Daniel Ngaira Isoka

Ngaira Daniel Isoka was born in 1962 in Vihiga, the youngest of twelve children in a large polygamous family. His father had two wives, and while his senior wife had eleven children, Daniel was the only child of the second mother.

His educational journey was brief, ending prematurely in class three due to lack of support at home. His father struggled with alcoholism and provided no guidance or financial stability for the children.

Without an education or family backing, Daniel left home as a young man to find his own way through manual labor. He moved to Majengo, Kakamega County, taking on any casual jobs he could find to survive on his own.

He eventually married and settled in a semi-permanent rental house in Amalemba, where he and his wife raised seven sons. Life became a heavy cycle of searching for work, though one of his children later passed away.

Raising six surviving sons in a house with no steady income meant that hunger was a frequent guest at their table. His wife seeks out jobs cooking for other families just to bring home a small portion of food for the day.

The children grew up without the opportunity for stable careers and now stay at the homestead, relying on irregular casual labor. None of them have formal employment, leaving the entire family to live hand to mouth in a cramped rental.

Daniel’s physical strength began to fail him as he developed chronic asthma and painful ulcers. The cold weather in Kakamega often triggers his breathing difficulties, making it impossible for him to perform the heavy labor he once relied on.

He learned about the Mama Ibado Seniors Program after hearing from neighbors that elderly people were receiving help at the office. After visiting them, the team assessed his living conditions and health status, enrolling him on April 1, 2023.

He now receives a comprehensive food basket containing maize flour, rice, cooking oil, sugar, and other nutritious essentials. These supplies have provided a consistent source of nutrition for his large household.

Beyond food, the program has become a sanctuary for his health, providing him with the medication he needs for his asthma and ulcers. He visits the clinic every Thursday for check-ups, which has allowed his body to finally rest and recover.

"In the past, I wandered looking for any small thing to eat while battling chest pains, but today my body feels stronger because I have medicine and food. I no longer have the constant worry of an empty pot because Mama Ibado has restored my hope," Daniel explains.

Daniel still requires support because he lives in a rental house with many dependents and no reliable income. His chronic health conditions prevent him from working, making this assistance vital for his survival and the dignity of his home.