Nishike Mkono Self Help Group

Mūmbi wa Mŭgo and the late Njeri Kŭi Mŭgo are members of Nishike Mkono, a self-help organization in Kirinyaga District, Kenya, that caters to orphans by feeding, clothing and financially assisting them to meet basic needs in life. Most of these orphans’ guardians are destitute. In fact, many of them are aged grandmothers and grandfathers.

The group began by helping orphaned babies and children up to 16 years old, but now has had to extend its mission to other vulnerable groups such as: destitute widows and widowers; the chronically sick who have no one to turn to for support; destitute families; the disabled; and other needy persons. Members of the organization visit these target groups in their homes and provide them with food, clothes and money to pay for public transportation fares to and from the hospital or local medical centers, as well as to buy prescribed drugs. Nishike Mkono also buys school uniforms, exercise books, pens and pencils for kids whose parents/guardians cannot afford such essential educational items.

Nishike Mkono has been very faithful about submitting progress reports to UWAO, accounting for funds received.  The donations are normally used by the group to purchase shoes, clothes and textbooks for 12 children.  Each child is also provided with maize flour, cooking oil and body lotion.  Additional funds are used to pay for public transportation costs.

Nishike Mkono expresses heart-felt gratitude to UWAO and all those who have enabled UWAO to support them through their generous contributions. Through this international solidarity, our rural community has felt that it is not alone and injected hope in a gloomy situation. Thank you very much UWAO and thank you very much UWAO donors!

Unfortunately, during the last couple of years when UWAO has not been able to fundraise and donate towards NM, members of the group’s organizing committee have gone into their lean pockets to at least buy the children flour and milk for porridge. Their self-sacrifice and commitment are humbling.