In the buzzing city centre of Nakuru exists a philanthropist determined to remain concealed in the shadows.

This is the tale of the elusive owner of Aljabri butchery whose praises travel through the city through the whispers of the benefactors of his benevolence.

Mtaa Wangu paid a visit to the said butchery to try to get the story of the nameless giver and the lives touched.

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Upon visiting the butchery, I am met by a throng of customers waiting to get served and have to wait in line to talk to a staff member.

Luckily, as I wait outside, I meet Mary Muthoni Macharia, one of the lives touched, seated outside chatting with one of the butchery’s staff members.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Mary begins narrating how much Aljabri butchery has been a blessing to her and others in her situation.

“Every week for the last decade, this butchery has been giving me free meat. This has been of great help to me and during this span, the butchery has grown into my family. All I have to give in return is a heart full of gratitude and constant prayers that God continue to open doors for this business” the visually-impaired lady notes thankfully.

Ever since, she has recommended other needy families in her area to be beneficiaries of this kind act noting that they have never been turned down.

Soon after my brief conversation with Mary, I finally get a chance to talk to one staff member, Lilian Kanyara.

Lilian has been a staff member at Aljabri butchery since the business was opened.

She shares that the butchery was opened back in 2000 and before that, the butchery used to be a wholesale shop.

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“Even back then when we ran the place as a wholesale shop, the owner was big on helping the needy. Back then, we used to give out a bag of rice to the less fortunate once a week,” she shares.

The entrance to Aljabri butchery in Nakuru city.

Photo credit: DILIGENCE ODONGO/MTAA WANGU

Lilian says that when the butchery started running, the owner waited for two years for the business to pick before opening the gates to charity.”

With the initial charity efforts, the butchery whose owner is a staunch Muslim, first began offering aid to his fellow Muslim brothers and sisters.

“Soon after, the butchery opened doors to help those in need of charity regardless of their faith. As the economic situation in the country got worse over the years, so did the number of those in need.”

Lilian shares that the day designated to helping the needy was increased from once a week to three times a week.

She highlights, “Our charity days started off on Fridays but we currently give alms thrice a week each day dedicated to various groups of the needy. Wednesday is designated to the elderly, Friday is designated to the general needy while Saturday is designated to people with disabilities just like Mary Muthoni.”

Further conversations with Lilian and other staff members help to shed light on other charitable acts that the butchery’s owner carries out for various people across Nakuru.

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“Our boss not only gives out free quarter kilograms of meat to the needy, we also see him pay fees for those in need and even go the extra mile of getting labour for the elderly that own farms and even purchase fertilizers for them,” Lilian highlights.

As she closes off, Lilian notes that their boss' kindness is greatly influenced by his Islamic faith and his kind actions serve as a great example that she and her fellow co-workers try to live by.

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