#ShujaaMtaani

Christine Wandera is a WHRD, community organizer and sociologist from Maringo, Makadara Constituency in Nairobi County, a once residential area exclusively for officers  to working in the government during the post-colonial Kenya. In recent times, the estate is inhabited by both young and old (Retired) low income earners to poor in-city informal settlements that stretch on most of the estate’s streets. 

 When the first case of Covid-19 was announced in Kenya, many alike, expressed fear of the unknown and the unprecedented disruption, loss of livelihoods and and life that the disease could impact communities. Christine was one of them. at that point, she knew that she had a critical role to play in the society as a leader to ensure safety of the people. 

Quickly, Christine put together a team of women- majority were trained community workers and volunteers- whom she then volunteered to train on liquid soap making. Her plan was to make the soap, and distribute it for free to community members even when she knew that she did not have sufficient economic muscles to sustain the activity. They named the group M-Finest for Maringo Finest.

Together with the volunteers, embarked on distributing soap in half a liter recycled bottles. They would distribute the soap to the vulnerable and exposed members of the community such as vendors, needy and the old. They also launched a hand washing campaign where they demonstrated how to wash hands with the following messages:

1. Kunawa mkono inaanzana mimi (Washing hands starts with me)
2. Nawa mkono kinga jamii (wash your hand protect your community )
3. Nawa mkono ujikinge (wash your hands protect yourself)
4. Nawa mkono upige corona teke. ( wash your hands kick out corona)
5. Nawa mkono uangamize corona.(wash your hands to eliminate corona)
6. Nawa mkono uzuie corona (wash hands to prevent corona)
7. Nawa mkono uepuke corona( wash hands and escape corona)

They continue to sensitize community members about the disease with the help of donations from well wishers in the form of face masks, sanitizers, food stuffs and funds for producing more soap.  

She has also offered free counselling to victims of gender based violence during the corona period as well as training their immediate family members of the best practices of handling the victims.

M-Finest has been able to reach over 2000 households through the distribution of over 1000 masks, produced 500 litres of liquid soap and even shared soap with Jogoo Police Station Officers.