Governor Sakaja's Aide Pays 2-Month Rent For 8 Families Displaced After Demolitions In South B

• Rodriques Mulindi said he prioritised families that had sought refuge at people's homes due to lack of money
• He said he drove his ambition to help the poor from the challenges he faced while growing up as an orphan and a street child
• Millicent, a beneficiary of his kind gesture, said she had nowhere to go after her iron sheet house was brought down

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Nairobi - Governor Johnson Sakaja's protocol officer has brought relief to eight families displaced at Shimo la Tewa in the South B area, eliciting smiles amidst adversity.

Rodriques Mulindi Lunalo shared that he was deeply moved upon learning of the families' plight, facing displacement without a place to call home following government-led demolitions.

What other provisions did Mulindi give out?

In an interview with TUKO.co.ke, Mulindi expressed his empathy, noting that the affected families, including those with infants as young as two weeks old, were provided with essential support, such as covering their two months' rent and supply of food provisions.

"I was deeply moved by those families, especially knowing they were helped by Good Samaritans. Along with my friends who support me in charitable work, we were able to provide them with food and cover their rent for two months each. My friends brought 100kgs of sugar and 2 bundles of flour," he said.

Other provisions distributed were bags of rice and cooking oil, aimed at easing the burden of securing sustenance amidst uncertainty.

Mulindi highlighted that the urgency of the situation prompted swift action.

While the task of aiding the displaced was not without its challenges, Mulindi emphasised prioritising those in dire circumstances, particularly families that could not afford the journey back to their rural homes.

Additionally, he shared that they spent a significant portion of the day searching for rental properties priced at KSh 5,000 per month.

What compels Mulindi to assist the poor?

The politician informed TUKO.co.ke that he grew up without his biological mother coupled with being in the street for seven years, hence he understands the real significance of lacking shelter.

"I hate to see people suffer. I was raised by a stepmother who subjected me to a harsh environment after my mother passed away when I was just one year old. I strive to uplift those around me, even if I remain poor. Having been a street child myself for seven years, I understand the struggle of not having a roof over one's head," he expressed.

Millicent, one of the beneficiaries and the mother to a four-month-old baby, expressed her gratitude, revealing that she had been taken in by a friend as she lacked resources and employment to support her family.

"I don't have a job, so when we were displaced by floods, my life came to a standstill as I couldn't even afford the fare back home. I'm grateful that he came to our aid with food and relocated us to better housing. We used to live in the mabati structures," she shared.

Mulindi evacuates 80 families from cracked building

On May 2, Mulindi evacuated almost 80 people from an apartment that had started showing signs of collapsing.

According to him, the families were risking their lives since the building was built near a river bank.

His fear grew due to the relentless showers that have swept away homes and claimed several lives.

What else you need to know about floods in Kenya

• Over 500 families in Mandera have been displaced by floods after River Dawa in Ethiopia overflowed
• The Azimio faction demanded that the government increase donations for flood victims to KSh 100,000
• A Nairobi single mother who was displaced by floods from the Kahawa Wendani area pleaded for help to take her children to school

Proofreading by Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke