Born on January 1, 1954, Ali Mwenje Omari grew up in difficult circumstances. He only managed to reach Standard Three in school but developed a deep desire to learn the Qur’an and serve his community. His life changed when the then Chief Kadhi, Said Ahmad Sharif, recognized his determination and arranged for him to study Qur’an at a school in Machakos in 1969. After three years of study, Omari returned home to Western Kenya, where he began teaching children Qur’an in Shisiru and Shitingi, near Kakamega. His monthly pay was just Ksh. 80, but his passion for teaching outweighed material needs.Later, he was transferred to Kaptumo, near Kapsabet, where he taught the children of Arab and Nandi families for a slightly higher wage of KSh. 200 per month. It was during this time that he met his wife, and together they welcomed their first child, Farouk, followed by Abdulla Moi, born in 1979—the year President Moi took office.As life grew more difficult, Omari taught himself to repair radios with the help of a technician from Kisumu. The skill became a lifeline, enabling him to buy a small plot of land in Lutonyi and raise his family.“My children didn’t go far in school,” he says softly, “but they learned trades like mechanics and carpentry and now fend for themselves.”But old age brought new challenges. Illness struck, and then he lost his wife, a devastating blow that left him struggling to survive. “After my wife passed away, I was broken. Life became unbearable,” he recalls.Hope returned when he was enrolled in the Mama Ibado Charity Seniors Feeding Program, which provides food rations to vulnerable elderly people every month.“Since I started receiving support from Mama Ibado, my health has improved,” he says. “I get flour, rice, sugar, cooking oil, and tea leaves, things I couldn’t afford before. I can feel my body gaining strength again.”Omari expresses deep gratitude to the staff and volunteers of the charity. “They treat us with kindness and respect,” he says with a smile. “These young people have good hearts, they show true humanity.”By enrolling him in the Mama Ibado Charity Seniors Feeding Program, we have addressed Omari's immediate need for nourishment, ensuring his health stabilizes and his dignity is restored. However, Omari's struggle for survival extends beyond the food he receives monthly. He is one of many vulnerable seniors who still requires comprehensive, ongoing support to cover daily necessities and medical needs. Your generosity can help us continue to provide the consistent care he needs to live his remaining years with peace and security.
