Idd-Ul-Fitr came early for needy Muslim families in Lamu after the Kenya Ports Authority donated foods worth Sh1 million.
Over 300 families benefitted from the relief food which included bags of maize and wheat flour, rice, sugar, beans, and cooking oil as the holy month of Ramadhan nears its end.
Muslims across the globe will officially mark the end of Ramadhan by celebrating Idd-Ul-Fitr on Friday and Saturday.
The celebrations mark the end of a month-long fast and prayers by the faithful.
The distribution of the relief food was presided over by KPA principal corporate communications officer Haji Masemo on behalf of the authority chairperson Benjamin Tayari.
Masemo said the authority had set aside Sh3 million towards the purchase of relief food for the Ramadhan period for Lamu, Mombasa and Kwale counties.
These three counties are hosts of the Kenya Ports Authority.
Masemo said the donation was part of the KPA’s corporate social responsibility to benefit communities.
He noted that the food security situation of most coastal counties remains fragile due to poor rainfall witnessed so far.
He said the KPA will ensure drought victims in the Coastal Strip receive all the necessary support, especially foodstuff, to enable cope with the situation.
“This food will benefit close to 300 needy families, and as KPA we are glad to be extending our help. We have already done a similar distribution of food worth Sh.2 million in Mombasa and Kwale counties. The Lamu one has cost us Sh.1 million. We will be doing more for the drought victims too,” said Masemo.
He revealed that the authority has a special CSR programme that implements community projects with a focus on the areas of education, health and environmental conservation, sports, and humanitarian work.
“These CSR programme will continue until we reach as many people are possible,”he said.
Muslim clerics in the county have been assigned the mandate to identify needy families in urgent need of the food.
The KPA superintendent in charge of Lamu jetties Abdishukri Osman reiterated the authority’s fundamental value of care for community relations even as it runs its operations.
Lamu Muslim clerics and leaders led by the chairperson of the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics-CICC Mohamed Abdulkadir, the chairperson of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya-CIPK Lamu chapter Abubakar Shekuwe, and Mkomani Ward MCA, Abbas Shekhuna thanked the authority for the donation terming it a timely gesture that shows concern and love for the needy.
They promised to ensure the food reaches the intended persons.
“We will give priority to widows, orphans and poor families because we know them. We are grateful to the KPA for this kind gesture,” Abdulkadir said.
