Kenyans in NE to Raise Funds against Hunger in the Motherland
A badly starving Kenyan child from the famine ravaging Kenya and other East African Nations. Pic courtesy of the Kenya Times. |
News report by Harrison Maina, Ajabu Africa News, Posted Aug 11, 2011
BOSTON, Mass._ The newly formed New England Kenyans Association (NEKA) is planning to hold a massive event that aims at bringing Kenyans in the region together to raise funds towards the hunger that is wrecking havoc in their motherland.
The fund drive is planned to take place during the 2011 Mashujaa day celebrations that will be hosted by NEKA on Saturday October 22, 2011 at a venue to be announced in the city of Worcester, MA.
Formerly known as Kenyatta Day in honor of the first President of Kenya who led the fight for freedom, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Mashujaa Day was renamed as a Kenyan National day to celebrate the Kenyan Heroes who led the fight for independence from the British colonial masters in the early fifties and sixties.
It will be the first time that day will be celebrated in a large scale in Boston.
But since the holiday traditionally falls on the 20th of October, which will be a working day (Thursday October 20), NEKA has planned the event for the Saturday the 22nd in order to allow as many Kenyans as possible to be present.
The event will also feature a wide array of cultural based entertainment.
According NEKA officials led by interim chairman, Victor Rie, all Kenyans individuals and organizations are urged to save the day and contact NEKA officials to work out modalities of working together to mobilize as many people as possible for the charitable event to help suffering children in their motherland.
The hunger that has been ravaging the East African region has left thousands of Kenyan children without food in areas like Turkana and Machakos District, while scores of others are feared dead by sections of the media while the Kenyan governnment has not issued any statement on any deaths.
The famine has also led to severe hunger in Somalia and Ethiopia, Kenya’s neighbors to the East and North respectively, forcing over 500,000 Somalis to flee to refugee camps in Kenya making an already strained situation worse.
The UN has reported deaths of close to 29,000 Somali children.
Many organizations from all over the world including the red cross, as well as ordinary Kenyans in business back home have been raising funds in an effort to alleviate the growing hunger situation.
"We will do whatever we can as Kenyans in New England to raise as much money as possible for the sake of the suffering children back home while food is in excess here in America," said event engineer, Charles Ngeene.
 Deaths in famine stricken Turkana District of Kenya. pic courtesy of the Reuters |
“We ask all Kenyans and well wishers to spread the word to their friends everywhere and know that NEKA will display for public view on the internet and elsewhere any money raised and how it will be distributed for the purposes of accountability.” he added.
The organization is holding consultations with leaders of various Kenyan organizations and churches in New England with a view to working out modalities to hold one big event in the not so big community rather than having many small events everywhere.
Many Kenyans have called, sent letters and emails AjabuAfrica.com requesting a funds drive to be organized urgently for this grave situation.
"I request that we as Kenyans come together to raise funds for these starving children in Kenya because we are capable. If we can raise thousands of dollars to bury those who have passed away, how about doing more than that for those who are still living and very hungry," wrote one Mr. Njuguna Muigai from Worcester in a letter mailed to Ajabu Africa.
“I suggest you organize an event come together and have a fundraising for those children and their parents who don't have food to eat and clothes to wear.We are fortunate enough as Kenyans in America and we have the ability to do it. It a blessing to give so that God can in turn bless us with double portions”, said Esther Gakenia from Chelsea, Ma in an email to AjabuAfrica.com
Gakenia added that Kenyans can bring clothes that they don't need, and organizers can buy items for auction, raffle tickets, flowers for sale and so on in order to raise as much help as possible.
More information about the upcoming event will be provided soon.
To contact event organizers, call:
Charles Ngeene: 617-816-4849
Dominic Nyamunga: 857-277-2500
Peter Mwaniki: 978-601-9395
.
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