Facing the threat of Hunger

UC Davis team members Sarah Ashley, Sara Walker
and Quyn with WEEP coordinator Gladys

A while back my friends were having an argument about Kenyan food. One side of the argument was that there was no food that is particular only to Kenya and the other side was off course of the contrary opinion. They sited 'Githeri' a meal made out of corn and beans, 'Mokimo' mashed potatoes, pumpkin leaves and corn, 'Omena' fishlings, Chapati e.t.c. The faction that had it that these still could not be regarded as Kenyan food as they had no country wide acceptance.

Anyway, fast forward five weeks ago and I had the pleasure of visiting The Kibera WEEP centre with the UC Davis team for a medical clinic. Lunch was served and the students couldn't help but praise 'Kenyan food'. Laura O'Neill one of the UC Davis Medical student even posited that if her folks would have made veggies into Mokimo when she was younger she would've always make sure to make her plate happy As the conversation ensued my thoughts drifted to the current food security in East Africa.

According to WFP, 'around 9 million people in the horn of Africa need humanitarian assistance as severe drought combines with high food prices and conflict.' (http://bit.ly/lLwrdE). In Kenya, where over half the population leave with under a dollar a day, most households cannot afford a plate of the most basic meal (ugali and sukuma), leave alone a 'Kenyan cuisine'.

The effect is so severe that even the populace that can afford a decent meal, are affected. A packet of Unga (maize flour) was one dollar last year now the packet goes for 2 dollars and you are not allowed to buy more than two packets. This translates to hunger for the majority who survive with under a dollar a day and strains nutrition even for those who can afford it.

James Laiti (KFS benefiary) in Manga with his
food donation from the Bayside church team

HEART - with the support of partners - has been providing food donations to beneficiaries of our programs. With every visit we make to communities we serve we make sure to remember to carry food stuff.
 

Valor Team with food donation
for the Kibera WEEP ladies