Reject Online Issue 63

June 1-15, 2012

ISSUE 063

A bimonthly newspaper by the Media Diversity Centre, a project of African Woman and Child Feature Service

Kenyans still groping in the dark As Kenyans mark this year’s Madaraka Day Celebrations, thousands are still grappling with poverty, diseases and illiteracy which were definitive features at independence

By ROBERT WANJALA Celebrated every first day of June, Madaraka Day reminds Kenyans of the day Kenya walked out of the dark shadows of its colonial master.

This was no mean achievement. The day in 1963 was a significant landmark in the vicious struggle that led to the independence of Kenya.

Forty-nine years today, Kenyans are still groping in the dark through rampaging poverty, diseases, illiteracy, high cost of living and run-away unemployment.

“Poverty and unemployment is our biggest challenge. Yes we are an independent country yet still reeling under colonial poverty and pangs of hunger,” says Martin Saenyi, a handcart puller in Eldoret.

Many are the days when Saenyi, 30, a father of one, returns home emptyhanded. With pangs of hunger gnawing at his empty stomach he retires to bed, uncertain about what the next day would bring.

Unbearable

“Life is just cruel and unbearable. I hardly make a hundred shillings. It is crazy managing food, rent, clothes and other house necessities out of a hundred bob,” laments Saenyi.

He adds: “It’s difficult sometimes, pushing the cart, especially when you haven’t eaten properly. We have had to forego lunch in order to save enough to meet household needs in the evening.”

His fears are confirmed by Planning Minister Wycliffe Oparanya’s unveiling of Kenya’s annual Economic Survey, which projected more harsh economic times ahead for Kenyans.

The economy of the country dipped

from 5.8 per cent in 2010 to 4.4 per cent last year. While the Planning Minister says there would be an economic growth between 3.4 and 4.5 per cent, Kenya’s living standards continue to deteriorate, with an over 14 per cent inflation burden being propelled by high food and fuel prices.

Irresponsible Leaders

Saenyi is not the only one. Moses Rono, 29, a father of two, says the struggling economy is as result of irresponsible leadership.

“Our leaders are never concerned about issues affecting the ordinary citizen. All they care about is how to remain in power. I never took part in championing for Kenya’s independence yet I don’t believe what we are witnessing in the country today is what our forefathers struggled for,” observes Rono, who is also a handcart puller.

Rono, a Standard Five school dropout, blames politics for the problems facing the country: “We are heading for another general election and politicians are busy traversing the country making those popular promises that never come to pass after they are elected.”

He adds that the unemployment situation in the country is at its worst level and nothing practical is being heard on how the situation would be addressed

Kenya marks 49 years of independence yet many of its citizens feel that there is nothing much to celebrate. They are stuck between dealing with the economic uncertainty in their lives and showing patriotism for the country. Picture: Robert Wanjala by those seeking various political posts.

“Instead all we are witnessing is intercommunity groupings against the rest of Kenyans,” notes Rono.

“Majority of Kenyans have remained slaves of misery and poverty.

The economic disparities testify that indeed we are still in the colonial hands, not the British but African ones,” observes Bishop Wilson Kurui of Jesus Love Ministries.

“I think the government has misplaced priorities. We are headed for devolved system of government yet there is no clear mechanism in place on how the resources of various counties will be distributed to close the gap between the rich and poor counties. In spite of the resources such as land, there is no clear modalities on how counties can harness land to enhance food security for the country,” notes Kurui.

The clergyman also faults the government, saying the education system is no longer adding any value to the

“Majority of Kenyans have remained slaves of misery and poverty. The economic disparities testify that indeed we are still in the colonial hands, not the British but African ones” — Bishop Wilson Kurui

country.

“It is unimaginable when you compare graduates leaving institutions of higher learning against the number of formal jobs being created,” he says.

According to Kurui, the Government must now direct its resources to revamping village polytechnics because the informal sector is providing practical solutions in resolving the unemployment situation in the country.

Technical Skills

“For the Government to clamp down on the runaway unemployment, it should critically lay emphasis on technical skills. In this way the common man will be self-reliant,” he observes.

Kurui attributes the stagnated economy to either poor government policies or its implementation. The Economic Survey compiled by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that the informal sector leads in job creation, with about 85.7 per cent. About 520,000 from 445,900 jobs were created the report indicates.

Jane Kipyego who owns a green grocery shop says her business is no longer making any profit and the high cost of living has seen her customers reduce. “Most of us are just surviving from hand-to-mouth,” says Kipyego, a mother of three.

The long journey to self-rule was pegged on pillars that included achiev-

ing education for all, eradicating diseases and reducing illiteracy among others.

Simon Kitur, programme officer at the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, says the country is yet to achieve most of these goals: “Poverty, epidemic diseases, illiteracy among other social issues remain key challenges facing Kenyans.”

These issues have left most Kenyans with little to celebrate today. Kenyans’ attitudes on celebrating public holidays have drastically changed.

“Most of these public holidays are no longer tenable. What is there to celebrate about anyway when most Kenyans are struggling with how to defeat poverty in a failed economy,” reiterates Kitur.

He notes that accessing essential services comes at a high cost: “Fuel prices go up every other day without any explanations from the Government,” Kitur observes.

“It leaves no doubt that the everincreasing prices, especially during electioneering periods, could have the bearings of raising money for political campaigns,” he claims.

“As a country, uncertainty is increasingly growing among the citizens; hunger, diseases, unclear election date, insecurity, raging floods are but a few of the worries eating citizens up,” he notes.

Corruption is another monster that Continued on page 4

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ISSUE 063, June 1-15, 2012

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

Man ditches family, cites constitution

By MORRIS MUGAMBI They argue that what a man can do, a woman can do better; this is an argument that many women put across when they want to challenge male dominance.

But this analogy has become a harping point for men who want to run away from their responsibility.

Mary Wangari (not her real name), one of the hawkers along Bunyala Road in Nairobi, has been forced to take up responsibilities as the head of her family after her husband abandoned her

with two children.

Wangari has to wake up early in the morning and prepare her two children for school before proceeding to Gikomba market to purchase fruits, which she hawks along the road in order to fend for her family.

Promulgation

She says that her husband, Mike Miuthemi (not his real name), left her and the children immediately after the promulgation of the Constitution. He claimed that it had made them equal; a situation she was not ready to take in

the house.

In tears, Wangari says that at no point did she pretend to be equal with the husband, and he only used that as an excuse for abandoning them.

Apparently Wangari and the husband lived happily in the cozy suburbs of South B, but since then life has taken a U-turn.

Only two months after the husband abandoned them they were forced to move away and settle in the nearby Mukuru kwa Njenga slums, where the rent is affordable for her.

Wangari says that she has been forced to sell one item or the other every time her two chil-

dren are reopening school, as the meagre income she generates from the hawking business is only enough to cater for food and rent.

Compel

“I make around KSh400 on a good day, which is not enough bearing in mind the high cost of living in Kenya today,” she explains.

The 30-year-old mother believes she is not the only one suffering the fate of irresponsible male behaviour and pleads with the Government to compel men to take responsibility in their homes.

Boy loses arm due to medical negligence

By ROBBY NGOJHI “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” so goes a well-known proverb, whose literal meaning suggests too little time set aside for games and fun can make youngsters fail to perform well in their academics.

This justifies the reason why many schools slot time amidst learning sessions to enable students to enjoy a health break.

However, for Simon Mjomba, 11, a Standard Five pupil at Voi Primary School, a health break turned tragic after he fell on the ground and sustained slight bruises and a fracture on his right arm.

This marked the beginning of complications that saw his arm amputated in what many believe was as result of negligence by the medical personnel.

His mother, Margaret Memshomi, strongly believes that this could have been avoided if the doctor’s had handled the boy with the care he deserved.

She says after the accident her son was rushed by teachers to Moi District Hospital for treatment.

Fracture

“I was informed and when I went to the hospital I realised that he had sustained a fracture on his forearm and a deep cut that exposed his bone on the skin,” she explains.

At the hospital, she says that nurses went ahead to put a plaster on the arm amidst her protests because she knew he had a cut.

However, they told me not to worry because they had administered an injection to heal the wound,” she recalls.

Memshomi, a single mother of three, says that when they left the hospital, her son complained of severe pain and cried persistently, “but I could not give him any relief,” she says.

The following day Memshomi took the boy back to the hospital where the nurses un-wrapped the plaster and dressed the wound before deploying another plaster.

“But when we went back home his condition worsened and Simon kept complaining. I was very worried because a stench was now emanating from the arm and I couldn’t stand it.

“I took him back to the facility

again, but they said they could not help the boy since they were busy attending other patients who had been involved in a road accident.

So we went back home.

“However, the following day when we returned I was shocked when the doctor unwrapped the arm and noticed that it had started decomposing,” she notes.

Amidst tears Memshomi reveals: “Daktari alinyamaza kisha akasema yote ni ya Mungu itabidi mkono huu ukatwe (The doctor Simon Mjomba and his mother remained silent for a while then Margaret Memshomi at the he said we shall leave everything Pediatric ward in Voi’s Moi to God because the arm has to be District Hospital where the boy amputated).” was admitted after his arm was The incident has infuriated residents, including human rights amputated. The parents blame activists, who have accused doctors the hospital attendants for of laxity and threatened to hold a negligence. Pictures: Robby Ngojhi demonstration to protest poor services at the facility.

“This goes to show just how a poor African child can be exposed to be competent in his job, but he has suffering even at the hands of those been unable to rein in on those rewho are supposed to give care. There sponsible for the boy’s condition.” is no question that this was sheer doctor’s negligence and ignorance.

Residents alleged that similar in“If the nurses at the hospital liscidents have been occurring at the tened to the complaints of the child’s mother, the case couldn’t have gone hospital, and called on both ministhis far. They went ahead to deploy ters in charge of Public Health and the plaster on the boys hand even Medical Services respectively to inafter the mother expressed fears that tervene.

“Last year a woman in labour young Mjomba had sustained bruises died as nurses watched because they on the arm,” says Hadji Mwakio of claimed that they were busy. We Taita Taveta Human Rights Watch.

He accuses the doctor in charge of want Beth Mugo and Prof Anyang Moi Hospital of failing to manage his Nyong’o to come here and find out what is the problem with the facility. staff properly.

Notes Mwakio: “The doctor could If there is shortage of staff, we need to know because we are suffering a

Similar Incidents

“Last year a woman in labour died as nurses watched because they claimed that they were busy. We want Beth Mugo and Prof Anyang Nyong’o to come here and find out the problem with the facility. If there is shortage of staff, we need to know because we are suffering a lot.”

— A trader at Voi Market

lot,” said an irate trader at Voi Market.

We traced Mjomba to the hospital’s Paediatric ward where he was admitted. The boy expressed fears that the amputation would derail his education because he lost his right arm, which he uses for writing.

Mjomba now has to contend with the stark challenge of practicing how to use his left hand for the rest of his life.

However, relatives and friends

have been visiting the family at their home in Mwakingali to encourage the boy that all is not lost and he can still write in the future.

Contacted, Moi Hospital’s Medical Superintendent Dr Bernard Mweru declined to comment on the issue and said it was under investigation.

“I cannot comment on something which is under investigation,” noted Mweru.

ISSUE 063, June 1-15, 2012

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

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Freedom fighters lose interest in Madaraka Day

By MNYAZI JOE Today one can hardly come across elderly men attending celebrations, particularly at the district level. In Malindi Constituency, for example, those who are there do not find any need for attending the celebrations. Reasons? The government is not interested in them.

A good example is Mzee Katana Kalulu, aged 92, who learnt driving during the Second World War and became one of the first drivers in his area. His physical appearance is a symbol of the poverty that has taken root in him.

He cannot hold back tears during the interview, as it reminds him of the troubles and bloodshed he encountered during the war, only to be left in the darkness to suffer alone while those who never fought enjoy the fruits of liberation.

Touts

“It is very sad that nowadays touts can throw me out of a matatu if I do not have enough fare to take me home, not knowing that we fought hard to bring Kenya where it is today,’’ he says.

Kalulu was recruited to go for the Second World War at a time when the colonial was ruling the country. During the war he was chosen to be an assistant to a colonial driver. He would wash the vehicle and ensure that it was clean and ready for operations.

Due to his closeness with the colonial driver, who also became a personal friend, Kalulu managed to learn driving skills the hard way.

Luckily for him, he survived and came home where, he became a driver of buses belonging to some of the richest men in Malindi.

At first an Arabcalled Awadh Mkale from the Ganda area employed him, before he moved on to Kabwere Wanje and Kajoro, earning only KSh15 a month.

Kabwere Wanje is known to be among the richest Giriama medicine men of the time who married many wives.

When news about the release of Jomo Kenyatta from prison came, and for him to become the president Kenya, Kalulu was among those who went to Nairobi to welcome him home, together with other Mau Mau warriors.

“We were called by Ronald Ngala to accompany him to Nairobi for the ceremony of welcoming in our leader. However, our disappointment was felt right at the airport,” he says.

Disappointment

Kalulu recalls that on the material day those from Mount Kenya region where Kenyatta hails from were very harsh to them and very chaotic.

This was as a result of ‘their own man’ who had been jailed and now in the process of getting into power.

Ronald Ngala, he recalls, had a vision and loved all the heroes, he wanted to ensure they were recognised at any public functions.

Even Kenyatta, he says, was very much concerned about them. He would react angrily whenever they were mistreated.

“At one time,” Kalulu says, “Kenyatta ordered his security men to escort us to the VIP area and see to it that we sat comfortably when he saw us standing in the sun in Mombasa.”

This was just during those times when the fighters could be recognised, though not to an extent of being assisted to improve their standards of living.

Illiteracy also contributed to the poverty that he is now faced with because during his early age a friend lured him to play traditional Gonda dance, and that did not give him a chance to an education.

He married nine wives due to the influence of Kabwere, unknown to him that it would be difficult to bring up the children. To have many wives was a sign of wealth during those times.

According to Kalulu, the colonial government

was better than the government that took over power.

On the first Madaraka Day, on June 1, 1963, Kalulu and his fellow freedom fighters were called at the DO’s office in Kilifi to oversee the lowering of the union flag that was being replaced with the new Kenyan flag.

High hopes

“We had high hopes of being part of the liberation to live better lives, un- Mzee Katana Kalulu,a driver during fortunately things turned round and we the fight for independence who like were dumped and left to die,” he says many other freedom fighters lives while weaving a rope, which he sells to from hands to mouth. He performs earn a living. cultural activities at the Malindi He says at home there is nothing District Cultural Association to show that he was among those who Secretariat. Below Joseph Karisa fought for the country’s independence; Mwarandu a Kaya Elder. be it land, a good house or better meals.

Picture: Mnyazi Joe Kalulu says the organisations of such important celebrations are no longer the same, like the previous ones when they were accorded respect. chiefs.

“Government officials have changed and do “One had to see the Arab to not bother who the freedom fighters. One can be seek permission to see the Cololeft standing in the sun for the duration the cel- nial District Commissioner and ebration lasts, without any refreshments or rec- it would be hell because their ognition to ensure they are treated with respect,” statements were normally irriobserves Kalulu. tating,’’ recalls the retired teacher.

“The Government should recognise war vetThe Arabs were also opposed to the miserans because they are very few remaining now sionaries, a fact that contributed to the low failure to which the future generations will know standards of education in the region. very little about their heroes,’’ he says.

It is at the Coast where the missionaries His greatest concern today is the manner in first landed in Rabai, before they spread to which elderly men are being hacked to death sim- other parts of the country, but the Arabs fearply over suspicion that they are practicing witch- ing competition if the locals accessed educacraft in the watchful eyes of the government. tion, used to oppose the move to construct of “I wonder why the Government cannot take churches and schools. action to protect such key people in the society “The rich Arabs would take their children despite the fact that most of the killers are known to school in Mombasa while the poor and but walk Scot free in the villages,” observes Kalulu. marginalized never got a chance to get educaHe says the police need to take the issue seri- tion,” recalls Thoya. ously and act fast to end the innocent killings. “In One such area is Nyongoro in Witu, which the olden days such cases of witchcraft used to be stayed for long without getting a school; a problem resolved in the that contributed to the low education standards, Kaya, but nowadays youths have resorted to until the some leaders decided to take action. take the law into their own hands killing them in “People were forced to walk on foot from Witu cold blood fearlessly.” to Kaloleni, over 300 kilometres, to look for misKalulu says even the current security mecha- sionaries so that they could access education,” he nism has failed because they never take action. says.

He feels the government should assist and protect old people because most of them are languishing in poverty.

The issue of delay in access to education, and Had the government recognized them, which the oppressions of the Arabs who owned huge is just but a mere wish, they would be the proud chunks of land, really contributed to the high povowners of beautiful homes with wealth acquired erty levels, and the elders feel liberation is yet to from their efforts in the fight for independence come. of the country.

When Jaramogi Odinga Oginga, the then Just like Kalulu, Raymond Thoya, who was Vice President of Kenya, published the book ‘Not undergoing teachers training during Madaraka Yet Uhuru’, he was partly referring to the Coastal Day, feels their expectations have not been met. region and used to publicly advocate for the loThoya, 74, says the liberation was not com- cals, but due to strong opposition from the servplete: not to the expectations of Kenyans, particu- ing president he did not get much for them. larly at the Coast.

Thoya thinks this was as a result of secret deals According to Thoya, the Coast had two colo- for sharing of resources. nial masters — Arabs and British — the Coast “The expectations of the Coast people have people were optimistic that after Madaraka Day not been met, the land injustice, historical injusall of them would go back to their country and tices are still there as people have no access to title bring sanity to the locals. deeds, those favoured are those from the commuHe says the Arabs were among the biggest op- nity in government,” he says. pressors for the locals and would intimidate them Thoya says for this reason successive governwhenever they went to see the administration ments have ignored Coast people and failed to ad-

Oppression

“I have no time to waste under the sun listening to people who have no interests with the local person and just serve their own interests because we cannot boast of having enjoyed the fruits of uhuru.”

— Mzee MathewsKogo.

dress the land issue.

He says people lost interest in the Madaraka Day celebrations because of the injustices. “Initially the government would celebrate it in style withbulls being slaughtered and lots of refreshments flowing. However, things have changed and nowadays it is those senior officers who have a chance to sit in high tables and attended lunch ceremonies in big hotels while the locals spend the whole day without food and under the hot sun,” observes Thoya.

“I have no time to waste under the sun listening to people who have no interests with the local person and just serve their own interests because we cannot boast of having enjoyed the fruits of uhuru,” he says.

The elders accuse the provincial administration of having contributed to ethnicity and discrimination among locals.

As Kaya elders, they feel there is need for those who fought for independence in Kenya be recognised, identified and proper records put in place for future generations.

According to Joseph Karisa Mwarandu, a prominent lawyer and a Giriama Kaya elder, those who currently enjoy the fruits of Madaraka are very few, and power is just being passed around this group.

“It’s not justified for one who fought for independence to die poor without any piece of land, the government needs to respect them and reward them before they all die,” he notes.

Mwarandu also calls for the history of freedom fighting to be written afresh for the Government to get the right information about all the heroes who participated in the fight.

“If all this is done and properly kept on record the country will enjoy Madaraka Day fully feel as part of the entire nation’s struggle for independence.”

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ISSUE 063, June 1-15, 2012

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

Busia residents still struggle to access health services health system and took charge of all public health As Kenyans mark 49 years of indepen- facilities, adding that ecodence, the common man has very little nomic stagnation after 1973 to celebrate about. and a dearth of funds availPupils of St Christine Community School -Kibera entertaining guests during this years World AIDS Vaccine Majority still cannot afford the ex- able for operating clinics at Day. Many children in Kenya can not attend Public Primary Schools because of many hidden levies despite orbitant cost of treatment in public the community level led the introduction of Free and Compulsory Primary Education. Pictures by Gilbert Ochieng and Carolyne Oyugi health institutions as well as the high Ministry of Health to reinHealth Organization, Kenya still faces a Kenya spent $29 per capita on health District Health Management Boards,” cost of living. state user fees in 1989.

Despite the alleged introduction of “A reform process in 1992 led to the significant shortage of physicians, with services; several dollars below the $34 says Odongo. the so-called free primary education, creation of the District Health Manage- only 4,500 in the entire country. The the World Health Organisation recmajority of school going children are ment boards to facilitate cost-sharing United States counts on 26 physicians ommended countries should spend to He at the same time says that in a out of school due to the re-introduc- and ensure the availability of funds per 10,000 people, compared to Kenya, provide a minimum health package for 2010 report, the World Bank described tion of illegal levies, which majority of for health services in peripheral areas. which has just one doctor per 10,000 their citizens.

He says Kenyans who are normally sub-Saharan Africa as the most formiparents cannot afford.

Persistent financial difficulties led the residents, a ratio that is below average employed, and whose income exceeds a dable development challenge, adding Bad governance coupled with the government to undertake a more in- for the African region.

“More than 50 per cent of Kenyan set threshold, participate in the National that the report highlighted the pervadesire to get rich overnight has led to the tensive restructuring of the health sysdemise of well established manufactur- tem by the mid 1990s paving the way physicians practice in Nairobi, which, Health Insurance Fund, and that by ear- sive corruption in Africa, taking special ing plants; hence the high rate of unem- for corruption in the health sector,” with an estimated three million people, ly 1990s there was an estimated 1.3 mil- note of widespread “quiet corruption”; represents a small fraction of the coun- lion workers and 8 million dependants a term referring to the ‘failure of public ployment, especially among the youth. says Odongo. try’s population. Only 1,000 physicians covered by the insurance scheme which servants to deliver goods or services According to Andrew Odongo paid for by the governments’ that do work in the public sector which serves was established in 1966.

Nyangweso, a programme coordinator not involve monetary exchange.

“Recent efforts to reform the NHIF, majority of Kenyans, ” says Odongo, The human rights coordinator furwith the Institute of Human Rights and “Although Kenya has enacted safeCivic Values, Busia County the gap be- ther states that in 1994, the government adding that a corps of 37,000 nurses and to extend its services to a greater guards against corruption, the country portion of the population through the supplements physician care, as do tratween the “have and the-have not” has published the Kenya Health Policy Framework Paper, which envisioned the ditional mid-wives, pharmacists and creation of a National Social Health is not exceptional. In 1956, a Prevencontinued to widen.

Insurance Fund, are expected to fail tion of Corruption Act was adopted and He says that at the time of indepen- provision of “quality health care that is community health workers. due to corruption and political opposi- laws governing procurement passed to dence, the Kenya government prom- acceptable, affordable and accessible to tion. Proponents envisions the funds as ensure transparency and accountability, ised Kenyans free healthcare in the all by 2010”.

According to Odongo, migration of a “pay-in-advance” insurance scheme but corruption is still deeply rooted in all “With decentralization as the guidhope that a healthy population could lead the new country towards greater ing strategy for managing the country’s trained health workers from the pub- that would enable a greater number of public institutions and condoned at the economic development. By 1965 the health care needs, the policy frame- lic sector to higher paying positions in Kenyans to set aside funds for necessary highest political level,” says the activist. government had formalized this “free work has been implemented through the private sector, or outside Kenya al- physician visits, medical procedures and He adds that, according to a report by health for all” concept and abolished two five-year plans. The first, National together, has made retaining qualified pharmaceuticals,” he says. He adds that the US based council on foreign relauser fees for people seeking care in Health Sector Strategic Plan covered the health personnel a persistent challenge. private medical associations opposed the tions, 45 constitutional amendments public clinics, which, at the time, were period between 1999 and 2004 whereas According to a study undertaken in reform on the grounds that the scheme have strengthened the executive’s power the second covered the period between 2000, Kenya has one of the highest net would designate preferred providers and since independence. being managed at the local level.

On education, Odongo says that the migration rates by doctors the world facilities, hence causing their members Odongo recalls how in 1970 the 2005 and 2010,” says Odongo. attainment of universal primary educaover, with 51 percent leaving the counto lose business from “pay-as-you-go” He says according to the World Ministry of Health nationalised the tion has been a long-term objective of try in search of greener pastures else- clients. where.

However, he says civil service and the government since independence, “Lack of health personnel has made teachers’ unions mobilised against the but declining gross enrolment rates and it difficult for the government to carry plan because members did not want to completion rates of less than 50 per cent out adequate disease surveillance and forego receiving their medical benefits over the past ten years present a considmaintain accurate data about disease as cash disbursements, which some use erable challenge to policy makers.

“There is a growing concern on the outbreaks that will facilitate reporting of to supplement their salaries. relevant findings to neighbouring coun“As far as government spending is part of various stakeholders about the tries and international organizations for concerned, the Ministry of Finance declining achievement, enrolment and immediate preventive measures to be sets three year budget ceilings for each increasing school dropout rates. The taken to curb possible spread of the dis- sector. In practical terms this means government, parents, non-governmenease,” says Odongo. the Ministry of Health creates a budget tal organisations and donors have recogOn finance, Odongo says Kenya’s based on what the Finance Ministry nised that, although major strides have total expenditure on health as a percent- has said it will allocate for health ex- been made in education in qualitative age of Gross Domestic Product [GDP] penditures rather then submit a budget terms, there are serious shortcomings was in the region of 4.6 percent in 2006, request based on actual needs. The Min- that need to be addressed as a matter of according to the 2009 World Health istry of Health then disseminates the urgency to streamline the education sysStatistics Report. He adds that in 2006 funds it receives through the respective tem,” says Odongo.

— Andrew Odongo

By GILBERT OCHIENG

Report

Human rights

Migration

“More than 50 per cent of Kenyan physicians practice in Nairobi, which, with an estimated three million people, represents a small fraction of the country’s population. Only 1,000 physicians work in the public sector which serves majority of Kenyans.”

Kilifi community urged to borrow a leaf from freedom fighters

By YUSUF AMIN Leaders from Kilifi County have urged the community to familiarise themselves with the aspirations of freedom fighter, Mekatilili wa Menza.

Led by chairman of Kaya Godhoma Mangi Mitsanze, the leaders urged the community to recognise the efforts that Mekatilili made in her attempts to liberate the country from the yoke of colonialism.

“The burial site where the fighter Mikatilili was laid to rest can be useful to those who want to learn more about her history,” Mitsanze noted.

He urged the Kilifi community to

embrace education seriously and also get a clear picture of the importance of the area where Mikatilili was buried.

His sentiments were echoed by Fisheries Minister, Amason Kingi who urged the Coastal people to invest in education so that they can be able to know how county governments are run.

“You should elect leaders like Mekatili wa Menza who fought fearlessly for the freedom of her people without discrimination,” observed Kingi.

He said everyone needs to be involved in developing strategies on how education in Kilifi County can be improved.

Kenyans still groping in the dark Continued from page 1 has refused to die. “Despite having passed the new Constitution both our leaders and we the public have played a major role in derailing its implementation,” he observes.

“The pulling in different direction right from the President and Prime Minister to the Cabinet is greatly injuring the implementation process of the Constitution. Complicating the process further are the citizens who instead of demanding the law to be followed rally behind their leaders perpetuating tribal or community inclination,” Kitur adds.

Kitur is concerned at the pace at which the implementation of the constitution is moving. “Kenyans should shed off the mentality of fol-

lowing blindly what their perceived community leaders say. They need to measure up their (leaders) move and utterances with what the constitution say and ultimately choose to support the law and not the individual,” the officer advises.

“Greed, selfish ambition and lack of integrity is what drives most of our leaders in the post independence history,” observes a former district commissioner of both Kenyatta and Moi governments.

The former DC, who did not want his name used because he is now a leader in a certain church, had no kind words for the present political leaders.

“A civil servant in colonial days remained a civil servant. Civil servants were not supposed to involve in

any other business activities alongside their duties as that could compromise service delivery to the people,” he says.

“Kenyans are yet to enjoy the fruit of their struggle. The gap between the rich and poor continues to widen each day. If the poor in those days is still existing wobbling under the heavy load of economy and poverty then you do not to ask whether we are self governed or still under the hand of colonial master,” notes the 72 year-old ex-commissioner.

Today’s celebration brings the country so close to marking its Golden Jubilee – 50 years as an independent state in next year. Yet in the 49 years of independence, lives of those who took part in the struggle and the supposed beneficiaries remain unchanged.

ISSUE 063, June 1-15, 2012

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Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

Soldier reminisces Hiroshima war

By DAVID KIRWA At the advanced age at 107 years not many people can recall events which happened many decades back, but for a soldier who fought in the Second World War, his story is very clear and an indication of a sharp memory.

He narrates events after events as if they happened yesterday. Today few of the remaining soldiers who played an active role in the Second World War (WW11) could remember things as much as Mzee Mathews Kogo does.

Kogo recalls every event, yet many years have passed. Currently, very few elders can recall what happened in their youthful years.

Battle front

When you listen to his narrations, how he fought during WW11, it flows fluently. One is able to visualise exactly what happened in the battlefront as he recounts events as they unfolded some 67 years ago.

During an interview at his Mogoon Village in Tinderet District, Nandi County, Kogo recalls details which many people may not remember because it is not documented.

It is, however, surprising Kogo has such a sharp mind and can tell all that took place at the dark year of the Kenyan History.

To historians it’s almost impossible to find a living witness testifying about the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan at the end of World War II. He says that “the war cost thousands of lives and many more others were reduced to cripples; a historical mockery on man’s scientific inventions and war.”

Kogo explains that it was because of the little education that he got before Kenya attained its independence that enabled him to acquire a lot of experience during colonial era. He also exposed, and does not regret or feel frustrated by, the memories of the war.

Mzee Kogo says that he likes sharing his experiences and telling stories to his grandchildren.

Knowing very well that he is living in sunset years, Kogo spends most of his time watching over his livestock as they graze.

Many local villagers are amazed at his memoires and unique ways of recalling historical events. He says that man can live for long if well taken care of.

Praises

Kogo is full of praises for the colonial government, which made him receive basic education. “Though I was forced to go to school, I must admit that it later changed my way of thinking and assisted me in so many ways,” he observes.

In 1917 Kogo was dragged to Africa Inland Mission Kapsabet School (now Kapsabet Boys’ High School) where he stayed for two years without going home even for holidays.

He explains: “My late father was a church leader and he took children from destitute backgrounds to school. He helped the white missionaries who wanted Africans to acquire education by force. My father was embarrassed when local villagers questioned him why he forced other people’s children to go school and get education but he could not take one of his own.”

Mzee Kogo recalls that it was because of being embarrassed by public outrage that he was taken to school.

During those days, Kogo says, children in school were not allowed to go home for at least two years because it was feared by missionary teachers that they would not return.

He says it was the duty of missionary teachers to monitor and judge if those school going children would return before letting them go home for holidays.

Interestingly, Kogo says, he did not like the life in school, and so he did not go back when he was released for holiday.

Instead, he went into hiding in a relative’s home where he herded livestock. “My mother

saw the changes in me and was not happy. She decided to take me to a place where I hid so that neighbours who had children in school will not complain that I had remained at home.”

However, as things turned out, it was while at his relative’s home that he met a Kenyan clerk - who was working in the white settler’s farm - who took him to pick berries.

He says there were so many other young children, and the clerk, whose name he could not remember, kept records of how much berries each one of them picked.

Promotion

One day, Kogo realised that the clerk misspelled the names of many workers. He went ahead and corrected him, only to be found out

by George David, the white settler, who was surprised that he could read and write. He instantly promoted him to a clerk.

Meanwhile, Kogo became friends with George, the white settler, and in 1936 he travelled to Nairobi city with the settler, where Kogo was recruited into the King’s African Rifles.

After intensive training the following year, Kogo was posted to Mogadishu to fight Italians together with other KAR men on the side of the Germans. This was his first time fighting in a foreign country and he was afraid of war, but later on got used to the situation and fought like the other soldiers.

In 1940 Kogo was taken to Jinja, Uganda where he taught his fellow KAR army the English language to allow good communication while in the battlefield.

In 1942, he went to Mombasa where he was trained to use heavy war machinery. After six months he was taken to China, where he helped in fighting Japanese.

Fighting the Japanese army was really tough though we had powerfull machinery and could not give up easily.”

— Mzee Mathews Kogo

“Fighting the Japanese army was really tough though they had powerful machinery and could not give up easily,” he says.

Kogo’s old body trembles as he recalls how he narrowly escaped the adverse effects of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. He remembers that when the explosion occurred, they were given masks to avoid sniffing the poisoned air which could kill them.

After the war, he went to Europe to conduct a research on the causes of the war and visited Wales, Scotland and other countries where he tried to find the cause of the war and how to prevent its reoccurrence.

Family

In 1948, Kogo came back to Kenya where he married his first wife and dedicated his time as a farmer with the little money he was given after the war.

He remarks that many of his villagers to date believe his wealth comes from the fact that he was paid well after the war a notion that he disputes.

“I was given very little money and so I worked very hard after that,” he reiterates.

In 1949, Kogo was nominated by settlers to serve as a councillor of the Legislative Council where he worked hard with settlers. He served in the position well and in 1950 he was elected a councillor of Kapchekendi Ward, Kilibwoni Division, in the larger Nandi District. He served for 10 years before retiring to farming.

“My three wives are contented and all my 24 children went to school and many of them went through universities and are currently working in different parts of the country.”

Kogo says that he is a proud grandfather advising his children and the many grandchildren about life. He adds that in his community people do not count children like they count animals. “I even got the number of my children because one of my sons told me the number of my grandchildren,” He advises parents in Nandi Community to ensure children of both sexes acquire education and says he has lived for many years because he does not drink alcohol.

Women and youth insist that peace must prevail The message of peace is more relevant to the country now than since celebrating the first Madaraka Day 49 years ago.

As the country braces for the first General Elections under the new Constitution in the next few months, it is a welcome relief to hear a cross-section of women and journalists at the grassroots standing up to join civil society organisations and partners as peace ambassadors and champions in their areas of operation.

Everywhere the message is the same: never again will they allow a repeat of the 2007-2008 post-election violence that robbed them of their dignity, loved ones, property and peaceful co-existence with their neighbours.

They have also vowed to ensure that no innocent blood will be split just because of politicians, political parties and elections - which is a one day event, and life must go on thereafter.

The women and journalists’ message has been the same from Garissa in North Eastern Province to Nairobi’s Kibera slums; Kitale, Eldoret and Nakuru in Rift Valley Province to Thika and Murang’a in Central Province to Isiolo in Eastern Province where the AWC-Tu-

By Odhiambo Orlale

vuke Initiative campaign team has held workshops so far.

Indeed, it is a reality that four years down the road, the major challenges still facing the country are ethnicity, partisanship and politicization of all issues, corruption, high unemployment especially among the youth, and the unresolved land question among others.

The other time bomb is the rising tension and suspicion between communities who were directly and/or indirectly affected by the PEV, which left over 1,000 men, women and children killed and over 600,000 others displaced, raped and maimed.

But that is now behind us as a nation, and the myriad peace initiatives and campaigns being rolled out throughout the country will address and ensure that reason, and not emotions, prevail as the country prepares to hold its first General Elections under a new Constitution.

With the new laws, the country continues to face challenges, such as: interpreting the D-Day, implementation of affirmative action principles, as well as providing civic and voter education. There is every need to make sure that the Kenyan voter understands the voting process to be able to cast six ballots for the presidential;

senatorial, governorship, women’s representative, mayors (where applicable) and county representative.

Indeed, Kenyans can now stand tall as they sing the first stanza of the national anthem: “Oh God of all creation Bless this our land and nation Justice be our shield and defender May we dwell in unity

Peace and liberty

Plenty be found within our borders.”

Article 19 (1 and 2) of Chapter Four, The Bill of Rights, states as follows: “The Bill of Rights is

an integral part of Kenya’s democratic state and is the framework for social, economic and cultural policies. The purpose of recognising and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms is to preserve the dignity of the individuals and communities and to promote social justice and the realisation of the potential of all human beings.”

Several of the women and journalists who have been empowered at the recent AWC-organised workshops have volunteered to be peace champions and ambassadors in their respective homes, neighbourhoods and in the community they hail from, for the love of their country.

As Kenyans celebrate Madaraka Day, they should reflect on the words of wisdom by a Chinese sage Lao Tzu (570-490 B.C.) “If there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace in the nations. If there is to be peace in the nations, there must be peace in the cities. If there is to be peace in the cities, there must be peace between neighbours. If there is to be peace between neighbours, there must be peace in the home.

If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart.”

6

ISSUE 063, June 1-15, 2012

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

Impunity still reigns high......

As post poll sexual violence victims cry for justice

By FAITH MUIRURI Events that followed the 2007 Post Election Violence left her frail and weak. She was gang raped at the height of the violence and infected with a venereal disease. Her husband abandoned her after the rape incident and she has had to fend for her four children single-handedly. She lost her business to arsonists and almost lost the resilience to bounce back.

“It is by the grace of God that I am still alive and standing strong because I lost totally everything during the chaos. The compensation package by the Government was a mockery and was not enough to revamp my business,” she explains during the launch of the international campaign to stop rape and gender violence in conflict held at the freedom corner in Nairobi just a few days before the country marks 49 years of independence.

Nyambura was a charcoal dealer in Narok North Constituency when the violence erupted and she watched in disbelief as her stock was torched by the gang that also raped and impregnated her.

Police

Her attempts to seek refuge at the nearby police station bore no fruit.

“The police told me that you voted for PNU in support of their campaign slogan “kazi iendelee (Swahili for work continues), how are we supposed to help you,” she recalls.

Nyambura fled the area to Naivasha where she has joined a group of women to form the KIDIPA Raped Women Self Help Group.

The group has managed to buy a piece of land where they have settled with their families and mainly rely on casual jobs for survival.

Nyambura is not alone in this.

“Most people do not know the impact that rape and gender violence has on survivors in society. It leaves a lifelong effect on the individual and their community. Stigmatization and lack of support for survivors lead to further problems.”

— Lady Justice Njoki Ndung’u

Zipporah Yala also suffered a similar predicament. “On December 31, 2007, I was in my house in Baba Ndogo area of Nairobi when a gang of about 200 young men raided our residential building. “They broke into my house and hit me hard using a metal bar. They raped me and inserted the bar into my private parts and left me for the dead. When I regained consciousness, I realised I was bleeding profusely from my private parts and had to undergo a minor operation at the Kilimanjaro Nursing Home to have the metal bar removed,” Yala recalls.

Five years later

However, justice has remained elusive for the two women who suffered life altering injuries and have to solely depend on medication for their survival while their perpetrators remain at large.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) case notwithstanding, the Government has failed to prosecute cases related to the post election violence; nearly five years after the alleged crimes were committed. These women have nothing to celebrate about today. They are looking for justice from a government that is tasked to protect them.

According to a report compiled by the Directorate of Public Pros-

ecutions, there are 400 cases under active probe but investigations into more than 5,000 cases have stalled due to lack of evidence.

The government has only managed to prosecute about 500 of the reported 6,081 cases that range from murder to arson and destruction of property by political gangs.

And as the country braces itself for yet another General Election, thousands of survivors throughout the country are still crying for justice.

Majority have never received medical, psychosocial assistance or reparations for the crimes that were afflicted against them.

Speaking during the launch, the special rapporteur on the freedom of Assembly and Association, UN Human Rights Council Maina Kiai says that the culture of impunity in the country, still persists to this day and perpetrators have never been held accountable.

He says that lack of support for survivors of gender violence and the culture of impunity throughout the justice system has complicated matters for survivors.

He says that rapists who include police officers must be held accountable to avert similar incidents in the future.

The ambassador and permanent representative to UNEP and UN-

Habitat, embassy of Finland Sofie From- Emmesberger echoes similar sentiments and adds that perpetrators must be brought to justice to deter future offenders.

Speaking at the launch, Lady Justice Effie Awuor said that the post election violence paints a gloomy picture of sexual and gender violence in conflict situation.

Task force

Justice Awuor who chairs the task force on the implementation of the Sexual Offenses Act said that statistics from Nairobi women indicate that about 443 of sexual and gender based violence were attended to between January and February 2008.

“Of these, 80 percent were rape and defilement, 9 percent were physical assault, 7 percent domestic violence while 4 percent were indecent assaults, most of which were ethnically driven. She said that other cases included forced female and male genital mutilation perpetrated by neighbours, gang members and security officers,” she revealed.

She said that the task force has developed a National policy framework for implementation of the Sexual Offenses Act and recommend mechanisms for inter sectoral coordination among various implementers of the Act.

Justice Awuor said that the task force was working out modalities to develop regulations for implementation of the Act. Lady Justice Njoki Ndung’u who was the chief guest at the launch said that the campaign will require urgent and bold political leadership to prevent rape in conflict, to protect civilians and rape survivors and call for justice for all.

She lamented that data on rape was highly inaccurate due to the extreme stigma attached to survivors and the failure of reporting mechanisms.

She said that rape and gender violence is still widespread in the country especially in slum areas and requires political will to stop this problem.

As Kenyans are already engaged in elections campaign, women are expressing reservations over their security.

According to Ndung’u, the government must also set aside funds to assist survivors’ psychosocial, medical and legal needs and put in place a special police unit to address the issue.

She called on the Government to prosecute those who are responsible for perpetuating rape and gender violence while providing survivors with much needed reparations.

“Most people do not know the impact that rape and gender violence has on survivors in society. It leaves a lifelong effect on the individual and their community. Stigmatization and lack of support for survivors lead to further problems,” explained Ndung’u.

The campaign targets four countries namely Kenya, Burma, Columbia and the Democratic Republic of Congo The International Campaign to stop Rape and Gender Violence in conflict is led by the Women Peace Laureates of the Nobel Women Initiative in Ottawa, Canada.

Report cites violence triggers ahead of elections

By FAITH MUIRURI Even as efforts to reconcile communities in conflict prone areas gain momentum across the country, a new report has identified possible triggers to ethnic violence ahead of the elections.

The report cites the delineation of constituency boundaries among factors likely to trigger flare-ups and erode gains made in restoring peace in hot spot areas.

The criminal cases against the four Kenyans at the International Criminal Court (ICC) also feature in factors likely to heighten tension ahead of the elections.

Victims

“This should provide more justification for monitoring the situation, especially with respect to possible treatment of communities perceived as victims of post election violence,” adds the report.

The baseline report by the Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO) on conflict mapping and profiles of 47 counties in Kenya, points out that 80 per cent of the counties rank within the moderate to high risk of conflict areas.

Counties more prone to violence include Marsabit, Isiolo, Mandera, Wajir, Narok, Ga-

rissa, Tana River, Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Nairobi, Trans Nzoia, Migori, Nyamira, Bomet, Kiambu, Uasin Gishu, Turkana, West Pokot, Laikipia, Nakuru, Kisumu, Bungoma and Kirinyaga.

According to the report, cases of ethnic intolerance, border conflicts, political party zoning, competition over land and other resources, proliferation of small arms, weak security and poverty still rank high among factors that divide communities in clash prone areas.

Grievances

The report underscores the need to monitor areas worst hit by Post Election Violence during the pre-election period, largely due to the unsettled or unresolved deep seated grievances.

The lobby group calls on the government through the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to support warring groups to develop dispute resolution mechanisms ahead of the elections.

The lobby group further challenges the Parliamentary Budget Committee and the Commission on Revenue Allocation to ensure both the National and the County budgets are aligned to address past and present cases of ex-

clusion and marginalisation as outlined in the Constitution.

Other recommendations include putting in place necessary infrastructure to closely monitor the counties prone to election related conflicts.

The report also calls for the establishment of a national peace platform similar to the one that existed prior to the 2010 referendum under the banner of Uwiano (cohesion).

“The platform should promote advocacy efforts by the CSOs to sensitise the public on national issues that have implications on conflict factors at the local level,” explains the report.

Further, the CSOs should monitor compliance to the international, regional and local human rights and governance standards.

The report at the same time calls for concerted efforts to ensure that all political and democratic rights and governance processes during the upcoming elections are respected protected and promoted.

The report lays emphasis on the need for CSOs to participate effectively in existing District Peace Committees and advocate for the transition of these structures into County peace committees with a clear and strengthened statutory mandate of coordinating peace matters.

The report further proposes that CSOs safe-

guard the rights of women, children, youth, elderly and other marginalised groups by ensuring representation and participation of these groups in the upcoming elections.

CSOs must also ensure that IEBC, the police force, judiciary and other institutions within the criminal justice system are adequately funded to deliver their mandate.

The report recommends that communities need to acknowledge that the country does not belong to any particular ethnic group or a combination of any.

“After having bequeathed ourselves and our future generations a new constitution, it is very important that all communities respect all human rights for all persons, respect the values of the constitution, promote principles of governance and also defend and protect it,” affirms the report.

Kenyans must also condemn violence and put to task politicians who preach violence and learn to solve political and social differences amicably.

They must also start banishing impunity at local levels, especially at County levels.

All communities belong to all counties as no county was established exclusively for any particular community. Kenyans must learn to accommodate minorities within counties where they are the majority.

ISSUE 063, June 1-15, 2012

7

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

Fresh details emerge in Bagalla, Buthutha attacks

By ABJATA KHALIF Fresh details are emerging following gruesome attacks in Bagalla and Buthutha villages of Wajir West District.

The attackers feel betrayed by senior politicians, local elders, and the armed Oromo outfit that masterminded the massacre that left thousands of people dead, dozens of young girls abducted, and their herds of livestock taken across the border.

The attackers, who were mobilised a few months before the raid, were taken through cultural orientation and an elaborate oath system.

They had firm instructions to aid another group that was heavily armed to gain access to the two villages, which are rich with pasture and water and have thousands of livestock that retreat to the area due to availability of natural resources.

According to Huka Dambelo, the plan to attack the pastoralist community of Degodia in Wajir District was in the offing. Talks were everywhere within communities living in Marsabit and Moyale, but the time of the attack was only known to the elders and powerful politicians under the regime.

According to the attacker [Dambelo], the period before the attack, the Oromo Liberation Army was training in various locations in the region, including: Makutano, Ambala, Uran, Dambalafanchana, Kinisha, and areas within Sololo of the Moyale District.

Sympathy

The local community accommodated the Oromo rebels, as they were sympathetic to their mission of liberating Ethiopia from the current regime of Meles Zenawi. They also offered the local communities in Moyale and Marsabit protection from their enemies, apart from also offering the local security contracting where Oromo wage attacks on other pastoralist communities on the direction and blessing of communities living in the two districts.

“In that period when Bagalla took place, everybody was aware of the heavy presence of Oromo rebels in Uran, Kinisha, Sololo, Dambalafanchana, Ambala and Makutano areas, and even Kenyan government failed to attack them or expel them from Kenyan side of the border due to agreement between our politicians and the then government of Kenya,” explains Dambelo.

The presence of the rebels and their training activities in the respective camps prompted the Ethiopia government to issue a protest note to the Kenyan government.

A joint country delegation meeting over the matter on the Ethiopian side of the border, which was attended by then Moyale District Commissioner a Mr Kipkabut, turned chaotic after the Ethiopian delegation, led by Colonel Medina, categorically blamed local politicians in Moyale and Marsabit of harbouring the rebels, and reaching a pact with the former Kenyan administration for the Oromo armed men to remain in Kenyan territory and wage guerrilla attacks in Ethiopia, and other areas within Kenya that included Wajir and Isiolo.

Interview

An elaborate interview with one of the attackers, a Mr Dambelo, illustrates a web, and a wider conspiracy that brings insecurity apparatuses, local elders, politicians — both serving the local authorities and parliament — in the plot, as well as some local women and youths in the planning, mobilisation, aiding, and waging the attack. It left thousands of people dead, hundreds of young girls abducted and taken across the border to be forcefully married by the rebels, and 17,000 heads of livestock rustled and taken to various Oromo liberation training camps. The bulk of it was then sold in various markets including: southern Sudan, Kenya, and areas inhabited

by Oromo people in Ethiopia. The proceeds of the loot were shared, with the sponsors of the attack taking the lion’s share and the rebels

Pastoralists community waiting as their animals drink water and carry some home in Bagalla area. The attackers feel betrayed by senior politicians, local leaders and the armed Oromo outfit that they allege masterminded the massacre that left thousands of people dead. Picture: Abjata Khalif taking the remaining part.

However, it’s the sharing of the loot and the disagreement over the sharing of the young abducted girls that brought a crack within the close-knit local and Oromo outfits. The local youths denied their demand of getting some of the stolen livestock, while others demanded that they be given some of the abducted girls for marriage.

The demand irked the politicians, with a late vocal MP from the area ordering that the demanding youths be arrested. The elders accused them of going against the oath they took to conduct the raid and assist the rebels in accessing the areas without any demand, as they were undertaking a communal obligation of raiding their neighbouring nemesis in the Wajir area.

Abducted girls

Dambelo recalls: “After the raid, one armed Oromo group took herds of livestock toward Uran area and toward the border, and the other group took abducted girls toward Dambalafancahana area, and after reaching the area the Oromo armed men ordered the local youths to retreat to their villages in Marsabit and Moyale while, and that caused friction between us as our local youth commander,

who, appointed by elders and the local politician, staged protest and ordered the Oromo men to share lots and abducted girls with them. A stand-off ensued and some Oromo men fired several bullets in the air to scare us but we remained put until they overpowered us and crossed the border.’’

The local attacker further claims that the attackers sent a distress call and communication through traditional means to elders. When they reached their respective village, elders were at hand to convince them into dropping their demand but it was all in vain.

“The elders were at hand to receive us, with elders meeting that threatened us with a curse if we proceeded with our demand of asking for the loots and the abducted girls. They told us that our duty was to protect our community against the enemy. But the youths could not hear any of this and we demanded for our share, lest we refuse to participate in any such mission in future or spill the beans.”

According to Dambelo the highly charged meeting ended in a sour note, with elders summoning the local leaders and parliamentarians to solve the impasse. This also failed to work.

“I remember a second meeting was called, and local leader and parliamentarian participated to persuade us, and even went to the ex-

“In that period when Bagalla took place, everybody was aware of the heavy presence of Oromo rebels in Uran, Kinisha, Sololo, Dambalafanchana, Ambala and Makutano areas, and even Kenyan government failed to attack them or expel them from Kenyan side of the border due to agreement between our politicians and the then government of Kenya,” — Huka Dambelo

tent of offering us local girls to ward off our demand for the abducted girls, and also some cash promise to stop us from demanding the stolen livestock. We told them that we need our share of both the loots and the abducted girls, and we informed them that we will not participate in future attacks across our district border.”

Standoff

The second standoff between the youths and the local elders and parliamentarians sparked a mass arrest on the local attackers. They were taken to various police stations across Marsabit and Moyale without any charges being preferred against them. No offence was booked in the police occurrence book to justify their arrest.

The controversy surrounding the arrest of the local armed attackers caught the eye of the Kenyan parliament in 1999. When the issues was brought to the house the government denied that such arrest took place, and further denied the role of local youths in the Bagalla massacre. The government only claimed some elements of the Oromo Liberation Front participated in the raids, and only a few hundred people were killed.

However, Dambelo asserts that there were mass arrests following disagreement between the leaders and the youths, and that they were warned in the police stations to stop disturbing local elders and community with unnecessary demands that might spark violence in the area. ‘’There were massive arrests, and all youths who participated were taken to various police posts and station in Moyale and Marsabit, and we were warned to stop disturbing the respected elders and the local communities. Some police officers warned us with dire consequences if we continue with our demands. One police officer told me, and our local youth commander, if we have missed girls from our locality, and what good things are in the abducted girls and not the local girls?”

8

ISSUE 063, June 1-15, 2012

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

Youth dominate curio shops in Malindi

By ROBERT NYAGAH Youth in Malindi are quickly taking charge of curio trade and replacing enterprises previously dominated by the old guard. Majority are now actively involved in curio trade, previously a domain for the older male adults in the community.

This is a major shift from tradition where young people have been on the spotlight for generating income through anti-social activities leading among them to commercial sex work and drug trafficking.

The Reject caught up with Irene Njeri Gitau at her stall inside the Malindi Tourist Market which is often patronised by tourists eager to buy African curios among other items.

Njeri, engages a wide smile as she arranges her curio items and decorated baskets at her stall inside the now not too busy market in Kilifi County.

Although Malindi is presently experiencing a general a decreased turnout of guests in the wake of the start of the low tourist season which starts in April and ends in mid July every year, Njeri, exudes great confidence as she removes dust from various items and arranges them neatly in the shelves.

Disappointment

Many stalls in her neighbourhood are closed with owners disappointed that tourists have not been flowing to the market. However, Njeri has decided not to close her stall just in case she gets the surprise customer.

“Instead of being idle and wasting time at home, I have decided I should just come and rearrange the items to make the stall neat,” Njeri explains as she removes dust from her sparkling white pair of long trousers.

“I must confess things have been fine for me here in Malindi both social and in the business arena because my earnings have been generally adequate to satisfy all my basics needs,” she observes.

Njeri, 30 and a mother of two studied for a business certificate course immediately after she completed her secondary school. The knowledge and skills she gained at college encouraged her to start the business in 2003, two years after Form Four examinations.

After college she briefly did freelance marketing for a leading company in Kenya, a job that enabled her save some money to start the curio business with a capital of KSh50,000.

Today she boasts of a turnover of about KSh250,000.

Njeri is happy that as a woman she is able to operate in a free and fair business atmosphere and earn her profits based on hard work and being aggressive in marketing.

“Business here depends on the traders’ quality of stock and marketing and I am happy that sometimes the sales I make are good and that I operate in a good environment where competition is fair and the relationship between traders and the authorities in good,” she explains.

Equality

Given that Malindi depends on tourists, Njeri has been able to learn basic Italian and German to enable her communicate effectively.

Njeri’s son is in a boarding school and she is able to comfortably pay school fees and meet all her family’s basic needs without feeling stressed about life generally.

“I am able to the rent for my house and stall and sometimes afford some entertainment for my children, although I do not overwhelm myself with entertainment.”

Njeri is happy that she is able to undertake business in a tourism oriented town where peace is always paramount and has never been lost. “I thank God and the government that Malindi has always been an island of peace even when tribal clashes hit other areas, Malindi remained peaceful and that helped the tourism industry to recover and prosper.”

She appreciate doing business in Kenya at the age of 30 just when the country has gained a new and good constitution whose proper and good implementation will mean that the op-

Irene Njeri displaying her products at her stall inside the Malindi Tourist Market .The market is often patronised by tourists eager to buy African curios among other items.

Most businesses have however closed down due to the low turnout of tourists. Pictures: Robert Nyagah portunities for her and other Kenyans to prosper are there.

She says that if one pursuing the positive attributes of Malindi, one can grow socially and in business mainly because Malindi people are positively social and friendly and the fact that tourism is the pillar of the town’s economy makes the area friendly to both local and international personalities.

This widens the opportunity to make good contacts across the board.

Appreciate

Njeri notes that unlike many other towns in Kenya, Malindi has a good road network, adequate and reliable water as well as electricity supply all of which make the town good and perhaps even addictive.

She confesses that as Kenya celebrates 49 years of independence she appreciates the fact that she stays in a town where movement is not curtailed while security and health facilities are easily accessible.

“I would wish to permanently stay in Malindi and through my earning in tourism I intend to acquire my own land and build a home in the very near future...the prospects for a better tomorrow are clear to me and I cannot abandon Malindi.”

Njeri explains that the best thing to have happened during her prime age was the promulgation of the constitution and the assurance that it will be implemented in her life time God willing.

“I am aware of the rights of women at various levels of governance and I am excited that women of Kenya have a good future where their rights will not be ignored or downtrodden as it used to happen in the past when they were treated like second citizens of this country.”

The Malindi Tourist Market has more than

“I am aware of the rights of women at various levels of governance and I am excited that women of Kenya have a good future where their rights will not be ignored or downtrodden as it used to happen in the past when they were treated like second hand citizens of this country.”

700 stalls and according to Njeri, the stalls are still dominated by men and elderly people.

However, she sees a future where young men and women will take over business and improve the infrastructure and other areas of the market to make it more attractive to customers who are mainly tourists.

“I am sure that in future this market will be pre-planned by young people who are slowly taking over the country’s economic sector,” notes Njeri.

Listening to Njeri, one is exposed to a young person who is looking ahead and truly hoping for a great future as a business lady and a family person. “I would like all Kenyans and especially young people taking the challenges of life without giving up or expecting too much from their parents and the Government.”

According to Njeri, the Government should be lauded for creating a conducive environment for progress at school and in the commercial sector and nobody should lament that things are so bad. At the end of the interview the smile of hope, confidence and joy is left on her face and one can tell that she is proud to be a Kenyan.

ISSUE 063, June 1-15, 2012

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

9

Man who broke served Mau Mau rebels with fire arms

By Gilbert Ochieng Forty nine years after Kenya attained her independence from the yoke of colonialists, a former street urchin recalls how, in the company of his colleagues would break into the armory at Industrial Area Remand Home, then the main prison and arms depot during the colonial era to supply the Mau Mau fighters with fire-arms and food ration.

Read on; Lester Owino, alias professor, 83, a former street urchin who hails from Namwitsula village, Marachi West location, Butula district in Busia County is considering himself as one of the forgotten Mau Mau heroes, dead or alive, who fought relentlessly for the liberation of Kenyans from the cruel hands of the colonial regime.

“As street children, we suffered a great deal. The colonial soldiers who used to patrol the streets of Nairobi, especially in Ngara estate which was our base would whip us on sight and at times unleash their dogs if we attempted to escape,” says Owino.

He adds: “The colonial government never wanted us to wear shoes, trousers or any other decent clothing.

Women were forced to wear frocks [khaki stackpots]. They did not even want us to move closer to their posh residential homes and would in most occasions beat us up when caught.”

So in 1945, Owino and his colleagues decided “enough was enough”.

They had grown tired of persistent harassment by the colonial regime. Owino invented a catapult which they would use as a weapon to defend themselves.

“Between 1946 and 1947, we declared a war we dubbed “Muhure Kiongo” a Kikuyu term meaning “hit the head”. We would engage them in a hide and seek battle akin to the guerilla war considering that most parts of Nairobi were by then bushy, a conducive environment that enabled us to hit the white men with our only defensive weapon, a catapult using rounded metal bolts we made from used car batteries instead of stones, gorging out their eyes,” says Owino.

The former street child, who was the mastermind of the group of street

children, further says the irate white men retaliated by chasing them on horseback, shooting the unfortunate ones dead, with majority of them managing to escape into the bush.

“It was survival for the fittest. Whoever was not swift enough would bear the brunt of the merciless brutes” says Owino.

Lester and his colleagues were however determined to continue tackling the ruthless white men through every means at their disposal.

And in 1948, when the late founding President Jomo Kenyatta as the chairman of Kenya African Union party went to Kaloleni Social Hall to address a public gathering as the war against the colonial regime gathered

momentum and told people to join the Mau Mau movement and fight vehemently, “we willingly volunteered to fight the enemy considering that we had suffered most” “Our duty was to go to Industrial Area police depot and break into the armory and steal fire-arms and food rations. We had the master key so we could sneak into the armory in the wee hours of the night ensuring nobody has spotted us, pick the firearms and food rations and leave hurriedly,” explains Lester.

However, not all the white men were harsh to the Africans. A few of them proved so helpful.

“Three white men assisted us a great deal in our liberation struggle against

“Our duty was to go to Industrial Area police depot and break into the armory and steal fire-arms and food rations. We had the master key so we could sneak into the armory in the wee hours of the night ensuring nobody has spotted us, pick the firearms and food rations and leave hurriedly.”

— Lester Owino

Families displaced by raging floods

By JANE MUGAMBI About 20 families are currently homeless, having been displaced by floods following a heavy down pour that has been witnessed in Kirinyaga County.

The families fled their homes recently after their houses were submerged and property worth thousands of shillings destroyed at Gatuiri village in Mwea West Division.

Among the property swept away by floods were toilets, clothes, utensils and crops.

They were woken up by floods which submerged their houses and left the area for safety immediately.

A victim, James Muriuki, said he and his family escaped death by a whisker when they were woken up by the water, which was in their house, when their beds were soaked.

Muriuki claimed that they almost drowned when the floods hit the village at midnight, terming their escape as lucky. “It is through God’s luck that my family was able to escape from the floods immedi-

ately the houses started being swept away,” Muriuki said.

Good samaritan

The victims are now being accommodated by good Samaritans who rescued them while others are spending their night in the cold. Another victim, Susan Wanjiku said she and other family members lost everything to the floods.

They are now appealing to well wishers and the Red Cross to donate clothes, food and other necessities. They are also appealing for assistance to be able to construct new dwelling places.

Area assistant Chief Justus Wanjohi

“It has destroyed bridges, crops and killed three people among them two girls aged two years.”

— Justus Wanjohi

said the situation is bad and the victims needed to be assisted. He said the families require food, clothes and drugs urgently for them to survive.

Wanjohi warned of a possible outbreak of diseases because of poor sanitation. “The toilets in the village were completely destroyed by rain storms and there could be an outbreak of diseases if urgent measures are not taken,” he said.

Wanjohi advised the residents, especially those living in flat areas of Mwea plains, to be alert and move to higher grounds to avoid being drowned. The heavy rains have wreaked havoc in the area.

“It has destroyed bridges, crops and killed three people - among them two girls, aged two years,” noted Wanjohi.

One of the victims, aged 30 years, drowned at Marurumo village as he was crossing the flooded Nyamindi River. His body is yet to be retrieved.

This comes barely a week after the area MP, Peter Gitau, urged those that had settled along River Thiba’s bank to vacate from the water way.

the colonial regime. One of them was an Indian known as Assanandis whereas the other two white men were known as Pio Gama Pinto and William Meyer,” says Owino, adding that the three Good Samaritans in most occasions offered their lorries that we used to transport the fire-arms and food rations to the Mau Mau fighters who were operating from the Aberdare and Mount Kenya forests.

Owino further says the people of Kiambu Lester Owino showing how they used were not affected durto terrorize the colonialists during his ing the colonial regime childhood. Pictures: Gilbert Ochieng as most of them had accepted to use the British rested and detained at Kapenguria by passes because majority of them were the colonial soldiers in 1952. employed by them, adding that the “Our effort to continue fighting the areas that were seriously affected dur- colonial regime was thwarted when ing the colonial regime were Nyeri, the founding father of the nation the Murang’a. Kirinyaga and Thompson late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta who had Falls because the natives had rejected been our only source of inspiration the British passes. was unfortunately arrested by the coHowever, the former street urchin lonial soldiers. So we had no option says their determination to continue but to give up the fight,” says Owino, fighting the colonial regime was cut adding that he is extremely glad that short when the founding father of the Kenya finally became an independent Nation the late Jomo Kenyatta was ar- nation.

Kilifi County lags behind in education

By YUSUF AMIN The Kenya Primary School Headteacher Association (KEPSHA), Kilifi Chapter has launched its strategic plan. The plan was launched at an occasion presided over by Coast Provincial Director Tom Majani at Kibarani School for the Deaf recently.

Majani said the county might be forced to employ professionals from other counties due to lack of educated people from the county.

“It will be sad to see many jobs created by the county governments being taken by people from other counties while youth the county remains jobless,” Majani lamented.

He advised leaders and parents to hold regular meetings with teachers and other stakeholders in order to plan how to scale-up the academic performance in the local schools.

Unison

As school managers, the PDE urged head teachers to work in unison with other teachers and subordinates for the common goal of uplifting the education standards in the county.

“You should set standards for your schools and make sure you meet the target,” reiterated Majani. He advised school heads to work against time so as to “make sure that the strategic plan is implemented or else other counties will copy and use it in their areas”.

“Teachers should liaise with other stakeholders so that everyone in the community gets a share in the promotion of education,” urged Majani.

He cautioned leaders and teachers against divisiveness which he said had further resulted into low education standards in the area.

However, Kilifi KEPSHA secretary, Joseph Tembo Mwangome said most political leaders have not been supportive despite requests by school committees.

“Many schools are in a sorry state and lacked class rooms and other infrastructural materials,” Mwangome said.

He said most schools are overcrowded and asked leaders and the government to formulate ways of improving the infrastructure to cater for the ever rising number of students.

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ISSUE 063, June 1-15, 2012

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

New guidelines promotes adoption of GMOs

By DAVID KIARIE As the debate on the safety of genetically modified food continues, the Ministry of Higher Education Science and Technology (MOHEST) has launched a national guideline to ensure proper application of biotechnology.

The National Bio-safety Strategic Plan 2011-2015 will give the players in the sector a guideline on transfer, handling and usage of the technology to ensure human and animal health, and the safety of the environment.

“The government acknowledges the need to ensure technologies are appropriately applied. The safety of the people and conservation of the already fragile environment are key considerations as scientists and other stakeholders explore the ways to exploit the benefits that genetically modified technology presents,” said the minister for MOHEST Prof.

Margaret Kamar, who spoke during the launch of the National Bio-safety Authority Strategic Plan and Service Charter in Nairobi.

Benefits

Kamar said although the subject on modern biotechnology and its application, particularly in agriculture continues to dominate public discussions nationally, in the African region, and even globally, there is a general consensus that its use in agriculture presents enormous potential benefits to the farming communities.

“This is indeed a beacon of hope to our agricultural sector, which is the backbone of our country and most economies throughout the country,” the minister said.

The five-year strategic plan is in line with Kenya’s development blue print of Vision 2030, which acknowledges enhanced agricultural productivity and industrial development will be key contributors to improvement of the economy.

The blue print further addresses

the issue of environment conservation, assurance of the right of Kenyans and promotion of science, technology and innovative initiatives.

The government has managed to develop a functional bio-safety regulatory framework through enactment of the Bio-safety Act 2009, which established the National Bio-Safety Authority (NBA) as an administrative mechanism. The Act guides the development and publishing of the bio-safety implementing regulations.

Kamar said the adoption of modern biotechnology in Kenya would help in maximising agricultural and industrial productivity, protection of the environment, conserving biodiversity and improving the quality of human welfare.

Biosafety

She said that Kenya needs to effectively implement her legal and regulatory framework to ensure biosafety.

“The necessary capacity must be put in place to ensure that the appropriate safety measures are taken into account at development, commercialization and trading of all technology related products,” said Kamar.

She said as a way of supporting the biosafety activities in the country it is important to have an effective knowledge creation and management system, and announced that her ministry would soon establish a centre of excellence on biosafety at one of the public universities in the country.

The system, she said, would also help in guiding the collection, processing and dissemination of relevant information on all the activities, their

Dr. Edwardina Ndine addressing journalists on the importance of embracing technology. Kenyans have has been receiving contradicting stories from politicians opposing biotechnology products like GMO food. Picture: Carolyne Oyugi likely consequences and possible management procedures and protocols.

Kamar further stressed the need to mount timely tracking of the development and implementation of various GM programmes and initiatives in the country and beyond. They are needed as a way of monitoring the national progress and keeping informed on current and emerging bio-safety issues.

“We can solve most of our problems by embracing the new technologies that have been designed to alleviate poverty and hunger in Kenya,” — Dr. Edwardina Ndine

New fish breeding project unveiled

By CAROLINE WANGECHI The Ministry of Fisheries Development has established an ambitious programme to train fish farmers on how to breed fish with the aim of improving quality of meat and ensure constant supply of fish in the local and international market.

The programme will train 150 farmers drawn from across the country in the 160 constituencies where the government has established 200 fish ponds in each constituency through the economic stimulus programme.

The farmers are currently undergoing training at the National Aquaculture Research Development and Training Centre in Sagana Kirinyaga County. Speaking during the official opening of the training, Fisheries Permanent Secretary Prof Micheni Ntiba said the project intends to train farmers in the breeding.

“When fish are mixed in a pond the male spend most of their time reproducing while the female spend most of the time laying eggs and protecting the young ones hence affecting their growth and quality of meat,” explained Ntiba.

He noted that the programme aims at training farmers in the production of male fingerlings and rear them separately in a pond to ensure that they pack meat properly hence boost quality of meat as well as fetch better income for the farmers.

They will then be mandated to produce certified male fingerlings in their respective localities and supply them to other farmers locally.

“Production of certified seed should be enforced by the government so as not to frustrate farmers,” Ntiba reiterated.

He noted that the ministry will also maintain a brood stock of female fish to produce eggs for reproduction purposes. The permanent secretary noted that many countries that have achieved medium income status in the world have relied on fish to drive their economies.

However, he called on all the stakeholders in the fish industry to partner with his ministry to ensure that they create awareness about fish across the country. In the last three years Kenya has made tremendous progress in the production of fish and stands at number four in Africa. “We are geared to become number one soon,” observed Ntiba.

She said the launch of the national bio-safety authority Strategic Plan and Service Charter is a message to Kenyans that the authority is ready to deliver services to them in a professionally responsible and transparent manner.

Kenya is among the 160 countries that support Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety that was adopted in the year 2000. The protocol is a supplement of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity signed in 1992.

Trials

Although no genetically modified crops have been commercialized in Kenya, cotton, cassava, maize and sweet potatoes are under confined trials. In addition, sorghum is under contained greenhouse trials.

“The National Bio-safety Authority has approved transit and importation of genetically modified food,” said Willy Tonui, NBA chief executive officer.

He noted: “The authority’s mandate includes regulation of all activities involving genetically modified organisms in food, feed, research, industry, trade and environmental release.”

Senior Science secretary in the Ministry of higher education science and technology Dr. Edwardina Ndine also encouraged the media to reportfrequently and accurately about biotechnology.

“We can solve most of our problems by embracing the new technologies that have been designed to aleviate poverty and hunger in Kenya,”she said.

Government receives funds for fish research

By CAROLINE WANGECHI The Kenya government has received money through the Ministry of Fisheries Research from the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA).

According to the programme coordinator, Jean Ndikumana, the money will be used for research on fish farming in three countries: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. “The money will be used by scientists to help improve the fish breeds that are in the aqua training schools,” he noted.

According to the Fisheries Permanent Secretary, Prof. Micheni Ntiba, more is needed for projects. He adds that lack of knowledge by farmers was hampering the growth of the farming.

Knowledge

“With the KSh2.4 million that ASARECA has given the ministry for research, we expect farmers to get knowledge on fish farming to increase the production,” noted Ntiba.

The money is set for the first phase, which will last for two years. He adds that, if the project is successful, there will be a second phase that will run for two more years, where farmers are involved.

Ntiba added that the project will incorporate the private sector to undertake capacity building and also to make sure that the demand for feeds and fingerings is met. He adds that the government has not been able to satisfy the market, which is very big.

Director of Marine Kazungu noted that the marine institute is leading in the process of research where they are going to formulate quality feeds production. “We will also make sure that the required quantities are availed without failure to make sure that farmers do not incur losses,” observed Kazungu.

On cooling plants, the government has put up four facilities in Rongo in Migori, Imenti South in Meru, Tetu in Nyeri, which is ongoing. In Kakamega a programme to preserve the fish for a longer time is ongoing since most get bad very fast, resulting in losses to farmers.

The project will reduce fishing on the oceans, lakes and rivers, but will enhance food security, create employment and wealth, and enhance healthy living for many Kenyans.

Through the KSh6 billion project, tilapia and cat fish fingerings are expected to increase from 50 million fingerings to 100 million fingerings, increasing the metric tonnes to 200,000 in the long term from 30,000 metric.

ISSUE 063, June 1-15, 2012

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

Farmers set to benefit from a dairy cooling plant

Government challenged to increase funding for agriculture

By CATHERINE WAHOME Most dairy farmers in the country, especially in the rural areas, find it advisable and profitable to form cooperative societies for easy marketing of their products.

Formed just a year after the country gained independence, Watuka Farmers Co-operative Society is situated in Watuka sub-location, Kieni West District, Central Province.

It was formed a year after independence, when a group of members came out with the same interest of marketing their raw milk collectively.

By so doing, the cost of collection and transportation was minimized.

In the same year, the society was registered under co-operative society number 1071, and it immediately started its operations. Though it started with only 50 members, it has since grown in number.

Initially the farmers tirelessly supported the Sacco through delivery of raw milk which was the sold to the Kenya Co-operative Creameries (KCC).

Main source

Though the milk was paid at a rate between 20 to 30 cents, it became the main source of income in the area, apart from a few who practiced horticultural farming.

The society was mainly a preserve for old men since no woman were allowed to own any property then, and young men by then did not own any cattle or sheep.

Despite the fact that members benefitted from the milk sales, the society still faced a lot of challenges. Sometimes it lost the confidence from its members, especially after the collapse of KCC and liberalization era.

Horticulture

According to Joseph Nduhiu Muthui, a manager with the society, KCC did not pay for the raw milk to a tune of KSh4.2 million.

“This seriously crippled the society whereby many members turned to horticulture farming,” Nduhiu notes.

The society had to introduce extra services to members in order to

11

By AYOKI ONYANGO

restore confidence. Some of these services included; giving advances to members, stores for resale, Artificial Insemination [AI], and linking members to access loans from Taifa Sacco.

During the liberalization era the society witnessed the worst challenges. Other competitors invaded the society’s whole area of operation, buying milk from members at prices higher than what the society could afford. Several of the society’s members started selling raw milk to the new comers because of their hiked prices.

Due to these shortcomings, six co-operative societies, which include: Watuka, Endarasha, Gataragwa, Lamuria, Mweiga and Thuruthuru, joined together to put up Kieni Dairy Products Limited (KDP) to act as their marketer. Since February 2010, Watuka has been delivering its milk here for KDP to market.

Fight

According Thuita, who is in his 30th year in the society as the chairman, “things have not been that easy for us, but we had to fight and make sure we give our members the best we can. Most of the people who defected from the society are now trying to come back to their roots since the society is slowly transforming to an industry.”

He adds that the society has 690 registered members, with only 400 members being active. There are 458 males, 201 female and 31 youth.

He is calling upon more young people to join the sector, stating that

one cannot compare horticulture farming with dairy farming.

“You may have planted a lot of onions or carrots and cabbages and when rainfall fails, your crops will also fail but in dairy farming, milk production will still go on and there are no brokers Members of Watuka Farmers Coin the society,” he oboperative Society(WFCS),during a serves. tarining.Joseph Thuita, the societys The cooling plant has assisted farmers chairman with a JICA staff launching in keeping their milk the cooling plant. The cooling machine fresh. Though the has improved milk storage in Kieni West place is situated in the District.

Aberdare Ranges, and Pictures: Catherine Wahome one of the coolest places in the district, with the adverse change of Nduhiu notes that the Kenya Buclimate milk used to go dab most of reau officials have visited the society the time, due to a lot of heat. twice, and the process of getting cerThe society is currently collect- tified might be through soon. ing 3,700 kilos of milk per day. The Watuka Farmers Co-operative highest production noted last year Society, is the only one in the whole was between June and December; of Kieni West district to have such at an average of 4,8000 kilos per day. machines.

Kenya can only produce sufficient food if agriculture receives adequate funding and adopts policies that encourage efficient and effective use of available innovations and services from the agricultural institutions.

According to the director of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Dr Ephraim Mukisira there is need to encourage farmers to adopt to new technologies and innovations to help boost production.

Mukisira said Kenya has already embraced “green revolution” and developed varieties of crops, like rice and maize, which require little rainfall.

“Such innovation can save Kenya and other African countries from the increasing dependency on imported crops,” he explained during the second World Congress of Agroforest workshop in Nairobi.

Mukisira said similar progress has been noted in soya beans and pasture crops of fodders, like Napier-grass.

According to Dr. Paul Gichuhi, an agricultural researcher from KARI, the Government needs to take the issue of sustainable funding and full modernization of gene banks seriously in this era of biodiversity conservation.

Kenya passed a bio-safety law, which paved the way for commercialization of genetically modified products.

The severe famine in Kenya and other African countries has underscored the need to re-examine research institutions that deal with agriculture, forestry, environment, wildlife and fisheries, including their achievements and challenges.

There is also need to examine the environment in which such institutions operate on global, regional and national levels.

“African heads of state who met in Libya in 2009 urged governments in this region to allocate at least 10 per cent of their budgets to agriculture as the most important sector,” noted Dr Daniel Nyamai, a lead researcher with the Kenyan Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI).

He said Kenya should direct its efforts towards utilisation of products and services available in national research institutions that deal with various aspects of food and cash crops production, livestock, agro forestry and forestry.

Money disbursed for farmers to invest in agriculture

By KARIUKI MWANGI The government has disbursed an additional KSh2 billion to the Agricultural Finance Corporation so as to ensure that there is enough money for farmers to borrow and invest more in agriculture.

Agriculture minister, Dr Sally Kosgey said the funding aims at increasing agricultural output and alleviating hunger.

The minister said that farmers now need to start taking up loans with the agricultural finance corporation, since the interest rate is as low as 10 per cent in comparison to other financial institutions, which lend money at 30 per cent interest rate.

Speaking in Chogoria, Tharaka Nithi County during the official opening of Agricultural Finance Corporation offices in the area, Kosgey said

that they have opened an additional six branches in the country so as to bring corporation services closer to the farmers.

“We have opened six new branches of AFC to bring the branches to 42, and we will continue until we reach to all the 47 counties of the country,” she said, adding that the new AFC has improved services to benefit the farmers.

Kosgey said that the ministry has increased the allocation of the various AFC branches in the country to a tune of KSh100 million per branch as compared to KSh17 million previously, saying that with such an allocation more farmers will borrow more money. “Our aim is to reach a customer clientele of 150,000 by next year, so as to boost the food security and help in the reduction of poverty levels

in the country,” explained Kosgey, adding that agriculture is a major contributor to the realization of Vision 2030.

The minister pointed out that the corporation has also introduced a new loan sector — stawisha loan — which will benefit the women and the youths who are interested in the loans for farming, but do not have collaterals.

“Most of the youths and women are unable to secure loans from institutions due to lack of collaterals, such as log books and title deeds, and this loan will give them an opportunity to acquire loans for their agricultural development,” Kosgey noted.

She said her ministry is waiting for more funding from the Treasury for the purchase of top dressing fertilizers, which will be disbursed to the farmers at a subsidized cost and en-

Fisheries Permanent secretary Japheth Ntiba addressing the media at Sagana Aquaculture training school in Kirinyaga County with Kenya Marine, fisheries research Institute director Johnston Kazungu and far right is Dr Harrison Charo. Picture: Kariuki Mwangi sure good productivity.

The minister also called upon the farmers in the area that receives minimal rainfall distribution to fo-

cus more on sorghum, millet cassava and other crops that can survive with little rain, thus complimenting the maize produced in other areas.

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ISSUE 063, June 1-15, 2012

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

A Century plus 30, granny recalls the good old days take her away to his home and they were free to have as many children as they wished. Men were only allowed to marry two wives.

According to Nkoroi, when a woman gave birth, a goat was slaughtered in her honour by the husband as a sign of appreciation.

On very rare occasions did the families then slaughter cows, but they used to feed off fresh blood of the animals and just in case one of the cows died, regardless of what had caused death, the clan was invited to share the meat.

It was a golden past; they never used sufurias but clay pots. Their meals were freshly indigenous and comprised of black beans, millet, yams, grinded porridge, bananas, cowpeas, arrowroots and fresh cow blood.

Nkoroi affirms that this is the source of her strength because apart from maize, which has added to her recipe, she has stuck to those types of food and for this reason she rarely falls ill.

Before the coming of the whites, their hygiene was maintained by water only. Cow fat was their treasured body lotion, after it was thoroughly shaken in a gourd. Any excess would be taken to the market for exchange with other goodies that were not available in the home.

Barter trade was their main form of trade.

Gakoromone, Muthaara, Kunati, Mikinduri and Kathama were the main markets, and they dealt with various commodities.

Entertainment was their way of bringing the community together; they sang Nkiro songs and young men from separate clans wrestled in contests which were used to promote peace and integration among the Meru.

By MARTIN MURITHI She was circumcised between 1900 and 1910 during the famous drought known as ‘Kiaramu’ and recalls very little about major historical events such as Mau Mau War. However, she has an archive of historic events of the Meru Tradition in her mind.

It is on a hot Wednesday afternoon and a motor bike ride is the ultimate transport option for us. As we ride from Mikinduri Market we negotiate several bends then take on a foot path that leads us to the homestead of Nkoroi M’Ikunyua, a woman who has survived to tell legends of the yester years.

It is here in Mayowe Village of Anjuki location in Tigania East District where she was born in the late 1880s, but she can’t really recall the exact year. All she confirms is that she is older than the first President of Kenya Jomo Kenyatta.

This fact I confirmed from the elders after she disclosed her age set, which is ‘Michubu Nkuru’. All generations in the Meru Community are classified in age sets, each running 30 years.

She has survived to see four age sets, and tells the story as if it were yesterday.

Nkoroi was born in a family of four, among them two girls and two boys of the late M’Ikunyua Kiramunya. All her brothers and sisters died several years back.

Her children

She had a family with two children who she says died at tender ages, but sarcastically I inquire and I am informed that her younger son died in 1997 at the age of 63.

“Like every community, life begins at conception, tradition was not forbidden and discipline was a must in the family. A young girl was not supposed to get pregnant when at her father’s house,” are the words of wisdom that come from her.

“If this happened young men of her age set would take her to the riverbed and squeeze the little foetus out before it was old enough to be seen by parents. The girl could then be washed clean to avoid her being an outcast in the community.”

In times of courtship, Nkoroi recalls, a man was not allowed to visit the girl’s home during the day. Sex was not forbidden as long as she never became pregnant. The young girl had the obligation of serving her boyfriend with food and no one else could have done so.

“When a young man visited the family of the girl he intended to marry, he would be escorted by others of his age set and on reaching at the gates they would madly scream to alert the women and parents who then took off leaving the homestead under the care of the young man,” says Nkoroi.

After spending at least three nights the young man, after making the decision to marry, would organise for his loved one to be circumcised.

Circumcisers, whether of men or women, were not paid any money but were instead given grinded porridge.

After the girl healed the young man would

Burial

“In case of death of a family member, there would be no burial. However, the woman who was bereaved would carry the corpse and throw it into the forest to be eaten by hyenas,” notes Nkoroi.

A striking belief those days is that if one had indulged in sorcery acts, the hyenas never ate his body. “If this happened a witchdoctor would be called to cleanse the body and by six in the evening you could come across the hyenas wooing around searching for the body. The following day you could not trace even a bone,” she explains.

Tales never ended and a woman who had handled the body needed cleansing as well. Unless this was done she was not allowed to indulge in any community activities or even fetch water from the river with other women. “She could not even cross the road when cows were crossing. It was a norm,” affirms Nkoroi.

The woman would be cleansed by having sex

130 year old Nkoroi M’Ikunyua being helped by Beretina Kobia to a tree shade.

Despite her old age,the old granny remembers details of events that happened more than a century ago. Pictures: Martin Murithi with outcasts of a clan or family called ‘Mwenji’.

Animal skin played an essential role in the community those days. Thinned skins were used to wrap new born babies and were also used as sanitary towels for women who experienced their menses.

“The skins used for holding menses were never washed in water. We used to apply fat and then dry them in the sun. We could not wash them because we believed it would bring a misfortune to the family,” she ascertains.

Husbands normally swapped wives where one could sleep with his friend’s wife once he visited the home with plenty of yams. The husband would leave the home in disguise that the wife’s ‘Bankiro’ had come home.

Granny Nkoroi cannot recall when education was introduced in the community but claims her younger brother, M’Nchebere M’Ikunyua, was the first to attend a missionary school.

Duties

Before then, she says, young children spent their days in the open fields grazing. Women were staying at home tending the farms, whereas elder men spent most of their time seated in the jury house (currently known as Njuri Ncheke

“If this happened young men of her age set would take her to the riverbed and squeeze the little fetus out before it was old enough to be seen by parents. The girl could then be washed clean to avoid her being an outcast in the community.”

Executive Director: Rosemary Okello

Editor: Jane Godia

Shrine) chatting and listening to cases.

Nkoroi says the current generation has trampled upon the good old days of the past and perverted the traditions of the community due to education.

However, she urges young people to intellectually dedicate themselves to it because it is the only way to survive, and the world is generally competitive.

“In our days we used to do things wholly dedicated and used to give our all into whatever we did, likewise, young people who have many more years to live need to dedicate their whole energy into what they are doing to earn their living. Life is difficult and you can only make it if you are tough,” advises Nkoroi.

Surviving all these years in a lonely house is not possible but due to a good neighbour, Beretina Kobia, Nkoroi has had to share all the joys and pleasures of the world and she may be the next oldest woman living in Kenya.

Kobia undertakes all the responsibilities, including bathing her, feeding and maintaining her general welfare — a task which very few can undertake, even if it were for their own parents.

“It only takes a great heart and dedication to care for Nkoroi, there are ups and downs but I have made her feel she really belongs to this world all these years. She has made me learn a lot and would not desire to depart from her when she has not educated me more,” says Kobia.

She adds. “Nkoroi has helped moulds many people’s character and her advice has changed many especially the youth who have indulged into drug abuse and other vices.”

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Contributors: Robert Wanjala, Morris Mugambi, Robby Ngojhi, Mnyazi Joe, Gilbert Ochieng, David Kirwa, Odhiambo Orlale, Faith Muiruri, Abjata Khalif, Robert Nyagah, Jane Mugambi, Yusuf Amin, David Kiarie, Caroline Wangechi, Catherine Wahome, Kariuki Mwangi and Martin Murithi.

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