An anonymous donor fed six hundred families in Majengo slums, Nairobi on Friday, April 2020.
The donor, who is a senior lady advocate in the country and a close ally to Law Society of Kenya President, Nelson Havi, gave basic needs to the families, helping to alleviate the distress caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on April 3, Havi informed that he and the lady philanthropist faced serious backlash from fellow lawyers when they revealed their intentions to start the foundation.
"They were claiming why are we helping the public yet we have lawyers who are in need. Our point is, as lawyers we need to contribute towards the betterment of society as a corporate social responsibility even if we have our own who are in need," Havi stated.
"I believe there are many lawyers who are in Kibra, Majengo, or any other urban-dwelling place that will be reached by this initiative, he added.
Havi informed that he and the lady counsel, approached manufacturers and players in the 'basic needs' manufacturing industry; flour millers, cooking oil, tea packaging, and milk, and many of the volunteering companies had donated towards the cause.
The LSK president revealed that during the first phase of feeding the families, the foundation had received donations from several companies.
"This initiative will start in Nairobi but will be able to go to other counties so that we are able to feed those who are at home and are subsistent as far as their daily lives are concerned," Havi stated.
He acknowledged the government had put in place good measures to ameliorate the problems facing income earners in the country, however, questioned of the well being of those without a fixed income.
Havi raised the question of the thousands of people working in the informal space to afford a day's meal. He revealed that the organisation had godowns where they keep the food meant for needy families.
"All we need from the government is to ensure where we have a godown there is security, where we distribute the food, there is security," Havi stated.
"We don't want the government to distribute the food, because we don't want the food stolen. We want people to line up in a public ground, and we know that the food has gone straight to them," he added
Havi encouraged lawyers, members of the public, manufacturers, and millers to combine efforts in providing for those without basic needs, either by donating the foods or money to the organisation's accounts.
He stated that the money instead, which he revealed had reached tens of millions would be used towards the purchase of necessary medicine, women sanitary towels, ARVs and protect lactating mothers.
"I want to encourage advocates, we have advocates here who own buildings, who own companies. I want all of them to come up and contribute towards this noble cause," Havi stated.
"Because, if we cant feed these families, they will feed on us," he proclaimed.
Kenyans who learned of the anonymous donation to the families thanked the advocate for her generosity and were even more impressed by the selfless anonymity.
A section took aim at the country's legislators, castigating them for branding donations and using them as a PR tool.
"Hey all politicians should line here and be shown how to give and not always get credit. There are no cameras, no branding of items. Someone should tag them all.. May God shower you with blessings," Evans Muita stated.
