The Director of Research at the Kenya National museums Dr. Evans Taracha has scaled up his relief programme to vulnerable families in Likuyani sub county aimed at mitigating the effects of the Coronavirus.
In his address to the beneficiaries from Nzoia and Sango wards, Dr. Taracha said with the local economy disrupted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic many families are struggling to put food on the table thus his intervention to help the most vulnerable families within the Sub County.
He said stringent measures employed by the government to stop the spread of coronavirus has left many people jobless with those who depended on their sons and daughters for support left hapless.
“I know we have the most vulnerable people in Likuyani who live hand to mouth everyday but currently even the casual labourer isn’t available as a result of the pandemic and they are experiencing hard times,” said Dr. Taracha.
Dr. Taracha who donated foodstuff and non-food items to over 250 families from Nzoia and Sango wards said to ensure transparency, chiefs and their assistants together with the nyumba kumi officials from the two wards fully participated in vetting of the beneficiaries saying he will not let anyone die of hunger as a result of the global health pandemic.
According to Mr. Patrick Wanda and Kelly Mwangani Khadiagala who led the distribution exercise so far three wards within the sub county have been fully covered by the Taracha relief programme with over 350 vulnerable families receiving foodstuff and non-food items.
“We are providing food supplies enough to feed a family of five and apart from the food we are also giving other non-food items all donated by Dr. Taracha,” said Mr. Wanda disclosing that Sinoko, Nzoia and Sango wards have been reached by the programme with Likuyani and Kongoni wards set to benefit.
The donations comprise of maize flour, sugar, green grams, rice, cooking oil, soaps among other necessities.
Some of the beneficiaries said they had gone several days on empty stomachs and thanked Dr. Taracha for the donation which they said will help their families. “I’m at home and don’t have a job, I suffered a stroke in 2010, I can’t even walk. My children who used to support me have lost their jobs due to Coronavirus and I have nobody to help me,” said Mrs. Petronilla Muyoka.
Her sentiments were echoed by Mr. Elphas Shamola Mulinya who lost his sight in 2015 leaving his wife as the only bread winner saying his wife has been relying on casual labor to keep the family going but since the outbreak of the virus in the country there has been fewer work opportunities hence making it difficult for her to support the family. “We are at home with kids who are out of school. They need food, and there is no money. We were in a very bad situation. We’re very happy about this initiative by Dr. Evans Taracha,” said Mr. Charles Wanyama, who is physically challenged.