A Chinese company caused a stir in a village in Baringo County, Kenya after donating beer as part of food aid to hungry residents, Daily Nation reports.
Chuanshan International Mining Company donated more than 300 bags of maize, 20 cartons of cooking oil and over 20 cartons of a Chinese-brand beer.
Speaking during the relief food distribution in Katikit, Tiaty, the company’s director said he decided to include beer because villagers enjoy it.
“Locals in this area love liquor so I saw it fit to make it part of donations to hunger-ravaged villages,” said Mr Han Ke.
The villagers cheered and clapped after it was announced that they would also be getting the alcohol.
Resident Ben Todonyang and others could not hide their excitement.
A toast to charity: Chinese donors open cans of beer that accompanied their food donation to the people of Tiaty, Baringo County. [Julius Chepkwon]/ The Standard
Mr Todonyang said, “We are really grateful to get beer in this remote village. We have been hit hardest by the food shortage. The beer will make us happy and cause us to forget our many problems.”
Tiaty MP William Kamket, who attended the event, said food donated by the government had not yet reached remote villages because of lack of transport.
“More than 500 bags of maize are still in government stores in Chemolingot for lack of fuel for transport. The only food that has reached the villages is that donated by well-wishers,” he said.
At least two people have died of hunger in Baringo County in the last two months. The government released Sh2 billion to cushion Kenyans against the long, dry spell.
