Solidarity sees $32,000 raised for sick Kenyan Mom

Kenyans line up to greet Lilian Kimani, mother to maggie Kimani, who suffered a debilitating stroke recently. Over 32,00 was raised towards helping the mother of one. pic by H.Maina/Ajabu

By Harrison Maina, Ajabu Africa News

BRANTREE, Mass., MARCH 18_ If you are that good Kenyan in the US, and doing the right things, then rest assured that the community has your back in case of trouble.

That notion came alive over the weekend when Kenyans in the Boston South shore area, joined by folks from other cities, forked out $32,000 to help a single mother who recently suffered a massive stroke, leaving her finances in disarray and a five-year old child in the care of friends.

Led by Jamlick Kariuki, the master of ceremony with a good measure of money wooing skills, and david Mundia, the chairman of the organizing commitee, Kenyans were all but happy at pulling their efforts together for the sake of Maggie Kimani, a long time south shore resident.

The charitable event took place at the Elks of Braintree hall in Braintree, Mass, a venue used regularly by Kenyans in the south shore for social functions, and where members of the Kenyan community church, the International House of worship, congregate.

David Mundia, second right , and Jamlick Mwangi, sing out a chorus together with the cashiers after leading the successful funds drive

Put together by several community organizers in the south shore and friends of the ailing Kimani, the effort was booted by the massive presence of the Kenya Catholic Community in Massachusetts, led by their overseer, Father Komu.

The Catholic community has a big membership from three main Catholic churches, the Saint Michael Church in Lowell, the Saint John’s Evangelist in Winthrop and the Sacred Heart’s church in North Quincy.

Maggie, a member of the Catholic Church, could not attend the event. She was represented by her 64 year old mother, Lilian Kimani.

During the opening remarks, Father Komu asked Kenyans in the USA to be more sensitive with problems faced by members of their community. He said that some Kenyans have a bad habit of deliberately staying away from events to fundraise for unfortunate members of the community, yet when trouble knocks on their door, they want everyone to come to their aid.

“You have to be your brother’s keeper because you don’t know when trouble will knock on your door,” Fr. Komu said.

Describing the pain that Maggie is going through, the chairman of the fundraising committee, David Mundia from Randolph said that Maggie was a very active member of the Catholic Church and of the south shore Kenyan community. “In fact, she was the one in charge of the Sunday school,” added Mundia.

Kenyans and friends stand in the aisles inside the full to capacity hall in Braintree

Mundia said that is was a complete surprise that all of sudden, Maggie is counting on other people to take care of her as well as her son. He echoed father Komu’s call for people to respond quickly when a community member is in need of help.

“Today, we’re fundraising for Maggie but we don’t know who is coming tomorrow,” said Mundia, who led the committee to put together $10,000 as their contribution prior to the main event.

Mundia also thanked Kenyans who had come from all over the state for the event.

Moving a vote of thanks for all who attended, Mary Karugia, a Kenyan mother who herself got struck with tragedy last year when her 40 year old husband succumbed to colon cancer, said that no one should ignore to answer a call for help when needed.

Mary Karugia, moved a vote of thanks

"I know this first hand because last year, i had serious problems and if it were not for you, i would not be standing here today", said the windowed mother of three. Kenyans raised close to $60,000 for Karugia's family during the entire period that her husband fought the disease.

The event was attended by Pastor Joram Karanja of the International House of Worship and Pastor Fredrick Thanji of All Saints Community church in Quincy.

As the fundraising came to an end, Maggie’s mother who had visited from Kenya to help her ailing daughter, thanked the Kenyan community for the unbelievable show of solidarity for the sake of her daughter and grandson.

She came close to shedding tears as a long line of well wishers came by greeting her with extra cash gifts.

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