At 87, Halwa Hassan carries the immense responsibility of caring for eight orphaned children at Pumwani Shelter in Eastleigh, Nairobi. With no stable income, she sells clothes along the roadside, a livelihood that often leaves her family with just one meal a day.
On days when I don’t sell anything, we sometimes go to bed hungry,
she shares quietly.
In 2025, Islamic Relief Kenya, with support from Islamic Relief Ireland, supported 80 vulnerable households in urban Nairobi through a targeted food distribution. Households were chosen through a transparent, community-led process that prioritised elderly caregivers, female-headed households and families with many dependants. Halwa received maize flour, wheat flour, sugar, dates and cooking oil.
Living just 100 metres from the distribution point, she could collect the food without extra transport costs, an important consideration for vulnerable urban families.
May Allah bless and reward the donors for remembering us,
says Halwa. This support has made a real difference in our lives.
Story from the Islamic Relief Kenya Annual Report 2025.
