ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER; THELMA KATANA’S STORY.
Mrs Thelma Katana, NALSA(K) Kaloleni Constituency Representative, has initiated a
community development initiative program in her constituency. The program is a two-part
project aimed at improving the lives of both young mothers and children with special needs.
Teenage pregnancy is a prevalent issue in Kilifi County. An article in The Star points out that
in January 2021, there were 946 pregnancy cases among school-going girls in the county.
Between January 2020 and May 2020, 3376 teenage pregnancies were recorded in the
county, with Kaloleni sub-county reporting 408 of the cases. Then, it comes as no surprise
that this is one of Mrs Katana’s issues to focus on.
In partnership with Teens Hope CBO, Mrs Katana has facilitated the mentorship, counselling,
and skills training of about 30 young mothers. Mrs Mary Fondo, the Teens Hope coordinator,
used a famous Swahili proverb to explain the need for this program: “kuvunjika kwa mwiko si
mwisho wa kusonga ugali”. The girls need to be given hope for the future and a means to
move forward. The counselling and mentorship help the teen mums deal with the stigma that
comes with rejoining school and society at large.
In addition to the counselling, the mums also received training in soap making and baking
from local experts; skills meant to help them boost their income and empower themselves.
They also received pads, pampers and various foodstuff. Mrs Katana also donated a 10-litre
water tank to enable the mums to gather and sell water in Kaloleni, a semi-arid area.
The second part of the project was the donation to Kizurini Special School. “I feel that
children with disabilities are often neglected and forgotten in our society,” Mrs Katana said in
her address to explain why this was an important project for her.
Kizurini Special School was started in 2008 and currently has 68 students and five teachers.
Mrs Prisca Munga, the school’s principal, noted that the school faces many challenges,
including being understaffed, lacking adequate facilities, and lacking funds to do regular
physiotherapy for the students. Mrs Katana donated 15 wheelchairs, first aid kits, pampers,
pads, and foodstuff. She says it is her wish to facilitate the construction of additional
classrooms. The donation of foodstuff, sanitary towels and pampers to both groups of
beneficiaries will be spread over the next few months, making the last donation in May 2022.
The program launched in Kilifi is the first of at least 16 more projects set to be carried out in
different constituencies through the partnership between NALSA(K) and Proudly Kenyan.
Proudly Kenyan is an association that promotes its members through co-branding, savings,
training, marketing, and organising events and exhibitions. Tiffany Muema, the organisation’s
Organising Secretary, was present at the event. The projects NALSA(K) members will carry
out through this partnership will meet two of NALSA’s objectives. First in offering support to
our spouses in their roles as members of parliament, and second to enhance the
socio-economic growth of women, youth and children.
By Sophia Wanyonyi.
Photographs and video by Julia Laval.