Residents of Lamu village unite to build house for homeless man

For the past 16 years, Francis Njoroge Kinyanjui has been leading a pathetic life since his situation suddenly changed for the worse following an attack by a wild animal.

In 2008, Kinyanjui was attacked by a hippopotamus in his Lakeside village in Mpeketoni, Lamu West. The incident happened during evening hours while he was on his way home from his firm.

The hippo attack left him with life-threatening injuries on the leg, hand and face. He was disabled.

He later became incapacitated to the extent that he could no longer build a house for himself or make any meaningful development in his life.

Years later, Kinyanjui's, who lives alone, was hit hard by life. His house collapsed. The situation resulted in him becoming homeless.

For the past decade, Kinyanjui has been living in a makeshift structure in a bushy area within Lakeside village. His homestead had turned bushy due to a lack of maintenance.

He has been depending on neighbours and other well-wishers for food and other humanitarian aid.

Over the weekend, Kinyanjui was shocked by an act of kindness when over 200 community members from within Lakeside village gathered at his homestead armed with construction tools and building materials including poles, and iron sheets.

They informed him that they had come to change his life for the better by building a house for him.

A resident digging a latrine as others build a house for Mzee Kinyanjui. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

Two-roomed house

They cleared the compound and started constructing a two-roomed mud-walled house up to its completion. They also dug and constructed a toilet for him.

The community members, under the umbrella of Utu United Reloaded Network, a local initiative aimed at uplifting the lives of the disadvantaged in society, said they had started with Kinyanjui and promised to continue with the same spirit.

Paul Mutinda, the chairperson of the network, thanked all the members who turned up and ensured Mzee Kinyanjui got a place to call home.

“We’re happy to have come together as a community to change the life of Mzee Kinyanjui. After spending over 10 years without a home, the community has intervened and helped Mzee Kinyanjui get a new start. He now has a house and a toilet. I thank all members for making this initiative a reality,” said Mutinda.

Mzee Francis Njoroge Kinyanjui outside his newly-built house in Lakeside village in Mpeketoni, Lamu West. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

During an interview with The Eastleigh Voice, Kinyanjui could not hide his joy following the act of kindness by his community.

He thanked the villagers for rescuing him and appreciated everything that everybody did for him.

“It’s like I’ve been living in the forest. I am poor and physically challenged, especially after the hippo attack. I have suffered for so long but finally, I am a happy man as society has found me a place to call home. I have a freshly built house and a toilet. I thank them for this kind gesture,” said Kinyanjui.

Mercy Kimani called on Lamu residents and Kenyans at large to emulate the Lakeside community by ensuring disadvantaged members of society are helped.

“The Lakeside community decided to get together to build a little house for Mzee Kinyanjui. If we embrace such a gesture, then we will eradicate poverty and ensure equity among society members not only in Lamu but across Kenya,” said Kimani.

Emmanuel Wanyoike Kimwa, a community leader, pleaded with the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) to speed up the compensation process and ensure Kinyanjui is paid for damages after the hippo attack.

“Mzee Kinyanjui has suffered grievous injuries due to hippo attacks since 2008. I don’t know why the KWS are delaying his compensation. Let them fast-track the process and ensure the old man gets his dues,” said Kimwa.

Contacted, Lamu County KWS Assistant Director Ahmed Ibrahim pledged to follow up on Kinyanjui’s compensation and ensure he gets justice.

Ahmed said the delay in Kinyanjui getting compensation might be a result of improper documentation, citing last year when the government paid many Lamu wildlife attack victims.

“Just last year, the government released Sh13 million and another Sh8 million to clear cases of wildlife attacks in Lamu. That means whenever there’s proper documentation of all compensation claims, the wildlife compensation committee approves to pave the way for the state to clear the victims. So, I'll follow up to see what’s behind Kinyanjui’s compensation delay,” said Ibrahim.