BLACKBURN LIB DEM PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE RETURNS FROM KENYA VISIT

Gifts of baby clothes and medical supplies have been safely delivered to African villages by Blackburn Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Paul English.

A year ago, he had appealed for donations to take much needed supplies to villages in Kenya, which he had built up links with on a previous visit.

His trip was originally delayed after his flight was cancelled and he was prevented from travelling due to the outbreak of trouble following the Kenyan election last year. It was further delayed after his wife Polly, was diagnosed with breast cancer but in the summer she was given the all-clear and now they have just returned from a working holiday in the country.

After lengthy negotiations with the airline, they succeeded in taking two suitcases of supplies - one that they passed on to a long-term friend and midwife, Evelyn Wackio, who delivers babies for the women of the village of Bombalula, near Mombasa. She has rented a lock-up room next to the room where she lives, which has two beds where she can birth the babies. Most villagers cannot afford the hospital fees.

The other suitcase was taken to a health clinic at Utange, north of Mombasa.

Paul English said "it is always a humbling experience to see the level of poverty that is faced in these rural areas. Yet people will queue for over a day to cast their votes at elections. They do not take democracy for granted. And whilst we have issues here such as the closure of the A & E unit at Burnley, which has resulted in increased pressure at Blackburn hospitals, the main issue at Utange Health Clinic is trying to raise £350 to connect to the national grid so they can have a basic facility such as electricity. It certainly concentrates the mind and puts things into perspective. It was also nice to be in Kenya to watch the investiture of Barak Obama, who I was repeatedly told was the son of Kenya. The excitement that gripped the country was electric."

Paul hopes to visit the area again next year and will hoping to once again take donated goods directly to those in most need.