership we can do more” said Okello.
The visit by Rotary Club of Nakuru in partnership with Gilanis Supermarket gave the locals some hope.
Led by Ekai Chekolei, they thanked the well wishers for the gesture.
“We have been in this camp for long but we are grateful to Rotary and Gilanis for remembering us” he said.
The locals received a donation which included food,mosquito nets, blankets and mattresses.
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