Kenya, Lets rise together..

To every single Kenyan, every individual from the bottom of my heart I say THANK YOU THANK YOU and THANK YOU!!!

Your support, your courage, your inspiration, your votes, your nominations, your calls every single act has kept me geared to do more for this country. And do you know what that means? It means we all want a better country a better place we can be safe, a country where your thoughts and talent matters. Today I tell you – TOGETHER, we will build this Nation, Together, we WILL make this a country we all dream of. We have with us knowledge, talent, and US the people UNITED!!!

Thanks to you all who nominated me to accompany Kenyans4Kenya and the Kenya Red Cross Society to Turkana – gave me the opportunity to be there with the people we all rising to help. It was an experience and a half. I wouldn’t want to get into detail of the trip all I can tell you is it was really bumpy!! No roads at all plus the distance was insanely far. But all in all worth it to be there with  the people for the people.

We got to a feeding center in a Primary school where they have 8 classes but only 3 teachers. I asked one of the teachers how they manage… “children here want to study they have dreams of what they want to be, but due to hunger, lack of resources some are forced to leave school” he added “we are only 3 teachers, the only way we cater for all is by teaching each class 20minutes instead of the normal day” I asked him what his request would be if there was anyone who’d listen, and he replied “Man power.. we need teachers, this place has future leaders”

Then I also saw a lady with a sick baby, you can see in her eyes all she had was hope nothing else… she was standing in a queue where The Kenya Red Cross Society were having a medical stand…. The baby was looking directly in my eyes with no facial emotions you could see he was in pain and maybe even tired of crying because of how he was feeling.. I couldn’t help but try make him talk, or cheer him but he dint move a muscle… I asked his mother what was wrong; her response.. “Mgonjwa, hakuna chakula, maji shida hakuna dawa” asked her what do they normally do  before the medical team set the camp – her response really hit me hard…. She said there was a place they go have their kids checked – but, they are forced to pay 100 Kenya shillings… the question is, where do you expect they get the money from? So what do they do – they just continue living in hope and waiting for their day….

The people there are NOT farmers, they are pastoralists esp. the elderly people some are survivors from the dispute with the Pokot. Some don’t even believe they are in Kenya, I was told once someone said, “Salimia watu wa Kenya ukirudi huko kwenu” and this makes me ask – Have we forgotten our people? Do we have the right people in power? What happens when the people in Kenya still think its Moi in power? Seriously? They only see their leaders when they are visitors visiting or elections – do they even vote? These are Kenyans, Human Beings, Creation of the Almighty the same Almighty who has give YOU health, wealth, knowledge, a shelter, food and a family… We can’t help our own people???

Questions have been raised about long term solutions… relief distribution isn’t a solution…  I can’t stand and point out what is being done but I can stand and suggest a lot that can be done to make Kenya a better place.

We need to ask ourselves, Today its them… what if tomorrow its us?

My name is Ahmed Salim and I’m a Kenyan.

God bless YOU and God bless KENYA!!!

ps: please check out some of the pictures I got from the visit… please share it with ALL :)

http://on.fb.me/pDHNOg

10 DAYS and Counting #FeedKE

After 10 days of full dedication to an initiative I started off with just one tweet has taught me a lot. I have met, talked and interacted with all sorts of people. Got all sorts of comments both critics and applauds which I took all positively!!! I knew this wont be easy, but the way Kenyans Online looked up to me and expected results there was no way I would let the people of Kenya Online down. I had to sacrifice a lot esp work and time to make this work. A campaign that is ongoing for more than a week with no offline help makes me proud to say Social Media is our future. We are free to express our thought and eventually the right shall be done.

This has been very tough but the support I get from all of YOU keeps me saying, ONE MORE TWEET, ONE MORE REPLY JUST ONE MORE and here I am 10 days down the line still requesting for the ONE more RE-TWEET. I was honestly about to give this up and support all the other ongoing initiatives , but after I had a word with Abbas Gullet, Tariq Twaha and Rosemary Mutunkei all from Kenya Red Cross Society – they inspired me and encouraged me to keep doing this. Do you realize for the 1^st time Kenyans Online all over the world are doing something as ONE with ONE common goal??

The support im getting online on all social platforms just boosts my energy to ask for one more tweet – and you know what? WE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN. I am NOT stopping as yet – together we will Feed Kenya.

My take on the idea of this initiative, I leave it to the people of Kenya and the Almighty to decide. My GOAL is to raise money to Feed Kenyans and to make it as transparent as possible not to mention Kenyans to own it!!!

Till date of this post we have raised Kshs.624,602.20/= from 1130 donors via Online, Mpesa and Airtel

This is really a good sign of what we Kenyans can do – it takes time but eventually we will get there.

I also would like to thank KAPA OIL REFINERIES LTD for their donation of 1.5 Tones cooking oil worth 250,000/= (excl taxes) toward FeedKE

Also extend my appreciations to Martha Karua for a call to all Kenyans Online to take part in the initiative and to also the one and only Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka – on behalf of all Kenyans Online I say Thank You!!!

We are all Kenyans and let’s keep everything else behind us today and stand proud to do something for this country – lets Unite and speak one language. A language we all have asked for many years a language of PEACE, LOVE and UNITY!!!!  Take some time and check this video I did exactly 1 year ago and you tell me if my message is any different: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bBqOaszGX4&feature=related

Kenyans WE can DO this together – We can show our strength as ONE – We can make a difference just as an individual. Your say counts, your participation counts, your heart counts and more your ACTION counts.

Sacrifice A Meal Today; Take pride, stand for Kenya and support FeedKE:

• M-Pesa Paybill to ‘10,000’ Acc ‘feedke’
• On Airtel nickname ‘REDCROSS’ reference ‘feedke’
• Online: www.kenyaredcross.org 

Ps: all funds are collected directly by the Kenya Red Cross Society and a report is available on request.

From the bottom of my heart I say thank you all who have made this happen and also request you all NOT to give up we have reached a point we will NOT look back…. Lets finish the race together, lets all meet at the finish line as proud Kenyans!!! And may The Almighty protect, bless and guide you in whatever you do and shower you with endless blessings and success!!!

My name is Ahmed Salim and I’m a Kenyan!!

May God Bless YOU and GOD BLESS KENYA!!!!

I have YOU, The Kenyan by my side…

“Oh God of all creation
Bless this our land and nation
Justice be our shield and defender
May we dwell in unity
Peace and liberty
Plenty be found within our borders.” 

The words of our National Anthem have always been my inspiration to go out of my way and do what I do for Kenya. It alone stands as a PERFECT prayer to the people of this country!!!

A little about me, I wasn’t born nor brought up on a silver platter – iv been through a lot during my childhood while my Mother struggled every single day not giving up on finding ways to feed us!!! We shared a plate my mother, brother, and I at one point in life which I’ve never forgotten – thus I know how it feels.

This initiative is just ONE of what I’ve done in the past – and I do it as an individual with only 1 goal – Making a difference in someone’s life in one way or the other. I only partner with people with the same objective and only use the people to spread the word. Some people may NOT like my approach of how I do things, but I’m sorry this is what I do and I use only what I have which for me till date is YOU the Kenyan and the internet. Like I said it earlier I’m just an ordinary Kenyan who loves his country and would like Kenyans to take PRIDE in making a difference by themselves.

I made it clear yesterday – I am in  NO COMPETITION with any other initiative out there, infact I’m happy Kenyans are rising to support this cause in a different approach, which eventually is for the same purpose!!! Also raised  which I would like to make clear: I DO NOT work for neither Kenya Red Cross nor do I own any charity organization. Im just an individual who has taken up the initiative and challenge to involve as many Kenyans as possible.

I will be among the happiest people when we all reach our targets and we all take pride that we as Kenyans did it!!!  What matters to me the most isn’t a name or credit it’s the dying child in this country. These people need us!!!

I would like to say THANK YOU to ALL who have supported this cause and I do hope to raise more money through your help of course – we are in this together and we will rise together.

Im so proud of Kenyans – we are good people and we believe, love and have faith in this country, its us to make that difference we want. Its us who will run this country tomorrow and its us who will for the 1^st time choose our leaders wisely!!! BUT for NOW – We all need to UNITE and FEED KENYA!!! This country is bigger than us all and God is the Greatest who we have with us.

Till yesterday afternoon we managed to raise: Kshs 335,554.20/= by just ordinary individuals out there.

ALL donations GO to The Kenya Red Cross Society DIRECTLY, I kindly request you to Sacrifice A Meal today and together LETS FEED KENYA!!!

• On M-Pesa Paybill to ‘10,000’ Acc ‘feedke’
• On  Airtel nickname ‘REDCROSS’ reference ‘feedke’
• Online: kenyaredcross.org

Ps: all funds are collected directly to the Kenya Red Cross and a report is available on request.

My name is Ahmed Salim and I’m a Kenyan!!

God Bless YOU and GOD BLESS KENYA!!!!

After 1 WEEK - #FeedKE

A week ago I started this initiative of having Kenyans Sacrifice A Meal to help Feed Kenya!!! My initial TARGET was 10,000 Kenyans with atleast a minimum of 250/=Ksh donated to The Kenya Red Cross Society under #FeedKE Account Name. What amazed me is the response of us Kenyans – everyone who heard about it; shared it, talked about it and also some acted on it!!!

Today, I post what we have collected so far and what YOU have donated as a Kenyan!!!

As at 26^th July 2011 from 172 donations we have collected 140,880/= Ksh

I would like to appreciate all who have taken part in this so far, who also donated upto 40-50 Meals and who also are not around the country but made donations online… On behalf of everyone involved, I say Thank You and God Bless you!!!!

We still are way behind Kenyans. We still have 3 MILLION Kenyans in starvation, We still have Children dying – this tells a lot. Tells us our future is clearly NOT in our hands, if we cannot look after our children, our tomorrow leaders, where are we really heading to??

It’s so painful to watch the News and see this child who you may never know is tomorrow’s president?  We cannot tell the future, but we can act on the present!!! And the present is helping Our People. Present is, YOU sending and sharing the little you can. Present is YOU having your neighbor, family friends all do the same. The present is to stand on your feet and say it from your heart – YOU ARE A KENYAN and you WILL HELP KENYA!!! Present is overlooking the past but focusing on making a difference in the present and building a future. We can only do this if YOU decide its TIME We ACT!! We can only make this happen if YOU say it your choice to either build this country or ignore it and let it suffer!!!

We can do this Kenyans YES WE CAN DO IT and today I ask for 1 MORE WEEK to have all of you take part in this, talk about it, share it, act on it and make everyone you know do it!!!!

This isn’t for me nor you this is for this COUNTRY which with no doubt, is bigger than all of us!!! We are the change we want we are the lives we want, we are the leaders we want and we are the ones to make it happen….

My fellow brother and sister, LETS JUST DO THIS:

• On M-Pesa Paybill to ‘10,000’ Acc ‘feedke’
• On  Airtel nickname ‘REDCROSS’ reference ‘feedke’
• Online: kenyaredcross.org

 Ps: all funds are collected directly to the Kenya Red Cross and a report is available on request.

“Alms are for the poor and the needy; and those employed to administer (the funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.”Quran 9:60

My Name is Ahmed Salim and I’m A Kenyan 

GOD BLESS YOU and GOD BLESS KENYA!!!!

I NEED YOU!!!

3 words which say a lot; something that is necessary that needs your HELP your assistance and your advice!! Well today it’s Not just me, but the people dying in this country because of starvation NEED YOU, the Children who cry with no tears because they don’t have any left in them NEED YOU..  The Volunteers out there trying to make a difference to these many Kenyan lives NEED YOU. Those who go out of their way to spread the word of humanity and seeking assistance NEED YOU.

It’s YOU who can make a huge difference, It’s YOU who can decide NOT to eat JUST a MEAL and share it with those who don’t have. It’s YOU who will put back hopes in one’s life and that they will live a normal life. And it is YOU who will be prayed for by the same people asking The Almighty to increase your faith, to shower you with blessings and to make you successful in whatever you do – just because you made a difference.

My fellow Kenyans, LETS DO THIS -  

 Lets join hands and support this initiative for The People of Kenya. Lets Please sacrifice a Meal Today to FEED KENYA, and help make a difference: 

• Take a moment:
• On M-Pesa Paybill to ‘10,000’ Acc ‘feedke’
• On  Airtel nickname ‘REDCROSS’ reference ‘feedke’
• Online: kenyaredcross.org

Dear Kenyan, My name is Ahmed Salim, Im a Kenyan and I NEED YOU!!!

ps: Please share this with as many people as possible - I need your help..