Parliament’s special guests

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU

It was a case of a destitute and an orphan meeting, perhaps brought together by a common denominator – poverty – and marrying to raise a family.

But their struggle to raise a family and give hope to society best describes Ali Abdi and Zainab Abdi’s story. The two were catapulted into national fame after Chairman of Budget Committee Mutava Musyimi introduced them in the House yesterday as special guests of Parliament. 

Mutava narrated to legislators and the country following the Budget proceedings how the couple, sitting at the public gallery, had struggled to better their lives and that of their neighbours.

Zainab, a mother of three, dropped out of school at Class Six after the death of her parents.  She currently sells charcoal in Isiolo, which earns her one hundred shillings a day.

Her husband, who is in his late 30s, was a street urchin who operated between Nairobi, Meru and Isiolo.

Yesterday, Mutava told the country that the committee had shared lunch with the two, adding that the budget should targeted at addressing the plight of Kenyans struggling to by like the couple.