Some Muslim scholars have launched a fund to save the minority Boni community in Lamu from starvation.

And the scholars have set off the Save the Boni Community Initiative by donating food worth more than Sh2.5 million.

National Muslim Council of Scholars executive director, Dr Mohammed Osman, said they were touched by an exclusive story in The Saturday Standard last month, that 350 members of the Boni had suffered food poisoning after feeding on sorghum seeds meant for planting.

The scholars yesterday flagged off three truckloads of food to Kiunga division where the Boni live. The consignment included maize meal flour, beans, powder milk, sugar, cooking oil and salt.

He said the more than 40 tonnes of food was a small contribution to a community facing extinction due to serious historical injustices.

Osman appealed to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to donate some of the money raised for displaced persons to the Boni.

He said the Boni have been IDPs since independence and their plight has never been addressed.

"The Boni have been living in Kenya as permanent IDPs, and it is sad that no one talks about them. Today they face extinction," said Athman.

Local District Commissioner, Mr Mumo Muathe, said more than half of 80,000 residents in the area face starvation.