Landlord's fight to help Kenya friend
11:42am Monday 10th March 2008 in Your Town By Saiqa Chaudhari
A PUB landlord is fighting to provide sanctuary for a headteacher caught up in the political troubles in Kenya.
Alan Hill, the landlord of The New Cabin in Great Lever, is desperate to get headteacher Francisca Kyulewayua and her 12-year-old daughter out of the country.
He is worried for their safety because, since the uprising, the school Miss Kyulewayua led has been destroyed and a third of the 300 plus pupils at St Cecilia in Malindi have gone missing or been killed. Mr Hill met Miss Kyulewayua when he visited Kenya as a tourist eight years ago and donated pencils and books to a local school.
He said: "I want to get her out of the country. Things seem to be calming down a bit, but it is still not safe. I haven't heard from Francisca since last week and that is really worrying me, because we talk all the time. I can't believe what has happened in Kenya. I saw it on television, and I was devastated.
"It is so upsetting to think about what has happened to the school and the children." The father-of-four, aged 59 has been in constant touch with Miss Kyulewayua by email and also by phone. He has sent over documentation to the British Consulate in Kenya saying he would act as a sponsor to the two, if they were allowed to come over.
Mr Hill, who is married to Janet, said: "I am following it on the news all the time and since the coverage is not as much as it used to be, I am always on the internet trying to find out what the situation is."
Mr Hill, who one day would like to return to the country, said: "Like everyone I had heard about the poverty, but seeing it was a completely different experience. It brings it home to you."
