KASSIM ONYANGO SHABAN

Kassim Shaaban was born on September 17, 1962, in Amalemba, Kakamega County. His family later relocated to Elwesero, where he spent his formative years in a family of five children.

Shaaban's formal education was cut short by financial constraints; he was forced to leave school after completing Class Seven due to the challenge of school fees.

After leaving school, he took on various small casual jobs, including painting. He later found a period of stability, working a casual job at the Cereal Board in Eldoret for ten years. Upon returning home, he transitioned to small-scale farming on his own land.

Shaaban is married and has four children. His financial situation deteriorated significantly, making life very difficult. As the main breadwinner, he relies solely on his farm work for income. His wife is unemployed. His children lack stable employment; one works as a watchman for minimal earnings, another does occasional odd jobs, and two still live at home, relying entirely on him.

The severe hardship meant that securing food was a constant and significant challenge for the whole family. They relied solely on the meager and irregular earnings from his farm work.

Facing this dire situation, Shaaban was introduced to the Mama Ibado Charity by a woman in his community. He registered with the organization and now receives a monthly food ration through their program for seniors. He views this aid as a tremendous help that has alleviated the severe challenge of securing food.

The monthly provisions include maize meal, rice, sugar, tea leaves, milk, salt, and porridge flour.

Shaaban is deeply grateful to Mama Ibado, stating that the organization "pulled him out of a dire situation" and relieved his food challenges.

Shaaban needs continued support because his family is in extreme hardship; he is the sole provider, his farming income is minimal and unstable, and he must support his unemployed wife and four children, two of whom live at home and rely completely on him for basic needs.