By Janet Hinga
 |
| From left, Mambrui Muslim leader, Ustadh Muutaman and Gongoni Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Samuel Kenga at Madrassa Al-Ghannai, Kilifi. Photo by Sauti ya Jimbo, Malindi Diocese. |
The Catholic Justice and Peace Commission Office in Malindi Diocese (CJPC-Malindi), in collaboration with the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), other partners and people of goodwill, on 12th May 2020, donated foodstuff to 15 needy Muslim families in Mambrui area of Magarini Sub-county, Kilifi County.
The donation which included maize flour and beans was delivered by the Gongoni Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Samuel Kenga, accompanied by the CJPC – Malindi Coordinator, Mr. Moses Mpuria.
According to Mpuria, the donation is to supplement the farm produce the beneficiaries had.
Speaking during the event, Fr. Kenga said the Church’s preferential option for the poor targets all suffering persons, regardless of religious affiliation or cultural backgrounds.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the families, Mambrui Muslim leader Ustadh Muutaman of Madrassa Al-Ghannai appreciated the support rendered by the Catholic Church in Malindi, terming it good neighbourliness, ujirani mwema.
Ustadh Muutaman was instrumental in identifying the needy families through the inter-faith group initiative that has been in existence in Gongoni Parish for the purpose of development and peaceful coexistence of the people within the community.
“The decision to consult Ustadh Muutaman to help in identifying the beneficiaries was influenced by the realization that Mambrui was mostly populated by Muslims and lacked small Christian communities which are the means through which the Diocese identifies the needy,” Mpuria said.
The Diocesan Covid-19 Response Initiative was started on 21st April, 2020, as part of the overall diocesan initiative which has been in existence within the Lenten Campaign period.
The diocesan initiative has various projects within it such as Project 720, which targets to provide vulnerable girls with sanitary towels and has so far reached 250 girls. There is also the Self-care Plan for priests as well as provision of liquid soap, face masks and water packs to needy people as part of efforts to complement the ongoing campaign by the Government and the Ministry of Health to sensitize Kenyans on the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Mpuria, their baskets of donation have been categorized into two programs – the General Vulnerable Program and the Nutrition Program. The General Vulnerable Program has so far reached 150 families and caters for families that are dependent on a sole provider who is involved in casual work and cannot currently sustain the family due to the COVID-19 crisis. The Nutrition Program has reached 250 people and targets vulnerable groups such as the elderly, sickly and malnourished children below the age of 5 years.
Mpuria paid tribute to the CJPC National Office, the Pontifical Mission Society (PMS) National Office, the Italian Organization – Karibuni Onlus and parishioners from the Diocese of Malindi, for their continued support to the Diocesan Covid-19 Response Initiative.
He called on Kenyans to continue supporting the initiative through whichever means available.