Macleans Sloya Foundation’s story- built 700 houses for vulnerable members of the community in Sabatia-
by Dominic Eboso /Vihiga.
“Happiness is not made by what we own. It is what we share.” Macleans Sloya Iganza.
The above expression greets you when you walk into Macleans Sloya’s office in Nairobi.
The youthful politician cuts a figure of a man who has seen it all despite his relatively young age.
www.goomorningKenya.com writer caught up with him and sought to know what drives the politician who has kept the people of Sabatia talking.
Who is Macleans Sloya?
Macleans Sloya Iganza or simply ‘Captain’ Sloya is a retired KDF (Kenya Defense Forces) officer who retired at the rank of a captain. He is a father, a husband and currently serving the nation as a civil servant.
“Well I thank God for the opportunity I had to serve in the country’s armed forces, I gained a lot serving the nation and when time came, I had to retire and pursue other things all in the name of serving the nation and humanity as a whole” says Sloya.
Born and brought up in Sabatia sub-county of Vihiga county over 30 years ago, Sloya came face to face with the hardship our people face. These daily challenges motivated him to always work hard and depend on God fully.
Macleans Sloya Foundation impacting lives in Sabatia.
Under Maclean Sloya foundation, many lives have been changed if testimonies on the ground are anything to go by.
According to Macleans who looks up to Liverpool’s Sadio Mane as one of the people who inspires him, service to humanity is a cardinal virtue.
’’Our cardinal calling is taking care of the vulnerable through our housing program. We endeavor to help our people abide in dignified environment’’ Macleans Sloya Iganza.
The Macleans Sloya foundation housing project in Sabatia.
About two years ago during my routine upcountry visit, my friends and I visited a mutual friend in Busali ward. As we enjoyed the beautiful scenery that the upcountry life was offering during our December vacation, an attention was brought to us of an ailing old woman. The old woman lived in a dilapidated house with her only son too living in a house that was half way done. Actually the son had removed part of his iron sheets to put on the mother’s house to help shield her from strong winds and rains leaving his own exposed. The sorry state of this family made my heart bleed and I decided to at least do something hence the Macleans Sloya housing project.´’ narrated Mr Sloya.
From that day, there has been No turning back. We have an elaborate network across all the 5 wards in Sabatia which identifies the needy cases and as soon as a case has been isolated, my team and I move with speed to put up a decent house for that particular individual. Most of the beneficiaries have been widows and old members of the community who have been neglected not because someone wants to but due to economic hardships’’ adds Sloya.
Glory to God, we have managed 700 houses across Sabatia constituency…..
Macleans and his team are so happy that by God’s grace, over 700 houses have been constructed.
‘’ From the day the first house was constructed in Busali ward, to date, we look back and give glory to God. It has not been easy but God’s grace has been sufficient’ reflects Sloya.
What motivates you to give and touch lives? We asked him.
“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. And again it is the heart that does the giving, fingers only let go’, replies Sloya.
The retired Captain believes in the philosophy that he should not live in a bungalow, drive state of the art cars yet his own people are living in shanties.
The solution to problems bedeviling our people here in Sabatia is economic freedom. It is about time we rallied our people into economic emancipation. Where are the good old days where vegetables were readly available in our farms? How comes we now have to buy everything in the market yet God has blessed us with fertile land even if the land is small? ‘ wonders Mr Sloya.
Based on the success stories on his numerous projects on the ground, many people have been urging him to give a stab at the Sabatia parliamentary seat in the forthcoming election. We sought his views and Sloya was gracious enough to respond.
‘’ I was ready to serve my people over 15 years ago when I enlisted as an army officer. I have lived my entire life with the discipline and dedication to serve. It is God’s purpose for all of us to serve humanity. If that time comes, I will obey my people’s call to serve them as their member of parliament but for now we are busy building our nation and Sabatia in this current capacity’’.
‘ We are so happy that God sent to us Macleans Sloya. We are now well sheltered and even when it rains we don’t have to worry about where we shall sleep’ Mama Iminza from Wolodeya village Chavakali.
‘’ God bless Sloya, I was in desolate state and living in misery, my roof was leaking but now I am a proud owner of an iron sheet house. I never imagined sleeping in a mabati roofed house. Sloya is a true son of Sabatia and we will vote him when time comes’’ Mama Andisi Munugi village Izava .
‘ We are so proud of our son Sloya, who would have imagined that such a young man would come to my rescue, I was living in a misery after my husband died but now I feel like I have a son I can look upto, God bless Sloya’ mama Ezna from Maganyi village in Busali ward.
Macleans Sloya Iganza will be contesting as Mp Sabatia constituency in 2022.
