Dabaso Elema

Dabaso Elema carries the weight of a life shaped by struggle and perseverance. Born in 1937 in Garba Tulla, his dreams of education ended in class five when the Shifta War forced him to drop out. With no other path, he moved to Nairobi, working tirelessly as a watchman for over a decade—until he was suddenly dismissed.

Still searching for stability, he relocated to Isiolo in 1984 and found work as a watchman at Isiolo Boys. Life gave him love and family, but it also took cruelly in return. His first marriage ended, his second wife died in childbirth, and later, he buried two of his sons. Each heartbreak could have broken him, but Dabaso pressed on, determined to provide for his surviving children.

In 2019, age and illness—hypertension and diabetes—made survival even harder when he lost his job. With no income, his future seemed hopeless. Then, a lifeline appeared. The Mama Ibado Charity team found him and enrolled him in their senior feeding and healthcare program, ensuring he no longer had to fight alone.
Today, despite his frailty, Dabaso stands as a testament to endurance.