Kenya: barefoot children join sponsored walk for the disabled

Several barefoot rural children and an 80 year old man were among hundreds who braved dust and scorching temperatures to take part in a ten-kilometre walk, to raise funds for a Catholic centre for children with disabilities in Kandara, western Kenya. The centre, established two years ago, by the Don Orione missionaries; otherwise known as Sons of Divine Providence has currently 42 children. The priest -in -charge of the centre is Fr Marek Krakus, locally nicknamed Kamau in his parish in Kaburugi. Fr Marek said: "We plan to use this walk and other means to raise the badly-needed funds: .2.7 Kmillion Kenyan shillings, for a bus. (70 Kenyan shillings = 1US dollar) Currently we are using other means to transport the children to and from the centre every day. It would mean a lot to them." 80-yearold mzee (old) man said: "I came to walk with other people because I have seen what these wazungu (white people) are doing here." And five-year old Waiganjo Kamwaki, said she had come along because her brother goes to the centre. Fr Martin Wanyoike, who runs the local Catholic FM radio station, Waumini, also took part on the walk. Many of the participants heard about it through the Radio Waumini broadcasts.