The Muslim community in Eldoret town has started a collection of food items amongst well-wishers ahead of the holy month of Ramadhan.
According to the Uasin Gishu chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Sheikh Abubakar Bini, the food collected will be shared with the needy and vulnerable families during the Holy Month.
“Last year, we helped over 2,500 people by supplying them with food that is within our County and the neighboring counties like Kakamega, Trans Nzoia, Nandi, and Elgeiyo Marakwet,” said Bini.
He, however, expressed concerns that the high cost of basic commodities might affect the Ramadhan celebrations.
Cooking oil and wheat flour, are some of the key commodities whose prices have skyrocketed in the recent past.
5 liters of cooking oil that was retailing at about Ksh700 a year ago is now Ksh1800.
“The main cause of inflation of food prices is the Russian-Ukraine war because Russia is the major export of about 70 percent of the food we use during Ramadhan,” said the CIPK Uasin Gishu boss.
It is expected that the Ramadhan period will be starting on April 2, 2022, and ending on May 2, 2022, depending on the sighting of the moon.
And with the high cost of goods, Bini is challenging the government to consider setting aside funds that will help lower the prices, the same way it allocated Ksh10 billion for fuel subsidy.
“We call upon those who can afford any food to help in contributing so that we can help others because this is the only good period you can help someone,” he said.
Sheikh Bini also called on the Muslim community to pray for peace across the globe during the Ramadhan period.
Ramadan is a holy month of worship, the study of the Quran, prayer, and fasting. It occurs during the month in which Muslims believe the Quran began to be revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. It is a joyous celebration for Muslims. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
