Kitui special school seeks support for 257 children

The Kitui School for the Mentally Handicapped has sent out an appeal to well-wishers and donors to extend food support to the institution.

Principal Veronica Kithome on Friday told the media the facility is in serious financial straits and needs support to feed the high population.

"We are dogged by many problems. We get government funding but our needs are enormous and far outstrip the cash we get," she said.

"The money we get is never enough. It is supposed to be boosted from school fees but our children’s families are mostly too poor to afford paying fees. That is why we call for support." 

She spoke when her institution received a donation of maize, maize flour, beans, rice, cooking oil and bread and soda from the Young Ladies Cycling Club and Kitui Villa Hotel.

The school hosts 257 mentally challenged and autistic children.

Kithome said there were times when teachers had to chip in to buy food for the children.

She said in such circumstances, children end up being underfed as their daily ratio is drastically reduced just to keep them going.

"We have a serious challenge in feeding the children. The money we get goes towards paying salaries for staff, who assist them in many other ways, leaving little for food and other needs," the principal said.

Kithome called on more big-hearted well-wishers to come out and support her institution with food as well as clothing. 

Kitui Villa Hotel general manager Lucy Wambui said the food donation is a way of giving back to the society.

"We felt it is a noble cause to support the Young Ladies Cycling Club as we share the same value in taking pride in helping the community," she said.

Young Ladies Cycling Club CEO Gladys Kanyaa, who is a gospels artiste and teacher at Mutune Girl’s School, said her group's mandate is to extend a helping hand to the less fortunate in society.

She said the donation was in response to the plea from the institution's administration.

"Besides the food support we have given to the Kitui School for the mentally handicapped, we will return sooner than later with more goodies as the children are extremely needy," she said.

She called on young women to join the Young Ladies Cycling Club and, besides having fun and keeping fit and healthy, take part in contributing towards supporting the larger society.