This archive report was first published on 4 August 2020.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect vulnerable families in Kenya, a mother of eight from Nyeri County has appealed to Kenyans for help. Sarah, who lives in a shaky mud-house in Karima-Othaya, Nyeri County, has been struggling to provide for her children since falling ill.
According to an interview conducted by Crispus Alex on Facebook, Sarah revealed that she had not been going to work due to her illness. Her sister has been helping her, but she is also not in a good place financially.
"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 illness, Sarah would pluck tea leaves at former President Mwai Kibaki's farm and earn a considerable amount of money to support her children. However, since she stopped working, her children and she have been going for days without eating.
"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.
Five of her children are currently living with a good samaritan, but the three remaining children are exposed to the cold weather due to the deplorable living conditions.
Despite President Uhuru Kenyatta's directive in April 2020 to provide a weekly stipend to needy households to help deal with the effects of Covid-19, Sarah has not received any aid from the government. She is pleading with Kenyans to help her with clothes and food.
