Inua Mama seeks to empower women, youth and disabled across all the 47 counties in Kenya
Caltex New Market traders were excited when Inua Mama, Jenga Taifa members arrived at their small town carrying empty baskets.
Led by their Chairperson, Alice Wahome, Kandara MP, the women bought all kinds of foodstuffs from the traders – spinach, potatoes, omena (fish), peas, arrowroots among others.
In line with the group’s theme of uplifting the lives of women, the youth and disabled, the women took the bought foodstuff to the Gaza Bangladesh slum in Kaloleni, where needy families live.
The women MPs knocked on the doors of different homes and handed the baskets full of food to different families. With a smile on their faces, the children, old men, and women received the food.
Fridrose Adnan said that the food was a great surprise, and would benefit the family which did not have much to eat that day. The Inua Mama members were hosted by Taita Taveta Women Representative Lydia Haika.
The women bought foodstuffs worth Sh150,000 at the Caltex market.
The family of Mwana Hamisi, together with their children, received the vegetables with a smile on their faces. Mwana Hamisi said the children would especially enjoy the meal.
“It is so long since we have had a meal that is full of such a mix of vegetables and foods, and are grateful. May they be blessed,” said Mwana Hamisi. She received food from Kirinyaga Women Rep Wangui Ngirici, Nyandarua Women Rep Faith Gitau and Nasir Ibrahim (Nominated).
The women then held a public meeting at Moi Stadium where they gave the locals trolleys, salon equipment, wheelchairs, motorcycles and gas cylinders. They were empowering the youth, women and disabled as per the Inua Mama, Jenga Taifa theme of transforming lives.
The more than 30 women leaders included Aisha Jumwa (Malindi MP), Rehema Jaldesa Isiolo Women Representative), Bungoma Women Rep Catherine Wambilianga, Nandi Women Rep Tecla Tum Liza Chelule (Nakuru Women Rep), West Pokot Women Rep Lilian Tomitom, Halima Muheke (Nominated), Nasri Ibrahim (Nominated), Mary Seneta (Nominated Senator), Naomi Waqo (Nominated Senator) and others.
They also gave cheques of Sh3 million to different groups living in Taita Taveta County.
John Mutisya was one of the beneficiaries who received a wheelchair from County MP Haika. He has for years been carried on his mother’s back, and it was a relief that he would now become mobile and independent by using the wheelchair.
Clothilda Mwakio also wheeled Happiness Ngularu out of Moi Stadium after he received a wheelchair at the same event.
The women MPs later held a public meeting at Ukunda showground that was attended by more than five thousand people. They were hosted by Kwale Deputy Governor Fatuma Achani and held a mini-Harambee at the venue that raised approximately Sh3.5million.
Speaking at the venue, MP Jumwa said the Standard Gauge Railway had rendered 2,500 people who were employed directly or indirectly because of the cargo business, jobless.
She accused a few prominent people of deceiving the people of Mombasa that they were fighting for them in regard to the SGR but secretly they and their companies were benefitting from their plight.
“Others are pretending to be fighting for they who have lost their livelihood after the establishment of the SGR but behind the scenes are benefiting from this dire state,” said MP Jumwa.
MP Alice Wahome criticised the conduct of MP Babu Owino and cautioned him against being rude to other leaders, especially those who are older than him.
Women Rep Ngirici asked Maina Kamanda (Nominated) to hand over the nominated seat he enjoys despite not being a youth since he was going against the direction of the party leader President Uhuru Kenyatta by supporting ODM Candidate Imran Okoth for the Kibera Parliamentary seat instead of Macdonald Mariga.
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