Press Release
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July 19, 2011 - Woman who adopts at 62 receives the Jubilee Insurance Samaritan AwardNairobi, July 19 – Most of those who knew her could not understand why a 63 year old mother of six, already an overwhelming family size given her humble lifestyle, would want to further burden herself with another child. But Josephine Mwakazi did not think twice upon seeing an infant abandoned in her neighbourhood; she wanted to give him a good life. Today that infant abandoned by his blood mother at Mwakingali estate of Voi town, Taita-Taveta county only a few minutes after birth, is a healthy four year old, and a jewel not only to the Mwakingalis but the surrounding community as well. Little Annan, as is now his name, is a happy child whose story inspires many. Jubilee Insurance recognises Josephine Mwakazi’s caring heart and selfless character in giving the child a new lease of life, and changing the perception of adoption in the society, and awards her the Jubilee Insurance Samaritan Award (JISA). “There are many children who are abandoned every day and it is wonderful to hear a real life rescue as Mrs Mwakazi has done,” said Jubilee Group Chairman Nizar Juma. “Through this award, Jubilee hopes to laud her selfless act and in so doing encourage other Kenyans to be mindful of the welfare of those in need.” Mr Juma described her as a model of a good and honest human being. “She is an inspiration to us all, in an age when we see very few selfless acts by people,” he said. Of note, he said were the odds against her but she still pursued the adoption and has given the child a happy life. The story begins when Mrs Mwakazi, among other neighbours, witnessed a recently abandoned infant a few metres from her homestead. Not even his umbilical cord was cut. She was touched by compassion, and she and her neighbours assisted in cutting the umbilical cord and rushing him to hospital. Swinging into action at the Moi Hospital in Voi, she made enquiries about the adopting the child. It was a long procedure with the Children Department, which included getting the consent of her husband Roy Mwakazi, who convinced of her keen interest, welcomed the adoption. The family named the child Moses Annan, in honour of the former UN Secretary General, Koffi Annan owing to his vanguard role in brokering peace in the country following the post election violence of 2007/2008. The boy’s rescue coincided with the signing of the Peace Accord to end the violence. He was later baptized and named Moses since he was left by his mother just like the biblical Moses. “Mrs Mwakazi’s laudable act has transformed the society to view adoption positively; and is an inspiring story of a good heart and caring for the needy in the society,” said Catherine Gicheru a JISA Panel judge, who is also the Editor for The Star newspapers. “We found her acts honest and from the heart; ultimately inspiring her community positively.” Ms Gicheru said by awarding her, the JISA award panel hoped to applaud adoption as a way of giving a new lease of life to destitute children. Neighbours who rebuked Mrs Mwakazi, some saying that she was out to seek grants from well wishers, have now become her biggest admirers. Hers and little Annan’s story is well known in the community, and is talked of with high regard. Not many women relish the hustle of bringing up a young one, let alone struggling to do so with limited resources in a tough economy, so what really pushed her to consider the adoption? “When I saw the fate of the child, I wanted to give it all the motherly love every child deserves,” says Mrs Mwakazi. Today, they are like mother and child. “We even resemble each other,” she jokes. Her family, and especially her children – a boy and five girls – have welcomed little Annan wholeheartedly. She has brought him up personally; having no house-helps, and is thankful he has had a normal childhood. She only had to seek the supply of special milk from the Children Department for a few months. “Some people asked how we could manage to take care of the boy at our old age, but now most of them shower us with praises whenever they meet us together with Annan,” says Mrs Mwakazi. She is now contemplating opening a children’s home in the future, to care for abandoned children. Her husband Mr Mwakazi, a former councilor in the area, says that the family will ensure that Annan is educated. Annan celebrated his fourth birthday on 3rd May 2011, and will begin school next year. They will break the news about his adoption to him only after attaining the age of 18. “God salvaged my Annan from the jaws of the cruel hyenas, lions and other wild animals roaming this Mwakingali neighbourhood from the adjacent Tsavo National Park,” says Mrs Mwakazi. “And I’m going to take care of him.” The JISA award, which is part of Jubilee’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, was established in 2006 and seeks to raise the profile of members of society who are passionate about the welfare of those around them. The award programme is executed by a Panel composed of media practitioners in Kenya, who from the nature of their work encounter individuals going out of their way to perform humbling acts.
Established in 2006, the Jubilee Insurance Samaritan Award (JISA) seeks to reward outstanding and selfless deeds carried out by humble individuals. It encourages Kenyans to be mindful of the welfare of the less fortunate members of the society. The birth of this initiative, which is one of Jubilee’s initiatives, sprung from a vision by Jubilee to recognize members of society passionate about the welfare of those around them. JISA is executed through partnership with key media practitioners in Kenya, who from the nature of their work are able to identify humble and philanthropic members of the society, and act as judges for the award.
Started in 1937, Jubilee Insurance has spread its sphere of influence throughout the region to become the largest composite insurer in Kenya, handling both long-term and short-term insurance. Today, Jubilee is also the number one insurer in East Africa with over 300,000 clients, and a network of offices spanning Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Mauritius. It is the only ISO certified insurance group listed on the three East Africa stock exchanges – The Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE), Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange and Uganda Securities Exchange. Jubilee’s market leadership has also been acknowledged by the industry – and in the Insurance Awards 2010 it won 9 awards including General Insurer of the Year and Medical Underwriter of the Year.
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