A woman only known as Sarah on Monday, August 3, appealed to Kenyans of good will to help her and her eight children, who have been living in a shaky mud-house in Karima-Othaya, Nyeri County.
In an interview conducted by a Facebook user by the name Crispus Alex, Sarah disclosed that she had not been going to work because she had fallen sick.
"I have been ailing, hence, have not been going to work. My sister has been helping me though she is also not at a good place," Sarah narrated.
Before her ailment, Sarah would pluck tea leaves at former President Mwai Kibaki's farm and earn a considerable amount of money that would help fend for her children.
"Since I stopped working, my children and I have been going for days without eating. On lucky days, I get menial jobs and we get something to feed on," she continued.
Luckily, she disclosed that five of her children had been living with a good samaritan and had been left with the three, who were exposed to the cold weather due to the deplorable living conditions.
The mother of eight indicated that she had not received any aid from the government and pleaded with Kenyans to help her with clothes and food.
Sarah represents a section of vulnerable families who have been affected especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In April 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed that needy households would receive a weekly stipend from the government to help deal with the effects of Covid-19.
"These monies will be devoted specifically to cushion the most vulnerable people and also protect health workers," Uhuru stated.
Interior PS Karanja Kibicho stated that the vulnerable Kenyans would get a weekly stipend of Ksh.1,000 around the country.
He explained that the vulnerable individuals had been identified by a multi-agency team comprised of officers from the Ministries of State department for Social Services, Health and Interior Ministries.
Kibicho stated that the money was supposed to buy relief food, but the government opted to give it out in form of cash to allow families choose what food they want to buy with it.
