Peter Sabai Kutei

Peter Sabai Kutei was born in Bukhulunya. As the eldest of four children, responsibility fell on him early. He attended school in his village but was forced to drop out in Class 5 because his family could not afford the school fees.

With his education cut short, Peter entered a life of hard labor. He initially worked in casual construction (mjengo) and later found work as a watchman. Family life brought both joy and immense tragedy. He married his first wife and had five children, but two passed away.

Tragedy struck again in a second union, where he lost seven out of eight children. Today, his few surviving children face their own struggles with unemployment and substance abuse, leaving them unable to support him.

For years, Peter’s life was defined by extreme hunger. Despite working, his wages were meager and often unreliable. He describes nights spent sleeping on an empty stomach, his body becoming frail and weak from starvation. He believes the sheer hardship and lack of food even contributed to the death of his first wife.

The turning point came when his late brother, who worked in town, told him about the Mama Ibado program. He learned they were registering elderly people who were bereaved and suffering. Peter registered and has now been a beneficiary for five years.

Through Mama Ibado, Peter receives a lifeline of essential food items, including milk, maize flour, porridge flour, tea leaves, sugar, and salt. He says his body, once light and weak from hunger, now feels strong.

Beyond nutrition, the program is vital for his health. After surviving an accident in 2019 that affected his mobility, Peter now relies on the program’s medical support. He visits the clinic for regular check-ups, where he is treated for high blood pressure and receives guidance on managing his diet.

Peter closes with immense gratitude, noting that the program is "saving us." He prays for the donors, acknowledging that without this help, the struggle for food would have been impossible to survive.