National Council of Churches of Kenya

I wish to make a very passionate appeal for food donation to the Rwarera Circuit of the Methodist Church in Kenya (Meru County).

In this area, the state of food crisis is getting worse each day to the extent of becoming a humanitarian crisis. The residents in this area have not experienced rainfall for the last two seasons and all members of the community are suffering greatly.

To show an example is the case of an old man who fell down on his way to the church because he had not eaten for at least three days. When we gave him food in the vestry (food meant for the preacher of the day), the old man woke up and joined others for the worship service. Notably, in this area, it is very hard to get any man in the village at all since they all go to look for the food elsewhere and only visit their families over the weekend.

Schools in the area are almost closing up due to of lack of food, and this is worsened by the fact that sending students home for money will not be a solution because the parents have nothing to offer. Further, those students who are sent home opt not to go back to school hence lowering the academic standards in the area.

But the worst bit is where old people of the area come to eat food from schools since they have no alternatives. The principals are left with very little choice but to give them whatever food which is available. Many times, the Principals run schools using their personal salaries. This is personal income paid by Teachers Services Commission to them as employees, hence denying their family the full benefit of the monthly income for the sake of the suffering and helpless students.

Reality is that when people experience hunger to the point of starvation, they run to the church for assistance. They expect that they will be given whatever donations that the church may have solicited from well wishers.

It is for this reason that my office, as the superintendent minister of the area, is becoming a centre of activity since people come to the church for help and yet I have very little and at times nothing to offer.

It is important to report that even the little hope the community had in their animals is also drying up since they have lost most of their animals because the grass has dried up due to prolonged drought. There is no green vegetation across the land.

Due to aforegoing, we appeal to all well wishers and people of good will to help us avert the looming humanitarian crisis and save the lives of people of God at Rwarera location, Meru Central district, Meru County.