2nd burial funds drive for dead pastor gets $4,000, funds still short

Ecstatic Kenyans cheer Butoyi Reverian,(center in a head scarf given on the spot) a representative of the Rwandese refugee community in Springfield, Mass. who brought a donation towards the burial funds drive of a Kenyan pastor who died 4 weeks ago in a Rhode Island church basement. The effort last Sunday raised $4,000, leaving a balance of $1,500 short after an initial funds drive by the Rhode Island church raised $4,500.Pic by H.Maina/Ajabu Media

By Harrison Maina, Ajabu Africa, posted November 9, 2011

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.,_A second attempt by concerned Kenyans and several members from a small African American church served by  a Kenyan pastor who passed away one month ago managed to raise $4,500 on Sunday at an event held at the IFOM church n Springfield, Mass..

However, added to the $4,500 previously raised by the Holy Temple C.O.G.I.C church in Providence, Rhode Island, the $8,500 realized so far is still short of the needed amount of $10,000.

 In ordinary circumstances, about $8,500 is usually sufficient to transport a body of a deceased Kenyan up to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi Kenya for onward transportation to the final resting place, usually in the rural areas.

 According to funds drive organizers, the increasing funeral home costs due to the extended time the body of the late evangelist has been lying there have resulted in a dire need for extra funds.
 
 “We have done  what we could today  but we are requesting any Kenyan or well wisher out there who still wants to help out in this matter that we are still  taking donations,” said  Robert Odanga, one of the main organizers  and master of ceremonies during the  funds drive in Springfield on Sunday.

Meanwhile, during  the fund raising, members of the Kenyan community in New England were urged to join hands  and join in a $10.00 a month burial benevolent fund put together by the New England Kenyan Association (NEKA) that would wipe out similar recurrent situations that are casting a poor image of the otherwise well regarded, community.

In the recent past, the close -knit community has been called upon countless times to raise funds for dead members after families in the motherland pleaded for help in a bid to get some closure.

 NEKA, a new, all inclusive, non-partisan Kenyan civil society organization in the region has said that it has already started registering members and that more aggressive informative sessions will be held soon in different cities.

The organization said that it is welcoming ideas from all concerned members of the community.
 
During the fund raiser on Sunday attended by only about 30 Kenyans, details of the committed Christian life of the late Kenyan evangelist who was hardly known in the Kenyan community in New England emerged as several African American men gave moving testimonies.

  “Brother Ben was a very fascinating man. When I asked him to start a men’s group in our church, he did it well and now we have about 12 men in the group,” said Prof. Bishop Daniel Brown, pastor of the Holy Temple C.O.G.I.C church .

Speaking during the event, the Pastor of the IFOM church, Rev. John Wesonga, the chairman of the Luhya community in Boston, Patrick Inyagwa and Robert Odanga, the master of ceremonies thanked all Kenyans who responded to the call for the burial funds by sending their donations after news of the sudden death were reported   by Ajabu Africa.com almost one month ago.

 The community leaders, who organized several conference calls to coordinate efforts for the funds drive also asked those who still would like to contribute to send deposit funds at the bank account set aside for the purpose or call them for more information.

  Information reaching Ajabu Africa also indicated that another conference call has been organized by several other members of the community to take place tonight Wednesday, November 9, at 9.00 pm in an effort to raise the remaining balance of the desperately needed funds.

  To take part in the conference call, well wishers are asked to call:
  (712)775-7100 with and use the dedicated Pin Number 111133.

  THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS STORY, CHECK BACK SOON FOR DETAILS.

3 members of the Men's fellowship at the Holy Temple C.O.G.I.C church church in Providence, Rhode Island where the late Pastor Ben Kaimba used to minister dance to a familiar Kenyan worship song during the burial fund raising last Sunday at the IFOM church in Springfield, Mass.H.Maina/Ajabu Media

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