-
Rashid Juma, a businessman in Mombasa sold his wife’s Ksh473,843 gold necklace to raise funds for the earthquake victims in Turkey.
According to Jama, his wife allowed him to sell the necklace as a donation to the victims stating that they had many friends in the country.
Speaking to Anadolu, a news agency in Turkey on Saturday, February 25, Jama stated that he had bought the necklace for his wife in Turkey in 2022, as a gift.
“I bought the necklace for my wife, but you can’t compare lives to money, which is why my family is showing love to the Turkish people, Jama stated.
Turkish ambassador to Kenya Subutay Yuksel (Right), businessman Rashid Juma (Centre), and an official (Left) during the presentation of a Ksh473,843 gold necklace as a donation.
Anadolu
The businessman travelled to Nairobi to present the necklace to Subutay Yuksel, the Turkish ambassador to Kenya but was advised to sell it first.
He then proceeded to engage a jeweler who sold the necklace and deposited the proceeds in the embassy’s account that was set up for earthquake victims.
“I sold it and deposited the proceeds into the relief aid account. I had bought the necklace for my wife, but you cannot compare life to money,” Jama stated.
According to Jama they were frequent tourists to Turkey and had in 2021, visited the country four times.
Jama added that he had made many friends from Turkey during his visits and felt compelled to be of help to them.
“They are good people, and I have many friends there, so it really touched me, and I had to think of how I assist these people.
“I want to tell other Kenyans that this can happen anywhere. We need to help our friends so that they can help us tomorrow,” Jama explained.
Earlier in February 8, the Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary(CS) Alfred Mutua appealed to Kenyans to make donations adding that the government would create collection points across the country where people can drop off their donations.
“I call upon fellow citizens to help Turkey by donating material support such as foodstuffs, clothing, financial support, and medical aid,” the CS stated.
The toll from two earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria surpassed 50,000.
Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua (left) and Turkey’s Ambassador to Kenya Subutay Yuksel (right) during a press briefing on Tuesday, February 7 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Alfred Mutua
