University students build house for poor granny

Ordinarily, most university students spend their pocket money on luxurious items for fun or as a way of showing off.

However, this is not the case at Karatina University in Nyeri. Students at the institution decided to use their pocket money to build a semi-permanent house for a 75-year-old granny, who has been living in a dilapidated shack for years.

The more than 40 students in various campus clubs came up with the idea of providing shelter to Mary Wangethi and her grandson John Wang’ombe, 10, as well as put food on their table.

“We rarely close our eyes to sleep during the rainy season as the roof keeps leaking and at times collapses on us. We are always migrating from one corner to another,” said Wangethi.

She said they had suffered for the past 10 years. “They have been rained on for years and have been hunger-stricken for a long time due to poverty,” said area assistant chief Peter Muraga.

Mary Wangethi (left) joins students of Karatina University in a dance after they handed over a newly constructed three-bedroom house to her at Gathehu in Nyeri yesterday. They said the move was aimed at showing love and compassion to the old and those neglected by the society. (PHOTO: KIBATA KIHU/STANDARD)

But now Wangethi’s woes have ended, thanks to the students. In a colourful ceremony yesterday, Wangethi received a key and a padlock to a new semi-permanent house worth Sh50,000 built by the students using their pocket money.

The singing and dancing by the students brought the sleepy village of Gathehu village in Mathira to life  as they handed over the semi-permanent house to the old woman.

 Shopping bag

They also brought her a shopping bag with an assortment of household items worth Sh20,000 as well as books for the Standard Three pupil.

According to Fredrick Macharia, the chairman of Bright Future Club at the campus, the project dubbed ‘Make Cucu Smile’ kicked off four weeks ago. Macharia said the students responded to Wangethi’s cries for help after learning of her plight and predicament, especially during last year’s El Nino. Macharia said the students, mostly in second and third year, decided to take the initiative before the onset of long rains this month.

“The idea of constructing a house came as a result of consultation with other university clubs,” he said. They said the unprecedented move was aimed at showing love and compassion to the old and those neglected by the society.

Wangethi, who lives in a quarter of an acre piece of land belonging to the county government, thanked the students. “I have always dreaded the onset of long rains. The slightest sign of rainfall sends shivers down my spine. I thank the students. I feel loved and appreciated despite many years of abandonment,” she added.