More than 200 elderly people from Rabura in Kieni Constituency, Nyeri County, have received food donations from a well-wisher.
The senior citizens, who have been hard hit by drought and Covid-19 effects, received the donation from Optiven Foundation through its chairman George Wachiuri.
Many of the beneficiaries said they did not have enough food due to the drought, which has ravaged the area since May last year.
"We are glad for this donation. Many of us have lost animals due to drought. In fact all our crops have wilted owing to drought. But we are extremely happy we will now be able to celebrate Christmas like other Kenyans," said Jane Ndegwa.
Area chief Joseph Maina said many of the elderly people in the area are in dire need of food since for the last two seasons, there has been drought with no harvest.
"It’s true that many of these people are in need. This donation by Optiven could not have come at a better time. We as a government have tried to assist by giving food relief but we can't be able to adequately feed them," said Maina.
In his message on Thursday, Optiven foundation chairman George Wachiuri said they have this week spent two million in such programmes in Nyeri, Kirinyaga and Nairobi counties.
"Some of these senior citizens are very deserving and have nothing to celebrate about and others have no one to attend to them, let alone pay them a visit during such festivities,” Wachiuri said.
“It is through this realisation that the Optiven Foundation has spent Sh2 million in three counties of Kirinyaga, Nairobi and Nyeri."
The Optiven Foundation has been in operation for over 10 years.
The Foundation focuses on education scholarships, uplifting of the physically challenged through offering wheelchairs, environmental protection through the Go-Green Initiative for a sustainable planet and promotion of sanitation.
Others are expansion of schools' infrastructure, mentorship of businesspeople and entrepreneurs through George Wachiuri School of Mentorship among other programs.
