UPDATE - Turkey donates clothes, shoes to needy children in Kenya

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY TURKISH AMBASSADOR, ADDS MORE INFO

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – The Turkish ambassador to Kenya on Tuesday distributed clothes, shoes and other gifts among the needy and orphan children in the capital Nairobi.

Ahmet Cemil Miroglu and his team also gave sweets and played with the children from the Baby Blessing Children's Home in Umoja, and the Good Hope Islamia Orphans Centre.

Among the orphans was Ruth Blessing, 14, who wants to be a pediatric nurse to take care of children.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Blessing said the clothes and the shoes come at an opportune time not only because Nairobi is usually cold in the months of June and July, but also because "our mother cannot buy clothes for us, we wear very old clothes." She thanked the Turkish people for the aid.

Miroglu said the aid campaign was carried out on the occasion of the Democracy and National Unity Day, which Turkey marks on July 15 annually to commemorate those who lost their lives beating back the putschists and to remember the bravery of the nation, and donations were distributed among 251 children to honor people killed during the coup bid.

"... we have had a project in Kenya with the participation of our firms and their donations. We are providing clothes and shoes for orphans and we have worked with this orphanage for a long time ... We will continue our support," he added.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, in which 251 people were killed and 2,734 injured.

Irene Gakii, the founder of the Baby Blessings Children Home, also thanked the people and the government of Turkey for their donations.