Shakaba Elphas Inganji

Elphas Inganji Shakaba was born in 1952. He spent his childhood in his local village, attending Bukhulunya Primary School from 1965 to 1971, where he successfully sat for his Certificate of Primary Education (CPE).

Determined to serve his country, Elphas joined the National Youth Service (NYS) in 1972 for training. He eventually joined the police force, training at Kiganjo Police College and later specializing as a CID officer in Nairobi. He served in the police force until 1984 when he was dismissed. Following this, he worked various jobs, including time at Mumias Sugar Company and later with KK Security, before finally retiring in 2013. Between 2015 and 2019, he tried to make ends meet with casual labor.

Elphas married in 1984 and is a father to four sons. However, life in retirement has proven to be a harsh challenge. Although his children are grown, they work low-paying casual jobs to support their own households, leaving Elphas and his wife to fend for themselves. To survive, Elphas attempts to repair umbrellas, sometimes earning a meager 150 shillings to buy a meal. On days when work is unavailable, they face the reality of hunger.

His situation changed when he heard from local watchmen that Mama Ibado provided food for seniors. He registered in 2020 and began receiving support in 2023. The food basket, containing essentials like sugar and tea leaves, has been a lifeline. Elphas admits that receiving food is better than cash, which might be spent elsewhere; the food guarantees they survive the month.

Beyond nutrition, the program cares for his physical well-being. Elphas benefits immensely from the health support, visiting the clinic every Thursday for a routine medical check-up to monitor his condition.

Elphas is deeply grateful to Mama Ibado for sustaining him and his wife. However, as an elderly man with no pension, limited income from umbrella repairs, and no financial support from his children, he remains in great need of continued help to live out his sunset years with dignity.