'Diaspora Kenyans for Hungry Kenyans' project takes shape

Leaders of different Kenyan organizations in New England meet at the Saint Stephens church board room to hammer out details of the planned 'Diaspora Kenyans for Hungry Kenyans' funds drive against the hunger in Kenya that will take place on Saturday, October 22 in Worcester, MA. pic by H.Maina/Ajabu Media

News Report by Harrison Maina, Ajabu Africa, posted September 3, 2011, 8.30pm

LOWELL, Mass,. _A panel of community leaders in Massachusetts that met on Wednesday this week to plan the intended hunger funds drive for the benefit of starving Kenyans in the motherland agreed to move in full gear to marshal resources as a united team for a successful event to be held during the Mashujaa (Heroes’) Day celebrations on Saturday, October 22nd, 2011.

  During the meeting that took place at the Saint Stephen's church in Lowell, the groups, that would traditionally find it difficult to work with one another forged a joint secretariat to oversee the organization and a good conclusion of the funds drive.

 Saying that a time has come for everyone in the Kenyan community to come together and do something for thousands of starving children in Turkana District, Eastern and North Eastern Provinces of Kenya while they are having more than enough to eat in the USA, the leaders said that there was hope that many people will heed to the call  to do their part in the humanitarian crisis as Kenyans in the Diaspora.

  Thousands of other people in America and the world at large have already donated through humanitarian organizations to the hunger in East Africa but Kenyans living in the New England region had not yet had an opportunity to give to the cause as one people.

 However, during an initial meeting by various groups that was put together following an announcement for a planned  funds drive by members of the New England Kenyan Association (NEKA), it came to light that many other groups including the pastors’ organization, churches and other independent organizations had their own independent plans for similar funds drives.

 After deliberations, the leaders found it necessary in a show of selfless unity to join forces as united groups working as one for the project that has now been tagged as 'Diaspora Kenyans for Hungry Kenyans'.

  The naming of the initiative was inspired by  the formation of “Kenyans for Kenya”, a similar and very successful  initiative by civil groups  and private companies in Kenya that has seen about ksh 690 million in cash and pledges donated to alleviate the famine disaster  ravaging Kenya  and attracted  close to half a million refugees from Somalia.

Rev. Dr. Joseph Kimatu, the chairman of the Kenyan American Pastors’ Fellowship (KAPA) will serve as the chairman of the joint secretariat while Peter Mwaniki, an official of the New England Kenyan Association (NEKA) will serve as the treasurer. Mwaniki also serves as the treasurer of the Grace International Church (GIC) in Lowell.

Amos Wang’ombe of the Health for Nations organization will serve as a co-secretary together with Paul Muite of the of the Kenya Christian Fellowship In America (KCFA) Lowell/Nashua Chapter.
 
The four officials will serve in the joint secretariat alongside other members who attended the meeting including pastor Joshua Wambua, Director of the Diaspora Advisory council-New England chapter, and pastor of the Rapture Harvest Church in Wakefield, Ma, who joined the fund raising effort for the first time.

Pastor Joshua Wambua, Director of the Diaspora Advisory Council, joined the Diaspora Kenyans for Hungry Kenyans initiative.

Others in the committee included Charles Ngeene, event organizer of NEKA, pastor Samuel Kimohu of the saint Stephen's church and treasurer of KAPA, pastor John Wachira, vice chairman of KAPA and pastor of the Christ is the Answer Church in North Chelmsford, Paul Muite, an official of the Kenya Christian Fellowship In America (KCFA) Lowell/Nashua Chapter and Victor Rie, interim chairman of the New England Kenyan Association (NEKA) who was absent from the meeting due to conflicting work schedules.

The leaders planned to hold another meeting on Wednesday, September 7 at the same venue in Lowell starting at 10.00am for further planning.

The upcoming meeting is expected to have other leaders who could not make it to the initial two meetings due to conflicting schedules.

  According to the officials, the meetings are open to any Kenyan individual, church, business or other organizations who would want to take part in working together with other Kenyans for the humanitarian effort as the celebrate Mashujaa Day.

Organizers plan to distribute funds collected during the initiative through a reputable and transparent humanitarian organization that will be decided on in the coming days to ensure accountability and effective use of the funds for the intended cause.
 

For more info on how to take part and help in the cause for unity, call:

KPFA: Dr. Joseph Kimatu:404-384-1729
NEKA: Charles Ngeene: 617-816-4849
KCFA: Paul Muite: 603-438-9744
Health for Nations: Amos Wang'ombe-781-985-9249
NEKA-Peter Mwaniki-978-601-9395
DAC-Joshua Wambua
NEKA:Victor Rie-508-335-4775
KPFA :Pastor Peter Kiama-
KPFA: Pastor John Wachira: 978-828-8322

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