Ali Kimondio

Born in 1957 in Kula Mawe, Isiolo South, Ali Kimondio’s life has been one of resilience and sacrifice. As the second of seven children, he grew up watching his father work as a pump operator at a borehole, while his mother dedicated herself to raising the family. Though life was modest, his parents instilled in him the values of hard work and determination.

Ali pursued education up to Form 2, but financial struggles forced him to drop out. Around the same time, his father left his job, marking the beginning of Ali’s relentless search for work to help support his family.

Between 1998 and 1999, he secured a job at an animal skin and hides shop, which offered some relief. In 2002, he married the love of his life, and together, they were blessed with six children—five daughters and one son. Determined to provide a stable home, Ali found work at an Islamic foundation’s farm, and with his limited earnings, he managed to build a small wooden house for his family.
But stability proved fleeting. Many of his daughters dropped out of school, and his only son became involved in drugs, leading to mental health challenges. As his children struggled, Ali continued taking on labor-intensive jobs, refusing to give up despite his age. The burden was heavy, and food was often scarce, but he pressed on, doing whatever it took to provide.

With time, the unrelenting struggles wore him down, and support became harder to find. It was then that Ali encountered Mama Ibado Charity, where he shared his story. Recognizing his vulnerability, he was enrolled in the seniors’ feeding program, bringing some relief from the daily fight for survival.