KENYA: Religious Nun Receives Presidential Award for Exemplary Work During COVID-19
Sr. Winnie Mutuku , winner of Presidential Uzalendo Award
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
President Uhuru Kenyatta, during the national day in remembrance of Kenya’s attainment of internal self-rule on Monday, June 1, has awarded a Presidential Order of Service Award, Uzalendo Award, to 68 patriotic citizens for their exemplary work in the fight against Covid-19, among whom is a Religious nun who is journalist by profession.
“I did not expect this. It came to me as a shock,” Sr. Winnie Mutuku, a member of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul who runs Upendo Street Children project in Kenya’s Kitale town told AMECEA online in an interview Thursday, June 4.
“I can’t image how I got the award. I think somebody might have noted the little services we have been carrying out for the street children here in Kitale Diocese especially during this time of pandemic because this time is extra ordinary,” Sr. Mutuku explained adding, “Whoever noticed that might have forwarded my name to government.”
“Besides, this project is well known here in Kitale due to the interactions I had with them. Also, Mitume Radio has covered our adverts three times, and interviewed the children themselves. So, from all these, someone might have heard about us or acknowledged our services,” Sr Winne narrated.
The nun who founded the charity organization which commenced its operations in January this year, said the COVID-19 pandemic made them integrate the children back to their families but not all were integrated.
“After the government directives were issued which included closure of institutions and social distancing among others, we integrated the children back to their homes to be with their relatives or guardians, but we couldn’t do this to all of them because some had nowhere to go to,” Sr. Mutuku underscored.
