Chinese come to Kenya's aid amid drought

Overseas business leaders rally to raise cash for vital provisions in disaster zone

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta in February declared the current drought in the country a national disaster and made a fresh appeal to the international community to increase food aid.

An estimated 2.7 million Kenyans in 23 counties are affected by the drought, that escalated early this year. UNICEF statistics indicate that more than a million children are affected with more than 100,000 under age 5 suffering from malnutrition.

Since the declaration on Feb 10, the Chinese community in the country has been fully mobilized. The Kenya Overseas Chinese Association and the Kenya Chinese Chamber of Commerce have been on the front lines to lend assistance.

The association called for all overseas Chinese and their friends in the country to help and has raised more than 4 million Kenyan shillings ($39,000) in aid.

"The association has contacted the northern county of Samburu, which has been severely hit by drought, and will send cooking oil, beans, flour, water and other daily necessities to the area," says Guo Wenchang, chairman of the association.

"Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1963, the relationship has seen growing momentum," Guo says. "As an overseas Chinese who has been living and working here for a long time, I have a responsibility and obligation to help the devastated area solve the problem."

"Kenya is a second home to the overseas Chinese here," he says. "We are brothers and their children are just like our own."

Two weeks ago, dozens of Chinese private firms operating in Kenya donated 30 metric tons of food, oil and water to victims of drought in Makueni County, in lower eastern part of the country. The operation was organized by the Kenya Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

"We are ready to assist Kenyans affected by drought and have donated maize and wheat flour, cooking oil and water to the most vulnerable. This is part of our responsibility to strengthen bonds of friendship," says Zhuo Wu, chairman of the chamber.

He says Chinese enterprises are keen to be part of the solution to the effects of the drought ravaging different parts of the East African nation and the Chinese firms will also help other affected parts of Kenya, he says.

Richard Katemi Makenga, member of Parliament for Kaiti constituency, in Makueni County, says vulnerable members of society, like children and the elderly, will benefit from food donated by the Chinese.

Farmer Zipporah Muema, 83, was in buoyant mood as she carried away packets of maize flour, cooking oil and sparkling bottled water donated by Chinese firms. Muema is among hundreds of vulnerable residents of Makueni County who benefited from food donated by Chinese enterprises.

"This is a happy moment for me, having received a food donation from the Chinese. I hope the Chinese companies will continue helping those in a dire situation," says Muema.

At a handover ceremony, the national anthem of the People's Republic of China was sung by Chinese entrepreneurs.

Huang Hejun, a senior overseas Chinese resident, says: "After 10 years in Kenya, I learned to sing the national anthem during the donation ceremony by the Chamber of Commerce. I was almost moved to tears."

Xinhua contributed to the story.

panzhongming@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 03/24/2017 page27)