Help Rebuild Lillian's Family Home

During a recent trip to Kenya, we felt impressed to attend a church service in Nakuru. As the church leader opened the meeting, he informed the congregation that Sister Lillian’s husband had passed away that week. I was sorry to hear of the family’s loss, but the full gravity of the situation didn’t become clear until after the meeting when another member told me the whole story.

( Lillian with her 2 kids: Karl and Markalister)

During the torrential flooding that took place in April and May, the family’s humble home was destroyed and many of their possessions were lost. Trying to recoup, the family constructed a temporary shelter (think sheet metal shack) which they stayed in for several weeks. During this time, Lillian's husband, Danson, who had already been battling cancer, became sick. He was in the hospital for several days before he passed away, leaving behind Lillian and her two children with no home, few belongings, and no provider. To make matters worse, Lillian’s brother also passed away that same week.

We met with the local church leader that day to see how we could help. When I asked if Lillian had a job I was told, “she sometimes makes a pot of beans and tries to sell from the roadside.” We offered to address the most pressing needs of the family, and caravanned over to a nearby grocery store with several members of the congregation to purchase a month’s worth of groceries, school supplies, bedding, and new clothes and shoes for the kids.

The goal now is to rebuild the house. The local church leader has received a quote of $11,000 USD for the rebuild, with an estimated construction period of 1 month. As the rains will be starting again in the fall, the house needs to be started within the next few weeks. The house rebuilding can start with a $4000 deposit, so as soon as we reach that amount, we’ll transfer the money and they can begin construction. We’ll then have one month to raise the rest of the funds to finish the house.

Please bear in mind that there is no infrastructure or social program in Kenya that can help this family. The only way this family can move forward from this destitute state will be thanks to the generosity of others.

Any money raised in excess of the needed amount will go towards helping the family with basic household items and providing them with food security while Lillian searches for a way to support her family.

Housing rebuild cost estimates:

House plan $120

Building permit $560

Gravel (levelling the ground) $160

Constructions blocks $768

Roofing iron sheets $576

Roofing timber $480

Cement $499

Sand $352

Labour $1,140

Nails $160

Steel $480

Electrical materials/ installation $640

Plumbing $472

Painting $720

Materials Transportation $856

Ceiling works $240

Ballast $152

Door, windows & Frames $320

Miscellaneous $960

Toilet/Bathroom $1,102

Grand Total $10,758