ISSUE 054, January 16 - 31, 2012
Unfiltered, uninhibited‌just the gruesome truth
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January 16 - 31, 2012
ISSUE 054
A bimonthly newspaper by the Media Diversity Centre, a project of African Woman and Child Feature Service
Bagalla victims cry for justice By ABJATA KHALIF If there is a day that will forever evoke bitter memories in the minds of the people of Wajir West, it is the 24th of October 1998. On this day, the residents of this area had just woken up to their usual chores, when suddenly; the atmosphere was filled with apprehension. In a split second, the locals allege a contingent of armed Oromo liberation forces driven in military vehicles and backed by local militias from neighbouring districts descended on two villages Buthutha and Bagalla. They allegedly killed targeted members of the Degodia community in a manner akin to genocide. This is another massacre besides the 1984 Wagalla Massacre. The armed men who were allegedly dressed in full military fatigues, attacked and ransacked the two villages. They sorted the healthy animals and drove them to Southern Ethiopia where they would fetch a good price. It is alleged by the locals that the Oromo Liberation Forces, which participated in the attacks, held the villagers hostage for almost a full day to allow time for the group that had stolen the animals to reach a safe zone near the Kenya-Ethiopia border. The remaining attackers then took a different route after ensuring that their colleagues were safely inside Ethiopia. They went away with over 17,000 heads of cattle and camels and hundreds of young girls. In addition to stealing animals, the attackers are raped women in the two villages and killed some men. They also torched villages and shot the weak animals that could not make the long journey across the border.
Planned attack
According to the residents of the two villages, the attack had been planned over a long time. The villagers allege that high-level government officials were involved in this planning. They say a cabinet minister, two MPs and a military brigadier, all of whom are now deceased, were involved. The claims of a senior government minister and other politicians involved in planning the attack was captured in the Bagalla Massacre Committee report who carried out an inquiry on the incident. The committee recommended that further investigations be carried out. The area MP Adan Keynan raising the issues in Parliament as recorded in the Hansard of 29 April 1999 on page 399 said: I do not think the attention given by this Government to this particular incident is convincing. We lost over 187 people and 17, 500 livestock. Keynan pushed for the then minister of State Major Mardsen Madoka to answer question 015 by private notice where he wanted to find out what the cause of the Bagalla Massacre of 1998 was. Madoka in his reply said: “The incident was caused by a dispute over con-
Pastoralists drive their herds of camels at Bagalla water point. Some herders sharing their ordeal during the massacre at Bagalla Village, North Eastern Province. Pictures: Abjata Khalif trol of grazing areas and watering points between the Borans and Degodias.� Hassan Abdi, an elder who escaped the massacre in Buthutha claims that they had received information in August 1998 that an attack was being planned by senior government officials from their neighbouring communities. Abdi says they were told to move from the two villages known for rich pasture and water and move to neighbouring Eldas, Kilkiley and Arbijahan areas of Wajir West for their safety. Continued on page 2
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ISSUE 054, January 16 - 31, 2012
Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth
Ongeri roots for gender parity in education By HENRY OWINO
The Minister for Education Professor Sam Ongeri has called for gender parity in the education sector, urging communities to take both boys and girls to school. Ongeri said gender parity is a crucial factor in enhancing access to education in line with the provisions of equal opportunities for men and women as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya 2010. He however said there was an improvement in terms of gender balance in the number of candidates who sat for 2011 KCPE countrywide. But there were regional variations with some having near gender parity. “I note with satisfaction that nationally we have achieved near gender parity. The gender ratio during the 2011 KCPE examination stands at 51.6 per cent boys to 48.4 per cent girls which is an indication that we have almost achieved gender parity at national levels,” Ongeri said.
Gender ratio
He added that the number of candidates that are registered in any county is dependent on the leaders’ initiative to ensure that children go to school and the schools are built to enhance what the government has already provided. The minister requested the leaders and stakeholders of the counties with the lowest number of KCPE candidates to work together and take advantage of the Free Primary Education (FPE) programmes to enhance enrolment in KCPE as well as the number of school in their counties. He was addressing teachers, parents, students and education stakeholders at Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) headquarters, Mtihani House in Nairobi. He cautioned against using the government resources to build schools next to drinking dens, bus stages and market places which have extreme noise levels and not conducive for learning. Ongeri said concerted efforts are needed to ensure gender parity is a reality in schools and colleges. “I am fully aware that some of the challenges associated with taking girls to school are cultural and social barriers especially in certain communities to note that there will be no meaningful development when one part of their population, that is the girls, is left behind,” said Ongeri.
Caution
Ongeri said: “As I urge counties, with significantly more boys than girls registered for KCPE to address gender parity, I wish to caution the counties where we have seen the parity tilt towards more girls to investigate what is happening to the boys
Belinda Adhiambo of Maryjoy Primary School in Bombolulu Mombasa is carried by her before we start seeing disparity in favour of girls”. schoolmates, parents and teachers in jubilation for her good performance in the 2011 The 2011 KCPE saw four counties KCPE. She emerged first in Mombosa County and seventh countrywide. namely; Nyandarua 51 per cent, Embu Pictures: Reject Correspondent 53 per cent, Nairobi 51 per cent and Vihiga 53 per cent register more girls than “I am happy to note that these candidates who dates who took the KCPE examination with boys. lost their limbs in the road accident were given special needs under special circumstances grew He called on leaders and parents in counties special consideration. Such affirmative intervento 2,096 in 2011 from 1,573 in 2010. This saw an where there were near gender parity in enrolltions are indeed commendable and underscore increase of 523 candidates or 33.2 per cent. ment to remain vigilant in maintaining the genmy Ministry’s commitment to upholding the The participation of the visually and physider parity. right of every Kenyan child irrespective of their cally challenged was the highest with enrolOn the special needs candidates, Ongeri said condition and circumstances,” said Ongeri. ment for KCPE increasing from 563 in 2010 to the ministry has been at the forefront in integratThe minister said the government has done 823 in 2011 and physically challenged from 71 ing candidates with special needs in the educaa lot fro children with special needs including in 2010 to 335 in 2011 respectively. tion system. As a result, the number of candilaunch of a policy on Special Needs Education. Meanwhile, Ongeri said the ministry has developed a sector policy in response to HIV and Aids targeting safety in schools. These include a HIV voluntary testing strategy for school age children; enhancing the role of the media as a source of information on HIV/AIDS; establishing structures to monitor the quality of teaching and learning of HIV/AIDS related content in the schools and emphasising the role of the teacher as the medium for transmitting of information about — Prof Sam Ongeri, Minister for Education HIV/AIDS to the learners.
“I am fully aware that some of the challenges associated with taking girls to school are cultural and social barriers especially in certain communities to note that there will be no meaningful development when one part of their population, that is the girls, is left behind.”
The Bagalla Massacre of 1998: The truth revealed Continued from page 1 Abdi said: “We got information in August 1998 that a high profile attack against us will happen following reports that our neighbouring communities were holding consultations in Nairobi with the government and at local level with their communities.” Their plan was to have the locals support the Oromo army and to wage attacks on his community and escape without a trace into Ethiopia, says Abdi. Abdi and other elders from the villages consulted widely before reporting the planned attack to the local authorities in Wajir. The officials assured the residents of the two villages, which fall under their jurisdiction, of their security. However, tension started building up in September 1998 when word went around that a senior cabinet minister from Marsabit accompanied by MPs from Moyale and Marsabit had met with their respective communities to discuss the attack.
It is alleged that during this meeting, they gave their community members assurance that the attack would be treated as “a communal responsibility to flush out outsiders from the pasture and water rich areas.” In our investigations to piece together what really happened, the Reject managed to interview one of the young men who was involved in the attack who requested anonymity. He was among the young men recruited to help the Oromo liberation forces from Ethiopia with route identification to the two border villages of Buthutha and Bagalla.
Survey
He recalls: ”We were assembled in Bubisa area where a secret community meeting was taking place. We were taken before elders to take oath that we were going to assist our cousins by showing them the routes,” he said explaining that these efforts were to ensure that the attack was successful. According to the youth, before the attack was
executed, some of them took the responsibility of surveying the areas to familiarise themselves with the area. This was to ensure there would be no hitches even in the event that security forces from Wajir District repulsed the attackers. He further reiterated allegations by the Bagalla massacre survivors that the attackers were ferried by military land rovers to the Bagalla watering point before they surrounded the villages. “We enjoyed a lot of support. We got five unregistered land rovers. Drivers spoke the same language as ours but they all hailed from Isiolo district,” he said. He added: “We led them through the vast region and terrain to areas near Ingir Village. We took new routes towards Arbajahan areas, from where the attack was waged.” The young man said that the five vehicles dropped the attackers some 100 kilometres away from the massacre spot and went to fetch more Oromo forces from Ethiopia who were crossing the border into Damabalafanchana
and Sololo areas from where they were picked by the Land Rovers. “I arrived with the first group on 10 October, but the attacks happened only when several others joined to increase the number to the required levels,” he says.
Allegations
He claims that the local youths assisted, in among other things, separating women from men and selecting the girls, some of whom were taken to Ethiopia as brides. The Oromo men are said to have raped women while the youth watched before being ordered to the same. These local youth maintain that their role ended at Kenya-Ethiopia border when the attackers crossed into Ethiopia with the livestock and human bounty. Approximately 150 armed men remained around the BagallaButhutha area to safeguard the watering and pasture areas and continue with their military training.
ISSUE 054, January 16 - 31, 2012
Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth
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Kenyans urged to demand access to government information By HENRY KAHARA Kenya’s new Constitution may be of no use if the bill on freedom of information is guaranteed. Speaking during a film screening forum at Nairobi University late last year, Professor Richard Bosire said that freedom of information is not only for the media but for all people.
“It is until the time we will be in a position to access information when we will be able to fight impunity in our country,” said Bosire. “We need to have a bill on freedom of information but at the same time we are supposed to make use of the available information which is already in the public domain,” he added. Bosire who is a political science lecturer in the University of Nairobi urged Kenyans to
claim their rights to know. He urged people to make use of technology for it has made it easier for everybody to access information. He further urged those who are in institutions of higher learning to be in the front line to access the information for they stand a better chance to do so in comparison to other members of the society. “Corruption is as a result of lack of democ-
racy and we can only fight it if we are informed and we have to start from where we dwell, no one who will fight it for us,” explained Bosire. The meeting was organised by FEMNET at Nairobi University. During the forum, the audience was shown the importance of ordinary citizens participating in shaping and securing their democracy, through an Egyptian film titled ‘We are watching you’.
Poverty hampers adherence to TB, ARV treatment By EKUWAM ADOU Weak and hungry, Halima 35, struggles to wake up from her bed to prepare porridge for herself. Her health has not only been devastated by the tuberculosis afflicting her, but also by the abject poverty. For a couple of months now, she has been confined at Isiolo TB Manyatta as she recuperates from the disease. The combination of strong TB drugs and her poverty situation are threatening to affect her healing process. The strong TB drugs taken on an empty stomach have driven away her appetite and left her weak. Halima has to struggle to fend for herself as the government’s nutritional support to TB patients wanes. “I have to struggle to make this porridge. I am experiencing a burning sensation in my intestines triggered by the drugs and the hunger,” laments Halima. Food rations supplied to patients can barely sustain them. They battle with side effects of strong drugs which can only be contained through eating nutrient rich food in sufficient amounts. Patients at the hospital have to cook for themselves, although some are weak for the task, given their medical condition. Halima is one of the patients admitted at TB Manyatta in Isiolo who are living in a deplorable condition due to lack of medical services and run down facilities.
Lack of provisions
The management of the institution, which is affiliated to the local district hospital that caters for HIV/Aids and Tuberculosis patients, provides neither food nor beddings to the sick. A visit to the facility revealed that patients live under unpleasant conditions, sleeping on cartoons and covering themselves with rugs. Sanitation in the institution is in a pitiful state. The pit latrines are an eyesore. There are no bathrooms, with patients bathing in the dirty cubicles. A few lucky ones have worn out blankets and sheets provided by relatives. The rest lie on the cold floor of the wooden cubicles. While the living conditions of the patients, some of who are HIV positive, is deplorable, their plight has been worsened by skyrocketing cost of commodity prices fuelled by the high inflation. “The price of sugar has almost tripled from KSh80 per kilo to KSh240, while the cost of maize flour and other basics commodities prices continues to rise as well.” This trend is having devastating effects on patients and health facilities catering for patients with TB in upper eastern region including Marsabit, Moyale and Isiolo districts. The TB Manyatta currently hosts about 70 in-pa-
tients. The rising prices of staple foods almost twice as high as in 2009, according to UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization’s report. The same story of TB and poverty is being told among those taking antiretroviral drugs for HIV. Patients say the medicine can cause nausea, fatigue and diarrhoea at first especially if taken on empty stomach, due to potency of the drugs. According to Abraham Nchuluku the coordinator of Ngaremara Community Based Organization which currently runs a HIV support programme, some patients are reluctant to start ARV treatment. Those already on the programme are skipping their medication because of lack of food. ‘’They say they are unable to manage the treatment programme when they have to take the drugs on an empty stomach,” Nchuluku averred.
Drug adherence
Thirty to 40 percent of HIV positive patients taking ARV drugs at the Isiolo District Hospital drop out in the first two years, according Isiolo district National Aids and sexually transmitted infections programme coordinator (NASCOP) Stephen Kirigia. “Poverty is always an impediment. In most cases you don’t have enough food, so you spend a lot of time trying to make sure that your family eats,” says Kirigia. “People adhere much better to drug regimens when there is food. But in poor families, what is available is mostly enough for the children, living nothing for patients who are on drugs.” HIV positive adults need 10 percent more calories than other people just to maintain their body weight, while HIV positive children need between 30 to 50 percent more than other children. Without the required calories, the patients lose weight and are more vulnerable to opportunistic infections. The government’s relief food supplies which were a lifeline for many of these patients have been erratic after World Food Programme (WFP) and other donors scaled down their operations. ‘’We have been depending on government relief supplies, food handouts for targeted ben-
From top: Halima, a patient at the TB Manyatta in Isiolo sitting forlornly on her worn out bed. Inset: Halima prepares her meal. A section of the health institution which is in a deplorable state. Pictures: Ekuwam Adow eficiaries, but unfortunately the food rations have been slashed after it started raining,” says Nchuluku. “But the current tribal skirmishes have adversely affected harvests which were expected to cushion us.” Nchukulu says the clashes pitting the Turkana community on one hand against the Borana and Somali communities on the other, has displaced people from their farms, negatively affecting people’s livelihoods, as they could not plant crops when it started raining. For Jackline Arunye, 35-year-old HIV positive woman who is currently on ARV drugs, the going is tough. She is caught in a bind, she has to continue taking the drugs to prolong her
“People adhere much better to drug regimens when there is food. But in poor families, what is available is mostly enough for the children, living nothing for patients who are on drugs.” — Stephen Kirigia, programme coordinator NASCOP
life, yet the side effects of the drugs taken on an empty stomach is weakening her body. “I know I have to take the drugs to remain healthy. Four of my neighbours died after refusing to take the drugs due to lack of food. But the side effects of the drugs that worsens when they taken on an empty stomach, is bogging me down,” says Arunye. “I cannot continue eking out a living through charcoal burning.” While strides have been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, entrenched poverty especially sub-Saharan Africa threatens to reverse the gains, as major donors involved in the fight against the scourge tightened their purse. Globally there has been around 10 percent decline in HIV/AIDS funding, as reported by UNAIDs director Michael Sidibe. Global fund which has been providing basket funding to combat HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, has already sounded alarm bells over its inability to meet increasing demand for care and treatment due to the fall in pledges to the Fund. The fund has disbursed about $15 billion since 2002, but it cannot afford to pay for any expanded programmes until 2014.
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ISSUE 054, January 16 - 31, 2012
Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth
Parents outwit system to circumcise daughters in Tanzania By ODHIAMBO ODHIAMBO Despite the Anti-FGM Act and the Children’s Act outlawing the Female Genital Mutilation practise, the practice is alive and kicking in Kuria where the community seems to defy the law to continue with the illegal act. But the community has managed to escape the long arm of the law by taking young girls aged between seven and 15 years for circumcision in Tanzania where such laws are nonexistent. Some of the traditional circumcisers from Kuria West and Kuria East in Kenya crossed the border to carry out the surgery at a fee in Tanzania. Here they are charged between KSh200 and KSh500 per initiate. Members of the Kuria community are found on both sides of the Kenya – Tanzania border. In December 2011, excited families whose girls had been circumcised danced along the Sirare –Tarime highway, thereby causing huge traffic snarl-ups. The circumcision of girls, also referred to as FGM, coincided with the boys’ cut. In the Kenyan Kuria region, at least over 400 girls have been rescued from the knife by various non–governmental organisations who have set up rescue centres in Kuria West and Kuria East districts. But some of the parents protested the move and said they will circumcise their daughters immediately they return home from the camps. “Nobody will marry my daughter in the community if she is not circumcised. I do not want my family to be a laughing stock, my girl will have to be cut no matter how long it takes,” said Mzee Wario Chacha. Chacha’s ten-year old
daughter is among the rescued girls currently undergoing alternative rite of passage at a rescue camp.
Rescued girls
Augustine Mwera, the director of the host organisation, Volunteers Young Organization for Poverty Eradication in the Community (VYOPEC) feared the number of rescued girls could increase because all clans in the area were now circumcising their girls. “The exercise is just kicking off and many more will be coming here to escape it,” he said adding that although initially they had planned to take only 50 girls into the Ntimaru rescue centre. The centre has been forced to accommodate more because the girls had nowhere to go to. Mwera is calling upon the government and well-wishers to donate food, mosquito nets and sanitary towels to help the organization deal with the increased demand. At the same time, a meeting chaired by the Kehancha DO, Esther Lelei resolved to establish rescue centres at St Mary’s Mabera School in Kuria West District and at St Joseph Secondary School in Ntimaru in Kuria East district to accommodate young girls running away from forced circumcision. It is estimated that 50,000 girls are living under the threat of forced circumcision in Kuria West and Kuria East Districts. A research study conducted by the NGO, The Care and Support Centre Kenya (LICASU) showed that these girls were aged between five and 15 years. The organisation has so far rescued over 200 girls running from FGM. LICASU executive director Matiko Chacha said the situation was grave and needed urgent
“Nobody will marry my daughter in the community if she is not circumcised. I do not want my family to be a laughing stock, my girl will have to be cut no matter how long it takes.” — Mzee Wario Chacha
From left: Three deaf girls who had been rescued from FGM perform during an alternative right of passage. Janet Naning’oi, 20, who defiled odds and refused FGM is now a university student. Pictures: Lucy Langat and Odhiambo Odhiambo
attention from all stakeholders including political leaders, clerics, teachers, provincial administration and parents. LICASU usually takes the girls to Ikerege Secondary School where they undergo alternative rite of passage. At this rescue centre, the girls are sensitised on the dangers of FGM and its impact on their education. “FGM is leading to massive drop out from schools due to early marriages that happen after the girls have been circumcised,” says Chacha. A couple of weeks ago the Kuria West District Commissioner James Mugwe threatened to take disciplinary action against any chief found to tolerate the female cut in his area. Only girls from elite families are protected from the cut by family members who relocate them to other regions during the circumcision season. In the past, most Kenyan girls would undergo FGM when they were between seven and 10
years. However, FGM seems to be occurring at earlier ages in several countries because parents want to reduce trauma to their children. They also want to avoid government interference and resistance from their children as they get older and form their own opinions. FGM is practiced in at least 26 of 43 African countries and prevalence varies from 98 percent in Somalia to five per cent in Zaire. In Kenya, according to the 2003 Kenyan Demographic Survey (KDHS), 32 percent of all Kenyan women aged between 15 and 49 years have been circumcised.
Alarm as health officers circumcise girls By Parsai Joto Advocates engaged in initiatives to eradicate the traditional practice of circumcising young girls are worried that involvement of health practitioners in performing the cut will reverse the gains made in the war against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The practice is being shifted away from secluded areas like in the bush and public glare to established medical institutions. “Reports that the practice has declined in some African countries is being threatened by its medicalisation,” said the assistant representative of United Nations Population Fund, Dr Stephen Wanyaee. Dr Wanyaee told delegates at the International Conference against FGM in Nairobi, or-
ganised by the University of Nairobi: “Parents are now seeking the services of health practitioners in order to avoid the health risks associated with the practice.” Kenya is among a number of countries in Africa where a decline in the prevalence of the practice has been reported. Although the Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) indicates that some areas still have high prevalence of up to 90 per cent, it notes that the practice has declined from 38 per cent in 2003 to 32 per cent in 2008/2009 had been registered. “The decline is mainly due to community dialogue rather than to adoption of a confrontational approach,” noted Dr Wanyee. “There has also been great political will on the part of the government, religious organisations, support from development partners as
well as engagement of men and young boys.” A major milestone in the war against the practice widely being cited by supporters and the international community is the signing into law by President Mwai Kibaki of the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2011.
New law
Assistant minister for co-operative development and marketing and anti FGM campaigner Linah Jebii Kilimo said the bill assented last September now prohibits the practice. Dr Kilimo told delegates at the forum graced by the vice-chancellor of the University of Nairobi, Prof George Magoha that new law safeguards against violation of a person’s mental or physical integrity through the practice of FGM.
“Though being performed by trained medical staff in hospitals, this trend might reduce the immediate pain or risk of infection, it does not prevent long-term complications or psychological trauma,” said Kilimo. “FGM must be seen as representing a danger to women’s health as well as a violation of human rights. The medicalisation of the practice is not acceptable.” To stop the practice, UNFPA and UNICEF have been supporting the government to train practitioners on the risks associated with the practice and on the new law. Prof Magoha said it is not possible for a nation to attain sustainable development by marginalising a portion of its population by perpetuating traditions that kick the girl child out of school.
ISSUE 054, January 16 - 31, 2012
Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth
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Anti-FGM crusader lauds the new law to curb the practise By Parsai Joto Lanoi Parmuat would often turn to the Bible to ease pressure piled on her by members of the community bent on convincing her to ditch her anti Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) crusade. Lanoi says by turning to God, she found solace as the storm to persuade her to abandon the cause intensified by the day. “But I resisted this in the full knowledge that the word of God and ceaseless prayers would enable me overcome the combined force of a die hard community obsessed with the female cut,” Lanoi explained. “Among the Maasai, the practice has been deeply ingrained in our culture. The elders will not let go of the traditional belief of dehumanising the girl child,” explained the mother of three. Born to staunch religious leaders, Paul and Miriam Kishoyian, the mother of three in her early thirties declined to yield to community pressure.
Support
She instead vowed to support both parents at an early age in a crusade to outlaw FGM back home in Naretoi Lanoi Parmuat among the Maasai Baka village, Kajiado County during her anti FGM campaign. Some Central. of the children who participated in the “The entire family was campaign. stigmatised by the comPictures: Parsai Joto munity and frowned at for the stand it took. I thank God that we had a safety net “From a cultural perspecthrough the church and comfort in Jesus,” she tive, the practice was observed re-calls. with pomp and colour,” said The few women graduates from the village Lanoi, who was among delrealised for the practise to be brought down, a egates at the international concombined effort involving engagement of the ference on research, health care community would be needed. This led to the and preventive measures for formation of the Ewang’an Nadede Advocacy FGM at a Nairobi hotel. Initiative (ENAI-Africa). “This marked an important Free Pentecostal Fellowship in Kenya came rite of passage, an important in handy as an entry point for the initiative. historical cultural requirement Lanoi says the practice is furthered by the befrom the community passed lief that a girl cannot get married unless she over from one generation to has undergone the rite of passage. She disanother. A girl acquired instant misses this as a fallacy. In a family of six girls, identity if cut.” none of them underwent the cut and are hapShe said the conference orpily married. ganised by University of Nairobi with the support of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) served to reinforce the conviction that the practice remains harmful and condemned on medical grounds. “Medical experts shed insight at the destructive nature of the practice on women and the right of the girl child who have wholly and wonderfully been created by God to enjoy a full life devoid of body disfigurement,” she said. Delegates at the conference reviewed existing knowledge and gaps in regards to the health consequences of FGM and their management and reviewed community based interventions against the practice and their efficacy. Lanoi regrets that women in Maasailand still lag behind in many respects in addition to repugnant FGM practice they consider dear. “They are affected by a myriad of diseases, low literacy, hunger due to drought. Using the advocacy initiative, in addition to raising awareness about FGM, issues like poverty, school attendance are addressed,” she says. FGM is the traditional practice of initiating — Florence Gachanja, UNFPA national progirls into womanhood and among the Maasai gramme officer in Kenya is as high as 89 percent and is one of the most
“Raising awareness about the FGM Act alongside the tenets of the new Constitution will be critical in popularising it.”
strongly held tribal customs revered by both men and women among the Maasai people. FGM causes extreme pain and shock, extensive bleeding, sexually transmitted diseases including HIV which is transmitted by tools used by circumcisers, complications during childbirth and incontinence.
FGM Act
The antiFGM crusader terms the recent FGM Act signed by President Mwai Kibaki as God sent. “For the first time in the history of this country, there is a specific law in place to address FGM,” says Lanoi. According to the UNFPA national programme officer in Kenya, Florence Gachanja describes the law as an important tool to fight perpetrators of the vice through the judicial system. On resistance from the community,
Gachanja says rounding up perpetrators and locking them behind bars is not the sole purpose of the legal instrument. “To start with, it should be implemented concurrently alongside hosting dialogue with the community and disseminated down to the community levels, provincial administration, judicial service, police and state agencies,” says Gachanja. “Raising awareness about the FGM Act alongside the tenets of the new Constitution will be critical in popularising it.” According to Gachanja, the children act is a good platform from which to learn from. She says although it had been passed in 2001, most law enforcers did not know of its existence. “Our initiative is already in the process of securing funding to develop dissemination materials in the local language to make the law be widely under stood before culprits are arrested,” said Lanoi.
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ISSUE 054, January 16 - 31, 2012
Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth
From sniffing glue to vegetable farming By EUTYCAS MUCHIRI They are known for sniffing glue and pestering motorists for money to buy food and more glue. But an organisation in Nyeri is in the process of changing this image by turning the town’s street children into self-reliant individuals. The organisation, Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) is in the process of teaching about 20 street children rehabilitated from Nyeri town streets how to grow mushrooms. YMCA’s Programme Manager Esther Wangui, says the programme would first introduce the youngsters to other forms of horticultural farming before embarking on mushroom growing. Wangui adds that mushrooms are a bit sensitive and they have to be introduced to their farming cautiously, hence the reason why the children are being introduced to cultivating other crops first. Thunguma Youth Empowerment and Rehabilitation Centre introduced the programme about a year ago in partnership with Nyeri YMCA, forming a drop-in-centre in Nyeri town. YMCA provided a farm where the children have already started growing horticultural crops such as kales, tomatoes, cabbages and
Besides farming, the rehabilitated children are also engaged in sporting activities. “We have managed to attract and retain a good number whom we are rehabilitating. The farming is successful since other means have always flopped as they end up returning in the streets,” says Wangui. She explained that mushrooms are economical to grow. They require little water and initial capital, a small piece of land, and relatively less labour. One can also earn good returns from mushrooms. Wangui says once they mastered the skill of mushroom growing, the youth will be able to rent farms where they can expand the farming venture. “The mushroom growing project is more economically viable in comparison to other food crops that includes maize and beans and horticultural plants we have tried to grow on this farm,” observed Wangui. She said that the market for the harSome of the street children drawn from Nyeri Town streets tend to kales at the Nyeri vest is readily available in hotels in NairoYMCA farm. Picture: Eutycas Muchiri bi and Mombasa. Few locals have embraced mushrooms so the local market in Nyeri was yet to pick up. carrots among others. According to Wangui, the street children Mushrooms have high nutritive value and The manager said that money generated are motivated to join the rehab centre. They are are rich in protein, minerals and vitamin from the project is used in youth based projthen drawn into farming because they are able content thus they are good for maintaining a ects that include rehabilitating those still on to grow their own food and sell the surplus to healthy lifestyle. the streets. meet other needs.
It is all smiles for cleft lip children By JOSEPH MUKUBWA For Ali Hassan Noor, putting a smile on the face of his son was something he had been yearning for the past eight years. And when it happened, he was filled with tears of joy. Hassan’s eight-year-old son has been nursing a cleft palate that had made him shy away from his peers for fear of being laughed at. But the operation on the cleft lip that took place at Nyeri Provincial Hospital changed his life forever. “The boy will now be able to smile and play with other children without being self conscious about his cleft lip,” says Noor. He said his son used to be shy and would be hesitant to play with other children at school. It all started with a journey from Mandera to Nyeri Provincial Hospital. It took them three days to get to the hospital where the operation was done. “I’m happy that the troubles we went through were worth it,” says Noor.
Transformation
The Operation Smile Mission of Kenya in Nyeri operated about 120 patients during the weeklong free exercise late last year at the Nyeri Provincial General Hospital. A clinical coordinator Julia Kibe said patients from all over the country and one from Tanzania had successful operations. Others came from Moyale, Mombasa, Samburu, Mandera, Kisumu and Nairobi among other areas. One of the inspiring cases was that of a 14-year-old boy who is mentally challenged. He was allegedly burnt on the face by his parents and dumped at the hospital earlier in the year. He had to be operated on to eliminate the deformity. Kibe was pleased that the boy was able to
smile again. The exercise, which cost about KSh10 million, started with screening of patients at the hospital. A trustee of the Safaricom Foundation Josephine Ndambuki said they wanted to make positive contributions to Kenyan communities by implementing projects that provide sustainable solutions to their social challenges. The foundation contributed KSh1.7 million towards the exercise. “In our quest to assist the less fortunate in the society, apart from education, we have invested in a cross section of sectors among them health, economic empowerment, environment, arts and culture and music and sports. These projects have gone a long way in transforming lives in the country for the past ten years,” said Ndambuki. Operation Smile has so far conducted the exercise in Kisumu, Nairobi and Nyeri towns and are now planning to start a site in Garissa and other parts of the country so that people from these areas can also benefit. Operation Smile is a nongovernmental charitable organisation which repairs childhood facial deformities. “Together we can create smiles, change lives and heal humanity. Approximately one in every 500 Ke-
Neurosurgeons operate one of the children at Nyeri Provincial General Hospital recently during the free operation by the Operation Smile Mission of Kenya. Below: Eight-year-old Mohammed Noor from Mandera awaits to be operated on at Nyeri Provincial General Hospital. Pictures: Courtesy and Joseph Mukubwa nyans babies is born with a cleft clip or cleft palate,” said Macharia Kiruhi
“Together we can create smiles, change lives and heal humanity. Approximately one in every 500 Kenyans babies is born with a cleft clip or cleft palate.” — Macharia Kiruhi
who is the chairman of Nyeri site. “In Kenya, there are many children who never receive this life-changing surgery. In as little as 45 minutes, one cleft lip surgery can change a child’s life forever,” he added. The Nyeri site has held four missions in the past five years with more than 500 patients benefiting from the free services. Kiruhi said over 130 volunteers including doctors and surgeons were involved in the exercise in Kenya.
ISSUE 054, January 16 - 31, 2012
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Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth
Overcoming odds to keep his dream alive By WAIKWA MAINA As many youths continue to lament about unemployment, one of them has decided not to just sit and whine; but to do something about it. Twenty six-year-old Peter Maina Wanjiru, a salesman with VPP Shah Distributors from Thunguri Village, Kiangai Sub-location in Kirinyaga County, believes that there’s a reason for every obstacle. For Wanjiru, the word ‘challenge’ has appeared more times than he can be able to count throughout his entire life. “I was brought up in a family of four by a single mother,” says Maina. At an early age, his mother Virginia Wanjiru taught them to be responsible, something Wanjiru credits for his performance today.
Hardship
In 1991, he joined Thunguri Primary School where he posted good results in his examination. He worked hard as he believed that his life solely depended on his academic performance. Despite the fact that he did most of his homework at a neighbour’s house, Peter scooped 514 marks out of a possible 700 topping the list of his class. After his primary education, his mother struggled to get him admitted at the prestigious St Mary’s Boys Secondary School in Nyeri where his family’s inability to pay school fees continued to stalk him. “I thank God for the kind heart of the school’s principal, Brother Dominic Jordan who supported my stay at the institution despite my fees arrears,” Peter remarks. It is at St. Mary’s Wanjiru developed a work ethic through the schools’ after-class work programme where students were engaged in dif-
ferent manual work such as washing utensils, tilling the farm and looking after cows and pigs. On completion of secondary studies with a mean score of B, Wanjiru’s search for further education began. “In the year 2006, we organised a fundraising at our home, where managed to raise KSh60, 000. That is when I enrolled at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) for a diploma course in Public Relations and Advertising,” he recalls.
Peter Maina poses with his books. His books aim at advising the poor on how to improve their living standards. Picture: Waikwa Maina
Challenges
While a student at the Institute, life became even tougher, forcing him to reside at Fuata Nyayo slums, whose rent he could afford. Here, together with a friend, they used prepare mandazi’s and chips during the day and attend classes in the evening. However, this did not go for long as the business collapsed leaving him penniless once again. “Life became unbearable,” said Wanjiru. “I wrote a letter to the college administration requesting to defer my studies by one year to help me raise fees for the remaining two years.” Within a few days, Peter walked back to his village where things took a turn for the worst as he could not secure any meaningful employment. But he did not give up. “In 2008, I sought for an internship at ECN Radio and later worked at Kenya News Agency (KNA) offices in Kerugoya Town.” While working as an intern at the KNA offices his interest in writing developed. Inspired by his experiences, Wanjiru decided to write a book about his struggles. Peter understood the challenges of developing a manuscript but this did not deter him. His burning desire culminated in the pub-
lication of his first book titled ‘The Chain of Life’ which he started to write in 2008. However, due to financial constraints, a local publisher only published the manuscript in 2010. The writer highlights how corruption and social injustices lead to abject poverty for some and success for others. In his book, this author encourages the poor to trust in the Lord as He has the power to turn things round. This book he says is aimed at giving hope to the poor. His second book, ‘Tafakari ya Babu’ (Babu’s Thoughts) is a storybook he compiled while teaching at Effort Junior School in Kerugoya town. It was published in 2011. “These are not just any other stories to read as I have prioritised moral overtones and themes that range from honesty, hard work, love, kindness, obedience, responsibility among others,” he says describing the book targeting youth in upper primary and secondary schools. According to Peter, the greatest challenge
for a writer is being a new one. “Most people do not have confidence in new writers,” he says. This in turn has a negative impact especially on marketing of the work of new writers.
Publishing
Even as he writes these books, Wanjiru believes that one day, with the support of sponsors, he will complete his diploma course and hopefully do a degree course in journalism. Apart from writing, the author pays visits to schools as a motivational speaker and peer counsellor. One of the major challenges he has to deal with is discouragement by some people who know him. “Some people have tried to kill my dream but I can never let them do it,” he says with confidence. Maina encourages the youth to pursue their dreams despite the challenges that they encounter as that is the spirit of real winners who never give up.
It is blame game as Nyandarua fails to sparkle in KCPE By GACHINO THUO Residents from the larger Nyandarua County have received this year’s KCPE results with disappointment and are pointing fingers at the Ministry of Education officials working within the County. The residents have accused the teachers and education officials of failing to work hard resulting in the county’s decline in the KCPE rankings. The parents are now wondering why the county’s performance in the national examinations has taken a downward turn. In the 1980’s, the County led for over eight years in a row. Speaking on behalf of the parents, former Planning Minister Githiomi Mwangi regretted that performance in Nyandarua County used to be the best countrywide for a period of over eight years during Moi’s regime.
Concern
Githiomi said that parents are now concerned about this worrying trend. “Parents have been wondering whether it is their fault or it’s the teachers who have not been performing their duties accordingly,” said Githiomi. He said that due to poor performance within the County, most of the parents have been choosing to educate their children outside the County. “We parents are now wondering how a district that led this Country could be almost
the last. I wonder whether Nyandarua will produce leaders in future?” Githiomi posed Githiomi said the Teachers Service Commission was to blame as it allowed teachers to teach in schools that are in their home villages.
Bad behaviour
The teachers however, led by Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Nyandarua branch secretary Michael Chege blamed the parents and the government for allowing the youth to engage in unbecoming behaviour. Chege says that the modern Pupils at Ayany Primary School in Kibera enjoy their break time. Parents are concerned over parents have been participating or the poor performance in the recently released KCPE 2011 results. encouraging the pupils to engage in irresponsible behaviour saying Picture: Reject Correspondent that the parents have abandoned their duty of guiding and counselling their children. pils to work hard. Students come here to learn County are mostly located in Nyahururu. He adds that parents nowadays do not and not to pass time,” said Karanja. They include Busara Forest View Academy, let teachers to punish their children. Chege She accused the government for failing to Elite Schools, Riverbank Academy, Nyahururu accused parents of reprimanding teachers set some funds aside that could be used to asHighways among others. in the presence of their children, reducing sist paying of the fees for clever pupils from the According to Busara Schools’ managing dithe authority of the teacher. While parents very needy families who are in private institurector Martha Wangui Karanja, most parents with children in public schools whined, tions. opt for private schools saying that when the their counterparts in private schools were all Karanja called on well wishers and the govgovernment introduced free education it did smiles. ernment to come together and address the issue not manage it well. Some of the best private schools in the of education in Nyandarua. “We are forced to push our teachers and pu-
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ISSUE 054, January 16 - 31, 2012
Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth
Lawyer turns hobby into fortune By JOSEPH MUKUBWA
When 43-year-old Peter Kang’ara started bird rearing as a hobby, he did not know his action would make him rich and take him around the globe. The man who hails from Gichiche in Othaya, King’ara has managed to travel to America and Britain in search of rare species of birds he can domesticate in his sanctuary. In his ‘Barefoot Venture project’ in Nyeri County, the farmer who is also a lawyer, has kept over 30 different species of birds. “I have gone as far as America and Britain to get some of these birds. I love birds thus the reason I have invested so much to grow them in my sanctuary,” he said. Though King’ara initially had no plans of making money out of his bird collection hobby, he stumbled on literature explaining how one can make a fortune out of keeping such rare species of birds. “I have realised that one can make money by selling products from the birds. Those that are rarely eaten like pigeons and peacocks have very beautiful feathers that are fetching a lot of money in some countries,” he says.
Inception
Kang’ara started the project in 2005 after he visited a friend, Babu Muthama at Nairobi’s Karen Estate which marked the beginning of his business. Muthama runs a similar project but at a larger scale. On seeing the beauty of farm and getting tips from his friend, Kanga’ara decided to start his own venture. The farm, situated near Gichiche shopping centre, eight kilometres from Othaya town, is now home to birds that are not found anywhere else in the country. “I invested over KSh2 million to start this project which is now an income generating venture. The half-acre sanctuary has become my pet project,” he says. Some of the exotic birds in the farm are white guinea fowls, king pigeons, lion pigeons, funtail doves, Indian peacocks, ostriches, ban-
tams Egyptian geese, red normal geese, quails and locally found spotted guinea fowls. Others are the crown bird, the crested crane, turkeys, white and spotted ducks, white and spotted geese and local pigeons. He says that ostrich meat can fetch a fortune, as it is one of the most popular cholesterol free red meat available globally. Peacocks are mostly kept for beauty but while their feeding requirements are almost similar to those of chickens, the earnings are almost 100 times more. “Besides, the bird’s tails fall off and grow back every two years, giving the farmer another opportunity to make some money. A single male peacock feather goes for KSh300. King’ara has two ostriches on his farm which have also been used to promote domestic tourism. Local educational institutions and even tourists have been visiting the farm to see the different bird species. Ostriches are in high demand in the Middle Eastern and European countries. An ostrich egg goes for KSh5, 000 each and one bird can produce up to seven eggs a year. “A mature ostrich fetches about KSh450, 000 while sale of peacock stock could earn up to KSh100, 000 per bird. Eggs produced by the peacock earn a farmer KSh200, 000 every laying season,” says Kang’ara.
Expansion
However, this fast growing venture requires more space. King’ara is planning to transfer them to his Narumoru 180-acre ranch where he will use about 40 acres to rear them. In this farm, he will expand this project and will also venture into dairy and horticulture farming. “I have been very busy with the birds during the holidays and weekends. and I now see transforming myself from a lawyer to a poultry farmer by investing heavily in this unique bird project,” says Kinga’ra with optimism. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) licenced Kinga’ra several years ago so that he could host some of the protected birds he found during his tours.
From top: Ostriches at King’ara’s Gichiche farm in Othaya. Some of the exotic birds he rears at his farm. Pictures: Joseph Mukubwa This was after KWS officials discovered his unique bird collection after getting several applications from him seeking
“I have realised that one can make money by selling products from the birds. Those that are rarely eaten like pigeons and peacocks have very beautiful feathers that are fetching a lot of money in some countries.” — Peter Kang’ara
Nakuru’s municipal market in bad condition By JIRONGO LUYALI Top Market, the name given to Nakuru’s municipal market, seems misplaced and an insult to such description if the situation around the market is anything to go by. At the entrance of the market, there are huge potholes filled with dirty, stinking water. The situation is even worse inside. “Nyinyi watu wa magazeti munapiga picha kila saa na hakuna kitu watu wa kanjo wanabadilisha. Hebu angalia vile hapa kumeharibika.” “You media people keep taking pictures of the market, but they have not moved the Council to act. The market is in bad condition,” a frustrated trader shouted at the Reject writer. Top market is popular for fruits, vegetables and cereals, foodstuff that should be sold under hygienic conditions. Its location near a bus terminus gives traders a reason to smile as most of the travelers make their purchases there before travelling. Margaret Anyango, the only trader selling fish at the market says that they only see the council workers when they come to collect their fees. “We pay a monthly fee to operate in this market but the Municipal Council keeps promising to repair the potholes here. We do not have a place where we can dump the dirt. This will make our customers opt to buy goods from hawkers or from the open market outside.” Another great challenge the market faces is lack
of water. The sinks that were initially intended to help traders and consumers wash fruits and vegetables have now been turned into dustbins. “We also do not have water here. The fish have to be thoroughly washed before one buys them. On average, I part with KSh50 just to buy water for my daily cleaning,” says Anyango. Water in the town is sold by hawkers who ferry it on hand carts. She says that despite this, her fish sells well since she has no competition. Amos Amukhwiri is a matatu driver and frequently parks his car next to the market. “Here, toilets are free unlike in Nairobi or other towns but the problem is that they are in a bad state. Being next to a market that sells foodstuff, it is important to keep them clean.” Amukhwiri adds that the toilets are supposed to be taken care of by a worker from the Council but they hardly see anyone. He says it would be better if they charged a fee for using the facility. The rapid expansion of the town has led to an increase in population and demand for basic services such as housing, roads, water and sanitation. This has put a strain on the available resources, thereby posing a challenge to the municipal council which is expected to meet the needs of residents in the town. Traders now argue that if services are not improved, it could lead to diseases that could be avoided.
permission to keep ostriches and quails. In addition to his bird sanctuary, King’ara has established fish ponds where local farmers have been learning
how to rear fish. He also rears eight dairy cows, several dairy goats and keeps bees. All these projects have four full time employees. Apart from generating employment, he has used these projects to teach local self help groups on how to start income generating projects instead of relying on white collar jobs.
Cooperatives the way to go, farmers in Nyanza told By BEN ONYANGO Nyanza people have been urged to form many cooperative societies which they can use as a platform in alleviating poverty in the province. Speaking in Uriri district during the launch of Nyanza Development Cooperative society, the project’s Migori county coordinator Consolata Aluoch Muga decried the high poverty levels that were due to lack of cooperation among the locals. Aluoch said that the formation of micro-credit programmes have successfully contributed to lifting people out of poverty in many countries around the world. Locally, she gave the example of Central and Kisii regions where cooperatives have contributed to poverty reduction by helping the residents generate income and create jobs. This has enabled them keep their children in school. Cooperatives play a significant role in economic development especially in rural areas where the low buying power does not motivate private firms to invest in such areas. Speaking at the same function, Sony sugar managing director Paul Odola and Mark Nyamita of Airtel Kenya said
cooperatives will enable them have better bargaining power to buy seeds and fertilizers cheaply, arrange for proper common storage and greater bargaining power in selling farm produce to traders. They also make banks comfortable in providing agricultural credit, thereby improving productivity and the farmers’ income “The cooperatives have truly provided an alternative channel to ordinary people by improving their basic needs to affordable costs,” said Odola. Speaking at the function Omondi Abila a teacher at Oyugi Ogango Girls Secondary School said that it is time the community separated politics from development. “We need leaders who are development conscious. We have a lot of potential that is always going untapped,” said Omondi. The push to establish cooperatives followed a visit by Cooperative Development minister Joseph Nyaga, during which he urged the community to venture into cooperative societies if they were to succeed. The minister urged cane farmers to put their money in their cooperatives in order to acquire loans and buy shares when sugar factories are privatised.
ISSUE 054, January 16 - 31, 2012
9
Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth
Consumer rights being robbed by escalating food prices
Farmers urged to conserve environment
By HENRY OWINO
By BONIFACE MULU
The rate of inflation being experienced in the country currently is alarming and far beyond what consumers can bear. The government is being called upon to address it as a matter of urgency. Life has become very expensive and the cost of living, especially in urban areas, is unbearable. Despite this, the cost of basic commodities keeps rising on a daily basis. Despite the fact that the cost of basic commodities are going up, many consumers are suffering due to ignorance of their consumer rights all over the country.
The government has started to address irrigation farming in the country, the Ministry of Agriculture Secretary, Dr. Wilson Songa, has said. Songa said that as a ministry, they have carried out research and have seeds for food crops that are suitable for each region in Kenya. “We have so far tried to undertake a range of measures to tackle food insecurity in the country occasioned by the rain scarcity in the country,” he said adding that food importation cost the government a lot of money. The agriculturist was addressing farmers during a field day organised by his ministry at the Mandalwa Village in Kanyangi location, Lower Yatta District in Kitui County. The agriculturist said that the price of fertilizers was high and that the ministry was trying to ensure each farmer was able to access the inputs. “We should not have food insecurity in this country if we plan well,” said Songa. “Without conserving our environment, we will not be able to support ourselves in food security. Plant plenty of trees to conserve the environment. Those are the kinds of things we want to promote,” Songa said.
Ignorance
Francis Orago, the chief executive director, Kenya Consumer Organisation (KCO) said most people are ignorant about laws that govern and protect consumers rights. Consumers are often overcharged, duped into buying expired goods, forced to purchase some goods on condition that it must be accompanied by others among other strategies that shopkeepers apply to beat the tough times. Orago was addressing Kibera residents and journalists at Kibera’s Mchanganyiko hall along Karanja road. He said the transport sector also takes advantage of ignorant commuters to hike fares especially when it rains.
Fishmongers slicing fish into portions that are affordable to Kibera residents. Below: Kenya Consumer Organisation CEO, Francis Orago during the media encounter in Kibera. Pictures: Henry Owino
Joimt venture
The organisation was formed back in 1974 and joined Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) in the fight for the rights and protection of consumers. He pointed out that some of the consumer protection guidelines stipulated by United Nations are; right to satisfaction of basic commodities, right to safety, right to be informed by labeling products prices, expiry dates, right to choose from a range of products depending on ones taste and likes, right to be heard when sold for over size or undersize dress, bad products and the right to a healthy environment among others. He urged the public that any commodity bought at any price more than KSh5 should be accom-
panied by a receipt showing the name of the product, date bought, name of shop, the seller’s name and contacts and then rubber stamped for easy follow up in case of any claim later. According to Judy Achieng, a resident of Bombolulu area in the larger Kibera estate, the cost of living has risen to such high levels that
some slum residents can only afford one meal a day. Achieng says many women have been forced to practice illegal trades like selling chang’aa in the slum to put food on the table. As a local community leader, Achieng understands the difficult situations the slum populace lives under. “Here, we live from hand to mouth. There is no saving because nothing can be saved. We get money, use it to buy food and consume it all,” she explains. Achieng argued that the rising cost of living is contributing to domestic brawls within the community due to stress caused by scarce
“Here, we live from hand to mouth. There is no saving. We get money, use it to buy food and consume it all.” — Judy Achieng, Kibera resident
resource straining relations within families. The community members said most of them had developed coping strategies. These included skipping meals, embracing the kadogo economy where families buy commodities such as sugar and cooking fat in small quantities, just for one serving or to cook one meal. Youths who are single share houses to cut cost on rent, many walk to work instead of boarding vehicles especially in the evening. Many have opened small-scale food kiosks, or engage in casual jobs. Some parents send their daughters to work as house helps during school holidays to earn extra money to make ends meet. The rising cost of living is clearly a stressor that could lead to even more problems if it continues to escalate. In the meantime, Kibera residents, like most Kenyans continue to tighten their belts and prioritise their expenses only spending on absolute necessities.
Irrigation
“If you want to see this river (the Athi River) flowing throughout the year, plant plenty of trees to protect it,” Songa told the community. Rivers Athi and Tana are perennial, yet the communities in the region depend on them rivers for water supply. The officer talked about the importance of water conservation for irrigation farming. This would help the farmers increase their yields. Songa called on Kenyans to practice sorghum farming because it now has a ready market at the East African Breweries Limited. He said that the company needs some 50,000 metric tonnes of sorghum from farmers in the next five months for beer manufacturing. Local Member of Parliament Charles Mutisya Nyamai was represented at the function by the area CDF Project Manager Benjamin Mutisya Mwanzia. The MP in his speech that was read to the gathering by Mwanzia, thanked the Agriculture Ministry for organising the event in his constituency.
Water services providers risk cancellation of licences By KARIUKI MWANGI Tana Water Services Board chief executive officer engineer Moses Naivasha has issued a stern warning to water services providers. Naivasha said they risk having their licences revoked if they fail to provide the required services to the public. Naivasha said that all the water services providers need to follow the required procedures in ensuring the provision of quality clean and adequate water to the consumers.
He warned that those who fail to do so will be forced to exit the industry. “There must be accountability and responsibility of the highest class in the manner in which water issues are being handled, and putting in place measures for professionalism in the provision of water,” he said. Speaking in Embu while handing over trophies to the Ngadori - Nginda water services project which emerged best water provider nationally, Naivasha said that water
provision has been entrenched in the Constitution of Kenya 2010 under article 46 as a human right. He urged all the service providers to ensure that water consumers enjoy these rights. He said that the water services providers should work hard in ensuring efficiency and reliability of the commodity they provide to ensure they fulfill the human rights to water. The project’s CEO called upon the proprietors of the project to work on metering
the water provided so that they can safeguard against inaccuracies in billing. This would also ensure that there is no misuse of the water that is tapped from Mt Kenya. The Ngadori - Nginda Water Services Project chairman Elijah Mbogo said that the project is currently providing water to over 80,000 consumers. “There are many people who are in need of this precious commodity, but there is very little we can do to help due to lack of adequate resources to expand,” said Mbogo explaining the limitations the project is facing.
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ISSUE 054, January 16 - 31, 2012
Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth
Early childhood education key to achieving development goals By TITUS MAERO essential for basic education. The Chairman of the National Humanitarian Board (NHB) Moses Akaranga said the government recognises Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) as one of the most important levers for accelerating the attainment of Education for All (EFA) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Akaranga said that one of the EFA goals obligates the government to expand and enhance comprehensive ECDE programmes that are
He, however, said with the low enrolment at ECD institutions, many children between the ages of four to five years end up directly in primary schools without the relevant education background, thus negatively affecting retention and quality. Speaking during the ninth graduation ceremony at the Kaimosi ECDE Training College in Hamisi District in Vihiga County, Akaranga said there has been significant increase in Primary School enrolment following the in-
troduction of Free Primary School Education (FPE) 2003. He pointed out that, this has however, exerted pressure on the existing physical facilities that has led to an acute shortage of class rooms particularly within poor communities. Akaranga noted that the sharp rise in enrolment numbers has contributed to poor learning conditions and overcrowding in schools. He said the graduation ceremony epitomises the passion and determination of Kaimosi ECDE in its pursuit to realise its vision of pro-
ducing teachers who measure up to the national, regional, international standards of teaching. Akaranga further said the graduation ceremony is a demonstration of the institution’s mission in which the college intends to respond to societal and individual needs of pupils by developing pragmatic educational ECDE programmes to promote quality and strong foundation in the education system. He urged the graduates to demonstrate professionalism, commitment and relevance for them to be competitive.
Man who raped a blind girl yet to be arrested By PAUL MWANIKI As the rest of the world welcomed the year 2011 with pomp and colour, 15-year-old Susan Nasieku was in pain. That night, a man slipped into her bedroom and raped her. She later conceived. Nasieku, who got blind at the age of three, landed a scholarship and dreamed of becoming a teacher. However, that ambition was cut short by the rapist, a father of four and relative of a powerful person in government. Narrating her ordeal to Reject at their home in Chumvi Village in Laikipia East District, she still finds it hard to discuss what happened. The thought of her future being affected in such a manner has devastated her. This is especially so because she had managed in 2009 to garner 250 marks in her KCPE at the Thika School for the Blind. “My parents are poor and the donor who was supporting my primary education withdrew after the exams and I had nowhere to go,” she says.
Early marriage
Having completed her primary education, she went back to her village with no hope of achieving her dream. “I stayed with my parents and my step father tried his best to search for cheap schools where I could be accommodated but in vain,” recalls Nasieku. Her blindness had shielded her from getting suitors especially in a community where girls are married off at a tender age. But this did not stop a man of taking advantage of her condition. Nasieku remembers vividly what happened that night she was raped. “He came at around midnight and pushed the window using a Maasai rungu, which he used to wake me up,” says Nasieku. “I woke up and asked who it
was and he told me his name and that he had a message for me but I told him I did not expect any message from a man and at that particular time of the night.” She stayed put, but did not tell anybody about the incident.
Night visits
“He came again after two weeks at night and identified himself by name but this time round he told me that since my parents could not educate me, he was willing to marry me as his second wife but only if I opened the door for him,” said Nasieku. Meanwhile, towards the end of 2010, a local pastor introduced Nasieku to a donor who was willing to sponsor the girl through her secondary education. St Lucy Igonji School for the visually impaired was identified and fees for the 2011 school year paid. On January 1, 2011, her father invited villagers to celebrate his daughter’s success in getting a donor. The celebration went into the dead of the night. That is when the incident that has changed Nasieku’s life forever happened. That night, Nasieku woke up to find the man who had visited her twice before sleeping besides her. He managed to sneak into the house unnoticed. “He held me tightly and warned me not to scream as he undressed and defiled me severally before leaving with a threat to kill me if told anybody,” said a sobbing Nasieku.
Nasieku together with Hellen Gathogo when she was pregnant. Pictures: Paul Mwaniki Out of fear, she never told anybody keeping the entire incident a secret; she joined Form One in February 2011. In June, she realised she was pregnant. “I had missed my periods and knew something had gone wrong, my teachers also suspected it and called my parents who after a medical examination I was found to be pregnant. My parents left with me,” she explained.
Mother’s support
Queen Nantiri, Nasieku’s mother said she was saddened by the turn of events at a time when her daughter’s bright future had been sealed by a donor. “I cannot imagine how she will be affected by this situation but I will be here to support her as her mother and assist in bringing up my grandson. But the man who did this should be arrested, charged and compelled to assist in
“I will be here to support her as her mother and assist in bringing up my grandson.” However, she is crying for justice. But it would be better if the father is arrested, charged and compelled to assist in bringing up the child,” — Queen Nantiri
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Contributors: Abjata Kha lif, Gachino Thuo, Titus Maero, Ekuwam Adou, Henry Kahara, Odhiambo Odhiambo, Parsai Joto, Eutycas Muchiri, Joseph Mukubwa, Waikwa Maina, Paul Mwaniki, Jirongo Luyali, Ben Onyango, Henry Owino, Boniface Mulu and Kariuki Mwangi.
his upbringing,” said the mother. Nantiri blames some elders in the village of shielding the man who impregnated her. “They have held meetings trying to put the blame on my husband since she does not come from our tribe and is a step father to Nasieku,” says the mother. The matter has been reported to Nanyuki Police Station but no arrest has been made a year down the line despite reports of where the culprit was hiding. The matter has been taken up by One More day for Children (OMDC). The organisation’s national coordinator and vice president Hellen Gathogo said it was a case that needed to be handled with urgency. Hellen wondered why the police are reluctant to arrest this man yet they have all information about his whereabouts. “It is unfortunate that this blind young girl cannot get justice. We are even calling on the ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development and FIDA to assist us ensure justice has been done for Nasieku and her child,” said Gathogo. She noted that girls especially in the pastoralist communities were being taken advantage of sexually by elderly men who then use culture to avoid prosecution. “Kangaroo courts in these areas have worked against girls and women, who are never consulted when their rights are violated and decision on the same are taken,” laments Hellen. For now, as Nasieku nurses her son Samson who is three months old.
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