In the country of Kenya, the national motto is “Harambee,” meaning “to pull together.” This motto has gained new significance after the U.S. Embassy bombing in Nairobi on Aug. 7.

Now, nearly a month after the bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, members of the Kenyan Community at Iowa State are “pulling together” to send aid to the many Kenyans who were injured by the bomb.

“The bomb blast has made a good story in the news, but for a lot of us, it has affected us personally,” said Fulbert Namwamba, graduate student in agricultural systems technology.

The Kenyan Community began its effort to help the bomb victims about a week after the bombings. Members of the group include Kenyan students, faculty, staff and friends.

Namwamba said the group is trying to focus local attention more on the physical suffering caused by the bombing and less on the political issues.

“The government effort will help with rebuilding, but the human tragedy is a more personal issue,” Namwamba said. “They are easy to forget, so we are trying to get their plight into the news.”

More than 250 people were killed by the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Kenya, including 12 Americans. Another 5,000 people were injured. The majority of those injured were Kenyans.

Namwamba said Kenyans were affected by the bombing in different ways. Some of those injured are now permanently blind. Others are awaiting transport to other countries for surgeries that can be performed only by specialists.

Most Kenyans do not have medical insurance, Namwamba said, so any outside aid received by injured persons can be used to pay for their special health needs.

In addition, the group is trying to raise money for the families of the people who were killed by the bomb.

The Kenyan Community is currently working with the Story County Red Cross to make sure the aid will arrive in Kenya and be distributed to the people in need.

Namwamba said the Red Cross has helped Kenyans from the beginning and is still in touch with every family affected by the bombing.

Dr. Ebby Luvaga, academic adviser in the economics department and member of the Kenyan Community, said the group has raised about $700.

“Although [the amount] seems like a lot, it is still very insignificant compared to the great need,” Luvaga said.

The Story County Red Cross is now asking people who want to help to give cash donations and request that the donations be given to the bombing victims in Kenya.

Namwamba said many other countries have donated medical supplies, food and clothing to Kenya, but cash donations are still needed to help people with their medical expenses.

“We feel that being members of a community, we are all in this together,” Namwamba said. “We are trying to go beyond reading a story. It’s about a human tragedy that can happen to any of us.”