Man on 1700km bike ride to raise cash for orphans

By SAMMY JAKAA

An Ol Kalou-based businessman has begun a bicycle journey from Malaba border to Lamu to raise funds for street children and orphans.

David Wanjohi, 37, began the estimated 1,700-kilometre journey yesterday in an initiative targeting to raise Sh20 million from other well-wishers and philanthropists.

He will pass through Bungoma, Eldoret, Nakuru, Nairobi, Mombasa, and finally Lamu where he expects to have raised money “for the love of children and those orphaned in Nyandarua”.

“This drive has been prompted by the suffering of children who are either abandoned or orphaned due to circumstances beyond their control,” Mr Wanjohi said.

He said such children are often left to fend for themselves.

“All of us can do our part in ensuring every child is given the opportunity to learn and lead a comfortable life. If we do this, we can help the government reduce the pressure of building orphanages and other institutions that take up the role of surrogacy. This is a wakeup call to all communities to remember our less fortunate kids,” he said.

Wanjohi is undertaking his quest not just for the money but as a means of sending a moral message to Kenyans to empathise with children suffering in silence.

“It is unfortunate that 50 years of independence was not enough to guarantee children their place in society in the face of increased wealth creation and abundance,” he said. Wanjohi said he experienced difficulty after mobile phone service providers declined to offer him a pay bill number to raise funds.