By Betty Luke
Over 1,000 children from poor backgrounds in Isiolo County have benefited with sleeping kits donated by a Canada-based charitable organization, Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW), in bid to ensure they have proper sleep and contribute to improved performance.
The initiative which is being implemented in partnership with the Mwenda Thuranira Foundation and the Rotary Club of Nairobi is the second one in the county.
According to SCAW, each sleeping kit is valued at approximately 40 USD and includes a mattress, a blanket, a mosquito net, buckets, utensils, school essentials, and shoes items.
The items are meant to restore dignity and support school retention among vulnerable learners.
The organization noted that the distribution was in line with their commitment to support vulnerable children around the world access quality sleeping materials to enhance the quality of their sleep.
Speaking during the distribution exercise at the Isiolo Catholic Diocese, Philanthropist-cum-politician Mwenda Thuranira, hailed the initiative noting it would go along way in enhancing access to quality education in an area where residents are already grappling harsh economic times, occasioned by the ongoing drought.
Thuranira described the partnership as timely, noting that many children in Isiolo still sleep on floors or in overcrowded conditions due to high poverty levels.
“This support will help restore dignity to our children. We appeal to our sponsors to consider coming back to Isiolo so that more children can benefit from such life-changing interventions,” he said.
Isiolo Catholic Bishop Munguti Makau said the region continued to bear the brunt of recurring droughts and economic hardship, leaving many families dependent on humanitarian support.
“Isiolo is a missionary diocese and, like many ASAL regions, we rely heavily on support from donors and well-wishers. We urge our partners to continue doing good because God will bless them,” Bishop Makau said.
Community representative Joseph Kalapata thanked SCAW and the Mwenda Thuranira Foundation for their continued investment in children’s welfare, saying the initiative reflected the impact of partnerships between international donors and local actors.
“We appreciate the time and resources dedicated to supporting children in Isiolo. This is the support that truly touches the community,” Kalapata said.
Child health experts say quality sleep is essential for children’s physical growth, brain development, and emotional wellbeing. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), children who sleep on clean, safe bedding are healthier, more alert, and more likely to concentrate in school.
Additionally, poor sleeping conditions expose children to fatigue and illnesses.
