IBRAHIM KALA DIDO

For most of his life, Ibrahim Kala has known what it means to work hard simply to keep his family going. Born in Elwak to a Kenyan father and Somali mother, Ibrahim lost his father at a young age. Growing up without that support, he learned early to depend on his own strength and determination. About 25 years ago, Ibrahim married and began building a family of his own. With the kindness and support of neighbours, he and his wife welcomed their first two children. Determined to give his family a better life, Ibrahim left Elwak in search of more reliable opportunities to earn a living.

His search took him to Timau, where he spent years working as a casual farm labourer, tending vegetable crops under demanding conditions. The work was physically demanding and the income modest, but Ibrahim persevered. Every day of labour meant another day of food on the table and another step toward securing a future for his children. Eventually, Ibrahim moved to Isiolo so that his children could access education. He continued doing farm work, taking on long and physically demanding days to provide for his household. Years of manual labour, however, eventually took a heavy toll on his health. Ibrahim fell ill and became unable to continue working. For someone whose livelihood depended entirely on his ability to work, losing that capacity placed his family in an increasingly vulnerable position.

It was during this difficult period that support from the Mama Ibado Charity became a source of relief for the family. Over the past four months, Ibrahim’s household has received regular food hampers and essential supplies, helping to ease the pressure of meeting their most basic needs. The support extended beyond food. As Ibrahim’s health deteriorated, he was able to access care at the Mama Ibado health clinic, where he underwent medical tests and received treatment at no cost. Having a place where he could seek medical attention when he became unwell gave Ibrahim reassurance at a time when both his health and ability to earn a living were uncertain.

Today, Ibrahim is in better health and no longer carries the same constant fear of how his family will get their next meal. The support has given his household a greater sense of stability and allowed Ibrahim to look ahead with renewed hope. After decades of working through hardship to provide for his family, Ibrahim now carries a deep sense of gratitude for the assistance that has helped him and his family through one of their most difficult seasons.