Reject Online Issue 23

August 16-31, 2010

ISSUE 023

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

Where there has never been an A Narok reels under redundant cultural practices, animal human conflict and far flung schools

By KIPKOECH KOSONEI Medicine, piloting, engineering, law, architecture, land economics, survey, information technology and computer science among others are some of the lucrative courses that make students burn the midnight oil.

Reason for this being that for one to get admission, to public university and make a career out of the above courses they will have to work hard. They also must be very bright. It is said among those doing medicine, for instance, that you cannot afford to fail because in the medical field you cannot afford to make mistakes as these then become too costly.

That is why when students score A, the ecstasy that follows is usually of immeasurable levels. The competition has seen many districts attracting demand because they have the ability to churn out A students. Therefore, while many districts have been churning out students who go for high scoring mark courses, others have never felt the joy that comes with getting such students on their score board.

Narok is one such district. It has been basking in the limelight lately for all the wrong reasons from deadly droughts and fatal floods to the infamous double arms cache find. However, the district has failed to make a name for itself in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary (KCSE) examinations performance.

One of the longest standing, yet little

discussed of Narok’s eyesore is the dismal educational performance.

Year after year, the spotlight turns on districts and schools which have perennially performed poorly and what remedies they are putting in place to improve themselves. And Narok fits the bill squarely.

Even as the rest of the country celebrates during these festive seasons, Narok has little cheer.

Exam performance There has not been a single mean grade A in KCSE in the history of the district. This year only 11 students in Narok North and 10 in Narok South qualified to join public universities. And this was indeed an increase from the paltry seven students who joined public universities from Narok North in 2008. The giant Narok High School which registered over 200 KCSE candidates last year had only one scoring B plus.

The school’s new principal, Mr Karoki Ng’ethe has promised to improve the situation. “We have started rolling up our sleeves and shall not rest until we post better results,” says Ng’ethe who was posted from the high flying Kabianga High School late last year.

The performance in Narok is in sharp contrast to the surrounding districts which perennially post much better results. Many schools in the neighbouring Bomet, Naivasha, Nakuru and even Kajiado districts send more students each year to university than the two Narok districts combined.

A section of Narok High School students with their principal, Mr Karoki Ng’ethe.

Below: Children at a market in Narok Town. Pictures: Kipkoech Kosonei

This dismal performance is worrying leaders and education officials in the district. According to the Narok North District Education Officer Ms Jane Mtange, gross understaffing, distance from home to school, unfavourable climatic conditions and human-animal conflict are some of the reasons for the low performance.

“Many schools like Olenkuseroi, Oloropil and Enoosupukia have an average of two to three teachers against eight classes,” explains Mtange. She adds: “Parents can only afford to employ about two to three other teachers which does not adequately cover the shortfall. The district urgently Continued on page 2

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ISSUE 023, August 16-31, 2010

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

Where there has never been an A

Continued from page 5

needs 487 teachers to address the situation.”

The average distance from home to school in some divisions is 20 kilometres leading to some pupils going to school when they are already grown up. “This reduces their concentration span and the amount of quality time spent in class,” she says.

University enrollment Area District Commissioner, Mr Godfrey Kigochi says it is unacceptable that in the whole district only eleven students qualified to join public universities while many schools in neighbouring districts send more students to university each.

“While the performance is an improvement from last year’s seven students who managed to join public universities, and the mean score in primary rose from 240 to 248 marks, we still have a long way to go,” says Kigochi.

“When ranking used to be the order of the day, whenever you wanted to look for Narok, you started looking for it from the bottom.” That is how Narok South Member of Parliament, Mr Nkoidila ole Lankas once described the education standards in the larger Narok district, terming it scandalous.

Many blame early marriages and female genital mutilation as the cause of the failure.

Some also blame poverty. But Lankas does not think so. For him wealth, not poverty, is the problem. “It is our wealth which diverts the attention of parents and children from education,” he said during a recent meeting for education stakeholders.

Drought The prolonged droughts which perennially ravage the district have also been blamed for the low performance.

“Drought keeps many pupils away from school and those who manage to attend have little concentration span due to hunger,” says Mr Victor Momanyi, the Narok North District Quality and Standards Officer.

He says drought, especially in the last two years, has had devastating effects in Mao, Mara and Osupuko divisions of the district, and this has led to chronic absenteeism and occasional reports of children fainting in schools.

“The main problem is water. Streams usually dry up during the dry seasons and many children migrate with their parents in search of food and pasture for their animals,” says Momanyi.

Human-animal conflict is another problem. Pupils trek for 12 kilometres from the outlying manyatta’s daily braving wildlife on the way. “Two children were trampled on by elephants last year while others have witnessed their close relatives being killed.

This traumatized them, affecting their education,” the education officer says.

His Narok South counterpart, Mr Jackson Shunet blames redundant cultural practices like early marriages saying some girls rescued from this vice are as young as eight years.

“Such a girl cannot have equal say in the family and that is when gender imbalance sets in,” he laments.

Maasai women operating business in Narok Town. Inset: Lydia Ntimama a new member of the Narok High School Board who is also a nominated councilor.

Pictures: Kipkoech Kosonei

Now parents are up in arms as they think there is something teachers can do to change the situation even as the other factors are kept constant. One such parent is Mr Stanley Milgo.

“How come even some students who do well in primary school still perform dismally when they get to secondary school?

Surely teachers ought to devote more time and energy to give us the right value for our money,” he says.

Mrs Nalotuesha Lila was more blunt.

“After selling our few cattle and using more than KSh100,000 to educate our children, they come back empty handed having set us back into poverty. Surely something must be done,” she laments.

Other stakeholders point at the irony of having some of the most educated people in the land managing the schools yet there is nothing they can show for it.

“A professor has been the chairman of this school for many years yet it has been going down,” says Lydia Ntimama, a nominated councillor. Ntimama joined the board of Narok High School at the beginning of this year. She swore to help turn around the situation.

Hope All is not doom and gloom though. Education officials point at value addition as the districts’ strongest point. For instance, Gladys Chelang’at of Ngiito Secondary School hit the headlines recently for scoring a B stand up from a paltry 191 marks in KCPE. Similarly, Isaac Kinuthia, who led in Narok North District by scoring a B plus had only 295 marks in the Standard Eight examination.

“The case of these two students and many others who defied entry behaviour patterns is a clear sign that we are on the right track to recovery,” says Momanyi. He adds: “Many pupils who join secondary schools in other districts shine because they find a condu-

cive environment for learning.”

Perhaps the most ambitious endeavour to address poor academic performance in the district was the creation of the Narok Education Improvement Task Force in 2006. Chaired by Moi University Chief Academic Officer, Professor Karei ole Karei, the task force’s membership was drawn form the teacher’s unions, NGO sector, academia and school management committees.

While the task force lists as its successes the marginal improvement in KCSE and KCPE mean scores and resource mobilization that has seen many schools in the arid zones get funding, its critics accuse it of doing too little in three years to stem the dismal performance. It has been accused

of engaging in political sideshows at the expense of academic improvement.

It is hoped that entry of tertiary institutions of learning into the region will spur an interest in pursuit of academic excellence.

“With Narok University College and now Kenya Institute of Management coming here, we expect to see a renewed energy in education,” said Mr Boniface Kashu, Kenya National Union of Teachers’ Narok branch executive secretary.

Teachers cautioned against misuse of funds

By BONIFACE MULU Heads of schools who have misused the Constituency Development Funds are in trouble.

Speaking during Kitui Central Constituency awareness session for primary and secondary schools head teachers on how the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) monies should be used, the Fund’s manager Mr. Nicholas Kimanzi warned those who have misappropriated funds that the law will catch up with them.

He said: “Teachers who have embezzled funds will be arrested since CDF is public money that must be accounted for.”

The CDF official told teachers that the CDF funds are not to be given without proper documentation. “The documentation must be certified by the Ministry of Public Works,” he said.

“The CDF money given to schools is for development only and it should not be diverted for other needs. Ours is the development and not the occurrence costs,” Kimanzi told the head teachers.

Schools in Kitui Central Constituency will benefit from about Sh20 million as part of Constituency Development Funds.

Kimanzi said primary schools will get KSh12.9 million during 2009-2010 financial year and secondary schools will receive KSh6.7 million.

The CDF money funding school projects is to be audited by a team from the National Audit Office and the CDF committee.

Kimanzi said that all the files of the CDFfunded school projects must be maintained in the schools and only forwarded to the District Education Officer for auditing.

He told the teachers to have a signboard for each project funded by the CDF so area residents can know how the money allocated to the region has been spent.

The local Area Education Officer (AEO), Mr Harrison Nyumu, who had represented the District Education Officer, Mr Boniventure S. Wasikoyo, cautioned teachers against misappropriation of school funds.

He warned the Education Ministry will not allow the practice.

ISSUE 023, August 16-31, 2010

FOOD SECURITY

Farmers selling green maize as threat of food insecurity looms

By WAIKWA MAINA Despite improved rains experienced in most parts of the country last season, food insecurity is still a threat to many families in Central Province.

Key factors attributed to the drop in food production include poor farming practices, land scarcity, shortage of agricultural extension officers and unpredictable weather.

Other factors include the high cost of production and poverty levels which saw most farmers sell their maize while still green.

The green maize was sold at throw away prices of between KSh800 and KSh1,000 per bag. According to Ms Rachael Wangui, a maize farmer, the maize was sold to brokers from Nairobi who later retailed the same bag for up to KSh2,000 in Nairobi’s Githurai Market and other major markets.

In Nyandarua District, almost all the maize was sold while still green at an average of Sh1,400 per bag.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, production of major foodstuff in the region failed to hit the target by 50 per cent.

While wheat in Nyandarua and rice in parts of Kirinyaga districts were affected by fungal growth due to wet conditions, Murang’a District is faced by acute food deficits due to declining food production.

Food shortage The district has had perennial food shortage over the years and in the last season, maize production had dropped to less than 100,000 bags from 226,680 between year 2002 and year 2004 when a former local district agricultural officer, Mr Francis Musau carried out research on the subject.

The Murang’a maize production is far below the required annual demand of 250,000 bags. The annual demand for beans stands at 180,000 bags compared to an estimated 50,000 bags harvested during the last season.

On maize production, the former Maragua District was most affected, harvesting only 43,250 bags against a target of 192,800.

This situation has forced the community to rely on supplies from neighbouring districts.

According to a documentary by a director with Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Muriithi Gachingiri, other problems attributed to low production were poor crop husbandry, poor soil conservation methods, lack of loans and advice to farmers to diversify to other farm products saying crops like sweet potatoes, fruits and cassavas can help mitigate food insecurity in the area.

Another farmer, Ms Janet Wambui says: “My three acre farm is unable to sustain my family unlike 20 years ago. My three sons and two daughters are now grown up with their families and the farm cannot sustain us. I have allocated each of them a small portion of land for farming.”

She recalls: “There were days when the three-

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Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

Food production in Kenya

By Mercy Mumo

A farmer stands in her green maize farm. Many farmers are selling maize before they have dried for storage. Picture: Correspondent

acre piece of land produced enough maize and surplus for sale in the local market.”

Orphan crops Like many farmers in the semi arid areas, she has diversified to orphan crops to mitigate the problem and she concedes that the crops have helped improve the situation for her family. The orphan crops include cassava, cowpeas, millet, sweet potatoes, pigeon peas and green grams.

According to Ms Mary Chege, adoption of the orphan crops by the farmers has also reduced capital flight. “The farmers can now use funds previously spent on buying foodstuff from outside the districts to improve their living standards.” She adds: “We are happy that farmers have embraced the practice which was introduced after a Rapid Appraisal Survey of Adoption to improve orphan crops done by Ministry of Agriculture and the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI).”

Solution To further address food insecurity in the area, several community, donor and Constituency Development Fund funded irrigation projects have been initiated in Murang’a region and are already bearing fruits.

According to the District Irrigation Officer, Mr Josphat Rukenya, these include Gikindu and Gacharu projects which have put 100 and 40 hectares under irrigation respectively.

Rukenya says: “The EU also donated KSh10 million for the Gikindu project while the initiator of the project, Murang’a County Council contributed KSh1 million. The community contributes 25 per cent of the total amount, but mostly by providing manual labour.” Phase One of the project is now complete where farmers have invested heavily on orphan crops.

“Abandoning of the indigenous crop has also affected the food situation. The Ministry of Agriculture has embarked on campaigns to promote orphan crops to mitigate the problem,” says Ms Mary Chege, an official with

the Ministry of Agriculture.

Already, the ministry has distributed 17,300 sweet potato vines, 1,200 kgs of pigeon peas, 1,500 kgs of green grams, 1,000 kg of Katumani beans, 1,000kg of Irish potatoes and 10,000 cuttings of cassava to farmers’ groups for bulking.

Some families with smaller portions of land are already starving and are in dire need of support especially in semi-arid parts of Kiharu and Mathioya divisions.

Financial problems However, Rukenya says some of the projects that would guarantee food security in the region have stalled due to financial problems. Among the stalled project is Gacharu, which is fully funded by the community at a cost of Sh6 million.

“They contributed enough funds for the initial stage and they have been licensed by the ministry to divert water from Maragua River. We have also put up a hydrum and the major work remaining is installation of pipes,” explains Rukenya.

The irrigation projects are also expected to curb high crime and drugs abuse in the region especially in Mbiri location, an area with the highest number of twilight girls operating in Murang’a town and high rate of school dropouts.

Mr Joseph Maina, 67, a farmer at Kambirwa village appeals to the Ministry of Agriculture to intensify farmers’ training in the rural areas.

“The presence of agricultural officers was highly felt back in 1990s. They were all over in the farms offering advice, where are they today?” poses Maina. He adds: “We need them to educate us on modern farming practices.”

The farmer suggests: “Mobile information desks should also be introduced in the major markets during markets days where farmers can get advice and information.”

According to a report compiled by Mr Gachingiri, by 2007, Central Province had a shortage of 300 extension officers.

For years, Agriculture has been the backbone of Kenya’s economy.

It continues to be the most important economic activity. However, sustaining food production has become a big challenge, almost jeopardizing the sector in most food producing regions.

Ranging from adverse weather patterns causing minimal rainfall, drought, floods to poor farming methods and pressure on land, agriculture is facing tough times ahead.

The short rains experienced early this year have made some improvements in the food situation in the country bringing with it hope to the long drought.

Bumper harvests were witnessed in the Eastern parts of the country with food going bad in some regions due to lack of proper storage facilities.

Due to the drought, pastoralist communities have had to try their hand in Agriculture in order to survive. Initiatives such as the school feeding programme by the government have brought life back to learning institutions where previously children would miss school due to hunger.

According to the World Food Programme, threats to food security include drought, poverty, high demographic growth, HIV/AIDS and arid and semi arid lands in the North and East. With proper sensitization, these are threats that could be averted and translated to high crop yields and improved food security for the nation.

Uncontrolled food prices have also played a major role in threatening food security in Kenya where the consumer has no say in the pricing of the basic commodity. Storage facilities continue to be a challenge in some areas leading to loss of food.

The recently launched Agricultural Sector Development Strategy, 2010-2020 will play a role in the fight against poverty and hunger as the country strives to become a middle-income economy by 2030.

With nearly four million Kenyan relying on food aid, its high time we took measures into our own hands and controlled the destiny of this country. Millions do not have to go hungry and even die due to a situation that can be contained with proper education on agriculture.

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ISSUE 023, August 16-31, 2010

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

FOOD SECURITY

No storage facilities for excess maize

By JOHN ORONI Kenya is still predominantly an agricultural economy with 24 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) being contributed directly by the agricultural sector and 27 percent coming in indirectly.

The overall growth of the economy heavily depends on the performance of the sector.

The challenges facing the agricultural sector include low and unreliable rain seasons in most parts of the country and high cost of farm inputs.

The Rift Valley is the country’s bread basket and among other challenges that most farmers face in the region are delayed resettlement of internally displaced persons whose major role was maize farming.

In the larger Trans-Nzoia District, the region expects about six to seven million bags of maize this season with a population of about 350,000 people.

The consumption is one and a half bags per person per year totalling to 600,000 to

700,000 bags per year.

According to the District Agricultural Officer, Mr Josephat Linganga, the remaining surplus of close to five million bags will support other parts of the country. The farmers sell the extras to enable them acquire farm inputs and pay fees for their children.

surplus food and maize that is still in the field and is likely to be harvested towards the end of October,” said Linganga.

The district expects a total of six million bags of maize at 90kg each from 106,557 hectares of land currently in maize while 32,000 hectares is under beans and expected yields is 130,000 bags of 90kg.

Prices

Space

“The current market price for maize and other food crops are lower than they were the same period, last year,” says Linganga. He explains: “This is because there was sufficient rainfall and farmers were also getting maize from Western Province and the neighbouring Uganda at a cheaper price.”

He said good rains this year helped increase production of other food crops that include sorghum, millet, cassava, potatoes and local vegetables.

This has increased surplus production of food crops and led to reduced prices in the region.

“The problem now is how to market the

Among the three districts carved out of the larger Trans-Nzoia District, Kwanza and Cherangany districts are expected to produce the lion’s share of the food crops due to large scale farming in the two districts.

Lack of space in the National Cereals and Produce Board will be a challenge to the farmers since the NCPB might not be able to buy all the maize in the farms.

“The NCPB stores in the region are full and unless the Minister for Agriculture, Dr Sally Kosgei gets a market for maize stored in NCPB, farmers will be forced to sell the crop at a throw way prices,” said farmer who requested for anonymity.

Farmers reap from pumpkin growing

By Joseph Mukubwa While previously pumpkin was only viewed as a food crop, the plant is now making many farmers rich.

Most farmers in Othaya have started uprooting tea plants and replacing them with pumpkins after realising the latter has better returns.

Several farmers in Mumbuini area in Chinga area have for the last two years been growing pumpkins which they have realised is giving them more income than tea. Tea is the common cash crop grown in the area.

Traditional food granary no longer in place

By FRANK OUMA Kenyans are producing food in large quantities only to go to waste due to poor storage and conservation management.

Shadrack Namuyu, 75, remembers a time when every home had a granary for storing food. “We used to have about three big granaries, each served a purpose. I had one for finger millets, sorghum and maize,” explains Namuyu. He adds: “The structures were raised from the ground to ensure the produce did not get destroyed.”

Namuyu, a subsistence farmer from Buyosu, Busia District regrets that due to modernity, many homes no longer have granaries to store farm produce. Instead, the produce is being dried along roads then heaped in houses without proper food storage mechanisms.

Busia District Agriculture Officer, Mr Samson Khachina says they have been training farmers on food preservation so that the surplus does not get destroyed before getting to the market.

“Many farmers in Busia know how to preserve the harvest and that is why we have not heard of people dying of aflatoxin,” says Khachina.

He adds no cases of farm produce going bad due to poor preservation has been reported in the district.

Agriculture practices

Demand The farmers are even finding it difficult to cope with the rising demand for pumpkin. “I get about KSh10,000 per month Mr Charles Kirabi, a 37-year-old farmer shows his pumpkin harvests in Chinga, Othaya. He from this quarter acre of land has decided to uproot tea trees which he has replaced with pumpkins which are bringing in of which is much better commore money. Picture: Joseph Mkubwa. pared to KSh30,000 which I get from tea in one year,” says Mr Kirabi, a father of two, has been in the two acres. “This is a continuous process Charles Kirabi. He adds: “I sometimes business for the last two years and hopes which is well-paying,” he says. harvest weekly when the season is high. to expand his acreage from quarter to Kirabi buys manure from areas like This business cannot be compared to tea Kieni Constituency which is 50 kilomefarming.” tres away from his farm to enable him Kirabi, 37, says pumpkins are easy to have better production. grow since less labour and chemicals are He is calling on jobless youth to invest needed. in pumpkin farming since it has better “I sell as far as Nairobi which is over and quicker returns. The crop also grows 200 kilometres away. I also sell to local in dry areas. schools and hotels in Nyeri and Othaya.

The farmer has been able to educate his The demand is always high since people children and build a better house using have come to realise that pumpkins are pumpkins. However, he says competition high in nutritional and medicinal value,” in the market and lack of water is a big explains the farmer. challenge in the area.

— Charles Kirabi, farmer

The demand is always high since people have come to realise that pumpkins are high in nutritional and medicinal value.”

Nyanza Provincial Director of Agriculture, Mr Otieno Owiro says good agricultural practices ensure that there is enough and this makes the community food secure.

Owiro says most farm produce was being sold in open market and no case of surplus food going bad has been reported.

“We have educated farmers on post harvest management and that is why we have not witnessed any case of food going to waste,” says Owiro A farmer in Kisumu, Mr Nixon Magero, thinks lack of proper storage facilities was still a setback to farmers.

He says: “The Ministry of Agriculture should establish agricultural resource centres with both hard and electronic copies of information on food security policies and implementation programmes.”

Kisumu East district agriculture officer, Ms Jenipher Polo says: “We can talk of food security in a situation where all households have both physical and economic access to adequate food for all members.” She adds: “This is where households are not at risk of losing such access.”

Polo says that the overall objective to achieve food security should be to increase household production and productivity.

“Progress towards achieving food security can be measured by increasing food availability, increasing household income and improved nutritional status of children,” explains Polo.

ISSUE 023, August 16-31, 2010

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

FOOD SECURITY

5

Celebrating green after years of drought

By MUASYA CHARLES After a long dry spell that left people starving, Kitui residents can now sigh in relief for the bumper harvests following successful rains recorded in the last crop season.

The May-June rains changed the desolate region green and the scenery has replaced the dry land seen in December, last year.

Attention to food insecurity which had sent shock waves across the region has now shifted to proper storage of the harvest and marketing of the produce.

Grain storage Proper storage of the grain especially maize has been given priority to avoid the grains being infected by aflatoxin. The residents are also being cautioned against selling their grains so the food deficit they experience does not occur again.

Kitui District Drought Management Officer (DDMO), Mr Benedict Musyoka fears there could be a possible outbreak of aflatoxin infection which is common with the region whenever there is good grain harvest in the area.

“In some areas, the rains have failed for close to six years but this time it is in such areas where farmers expect plenty of food hence need to educate them on the best way to store grains,” explains Musyoka.

According to Kitui District Agricultural Officer, Mr Munene Mutindwa this is the first time after so many years that farmers have harvested enough for both domestic use and sale.

“We expect tonnes of maize from the region to fully stock the local National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB),” said Mutindwa.

Farmers’ gains A farmer from Kisasi Location, Mr Mwanzia Mutwii said he harvested 180 bags of maize from his six acre farm. “If the prices are good, I will be able to educate my three children at the university without problems,” he said.

For three consecutive seasons, he never harvested anything from the farm but ended up selling all his livestock to educate his children.

A small scale farmer in Mbitini location, Ms Nzambi Musyoki, could not hide her joy after she sold 60 bags of maize to the NCPB at KSh2300.

“I have now replaced all the livestock I sold during the dry spell and can meet my family basic needs,” she said.

During a crop evaluation tour, Agriculture Permanent Secretary, Dr Romano Kiome, said the harvest in the region was encouraging and hoped farmers will manage the produce properly to avoid future food shortages.

He observed that in addition to good rains, improved seeds and fertilizer donated to the most vulnerable families under the National Accelerated Agricultural Input Access Programme (NAAIAP) greatly helped in promoting the good harvest.

Dorcas Wambua attends to her sorghum farm in Yumbisye village. Residents in the larger Kitui District have adopted sorghum farming to tap the good prices. Picture: Muasya Charles

He said the ministry and other donor agencies provided 283 tonnes of improved seeds which can withstand drought like cowpeas, green grams sorghum and millet.

Despite advice not to sell the produce at low prices, some of the residents have had to contend with the low prices at the local markets.

Area District Commissioner, Mr Joshua Chepcheng says the area has been scraped from the list of districts put under Emergency Operation (EMOP) as there is no more food shortage and it was up to the farmers to store what they have for domestic use.

“Chiefs and their assistants should take it upon themselves to educate residents on the need to safeguard their farm produce as there will be no more famine relief food distribution,” said Chepcheng.

Seed multiplication The Kitui Agricultural Training Centre has been appointed as a seed multiplication centre and farmers have been asked to use the facility to buy improved seeds at low costs.

More emphasis is being put on maximum production of traditional food crops and farmers in dry areas have been urged to increase production of drought resistant crop varieties.

Attention to food insecurity which had sent shock waves across the region has now shifted to proper storage of the harvest and marketing of the produce.

Innovative measures put to fight hunger

By GILBERT OCHIENG The drought that was experienced in Kenya last year left many experts and the nation thinking of what to do to mitigate such a situation.

The Ministry of Agriculture, charged with ensuring that the country has enough food, has come up with innovative measures to ensure there is enough food on the table at all times. The Busia District Agricultural Department has embarked on an ambitious initiative aimed at addressing the high levels of poverty which stands at 68 percent.

given adequate farm inputs to enable them improve on the quality of the crop yield.

However, the crops officer said rice farmers from the divisions were encountering several challenges.

“The farmers have had to put up with poor seed quality, seed shortage especially the upland varieties, poor crop husbandry practices, poor water management, shortage of water caused by the increasing population, weed menace, birds and army worms among others,” said Otieno. He added: “Some rice fields were also attacked by ants which destroyed the crops.”

New rice variety

Drought resistant crops

Among steps put in place to help minimise rising poverty levels in the district include disbursement of 800 kilograms of a drought resistant rice variety known as New Rice in Africa (NERICA) which was sourced from Mwea Rice Irrigation Scheme in 2008.

Busia District Crops Officer, Mr Kennedy Otieno said that 100kg of the drought resistant rice had been disbursed to farmers within Busia township division, 200kg to Matayos, 300kg kilograms to Nambale, 100kg to Butula and Busia Agricultural Training Centre getting 50kg.

Not to be left out was Busia Prison which received 50 kg.

Rice farmers from the region were also

In addition to the above measures, the Ministry of Agriculture also disbursed KSh1.6million to various self-help groups to enable them engage in income generating activities through a programme dubbed “Njaa Marufuku Kenya (NMK)” which means no more hunger/starvation.

District Agricultural Officer, Mr Samson Khachina, said measures have been put to empower residents at the grassroots level so they could venture into growing pineapples, bananas and other drought resistant crops on large scale.

Busia District managed to harvest a total of 90,000 bags of maize during the short rains which registered a deficit of between 60,000 and 70,000 bags.

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ISSUE 023, August 16-31, 2010

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

FOOD SECURITY

Cautious sigh of relief follows bumper harvest

By KIPKOECH KOSONEI Once a lush green beautiful country, the land was last year turned into an endless sea of grey dust and dry shrubs.

Even as the rest of the country received heavy rainfall, the skies refused to open over Narok.

Carcass was littered along the roadsides in Mara, Osupuko and Lower Mau divisions, while those which could still walk were being moved in search of water and pasture.

Animals that would normally sell for as high as KSh30,000 were selling at KSh300. Traders were actually buying the animals more for hides than anything else. The pastoralists also migrated with their livestock to Naivasha, Nyandarua, Trans Mara and Tanzania with their animals.

The livestock deaths could not have come at a worse time as it followed a massive crop failure. The situation was not helped by the fact that land that had been tilled in the craze for wheat, which incidentally recorded the poorest yield in recent history.

Expansion Narok North District Agricultural Officer, Mr Maurice Suji, blamed farmers for not heeding expert advice. He said the ministry has been advising against further expansion of land under cultivation especially on the more arid parts of the district yet there has been an indiscriminate expansion of land under wheat in recent years. “This has led to reduced pasture land while the farms have been yielding nothing for the farmers,” he said.

Narok North District Livestock Production Officer, Mr Christopher Kunter says more than 40,000 livestock died.

According to the regional Drought Management Officer, Dr Joel Lang’at, about 130,000 people in the two districts were also threatened with starvation.

The drought created one of the worst animal-human conflicts. Elephants from the world-famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve went on the rampage with reported deaths and injuries.

“When herders drove the animals into the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in search of pasture, they came with diseases such as trypasononiamis and malignant catarrh which claimed many more livestock,” explains Kunter.

This year the situation is different with prolonged rains which ensured bumper wheat crop and pasture regeneration.

However, there is a cautious sigh of relief in Narok with

Cattle grazing at Enkutoto in Narok North District during the rainy season. Below: A combine harvester at a wheat farm at Ololulung’a in Narok South District.

Pictures: Kipkoech Kosonei

that has accompanied the bumper wheat harvest and livestock restocking.

But even in this rebound, a number of factors have come to reduce the joy of farmers and pastoralists. With the recent reduction of import duty from 35 to 10 percent, wheat farmers have been up in arms saying this will significantly reduce the prices of wheat beyond profitability.

“The reduction could not have come at a worse time as we are reeling from losses of three consecutive years occasioned by crop failure due to drought. Just when we were looking forward to a bumper harvest because of the good rains,” said Mr Dominic Nchoe, a farmer.

Stem rust The other problem has been the attack by a virulent disease called stem rust, which significantly reduces yields and sometimes even decimates whole fields.

“The enemy is Ug99 that causes stem rust, a calamitous disease of wheat, which is now threatening to wipe out the crop across the world,” says Mr Mark Yego, Narok Crop Development Officer. The disease, which has been christened the polio of agriculture, is spreading fast, causing fears it could decimate global production.

Dubbed Ug99 after its country of origin (Uganda) and its year of christening (1999), it is ravaging Africa and the Middle East and also threatening China and India. Yego said those who suffer most from this disease, which can wipe out upto 70 percent of the crop, are new unsuspecting farmers who engage in wheat farming because they have been told it is lucrative.

Narok, which has over 60,000 hectares under wheat, produces between one to two million bags of the cereal annually.

According to data obtained from the Cereal Growers Association, the cost of producing wheat has shot up to KSh31,000 per acre, and for a grower just to break even — pay bills and make a small profit — he or she has to harvest at least 12 bags per acre and sell it at KSh3,000 each.

However, experts are warning that should rains, which have not been forthcoming in the last two months delay any longer, then last year’s famine situation might recur.

“Pans, which were not silted are beginning to dry up.

Given the bumper wheat harvest also, the wheat stalks which animals usually depend on for three months or so are not strong enough,” explained Kunter. Narok also grows a substantial amount of maize and potatoes which did well this year.

Milk farming affected by high production costs

By John Oroni Dairy farmers in the North Rift are demanding for better milk and maize prices to cushion them from the high cost of dairy feeds.

Consequently, milk supply to Kitale KCC depot has dropped to 24,000 litres from 50,000 litres daily due to poor prices and high cost of the dairy feeds.

The farmers protested that the Government has neglected them by offering poor prices for milk delivered to the new Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC).

Through the Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers (KNEFAP), the farmers want the price adjusted from KSh21 to KSh30 per litre.

“We are demanding for better prices to cushion us from the high cost of dairy feeds, otherwise we will stop delivering our milk to KCC,” said Mr Tom Nyagechaga, Trans-Nzoia KNEFAP branch secretary.

They claimed various shortcomings have placed them at a loss with little intervention from the Government.

“Productivity has dwindled due to lack of incentives from the Government and the earnings we received from the business is not enough to purchase feed for our cows,” protested Nyagechaga.

Investigations reveal that some farmers have opted to sell their milk to private companies offering prices between KSh25 and KSh28 per litre.

Nyagechaga said the farmers are in a dilemma to adopt new technologies, a situation that could block the sector from Vision 2030.

“With exorbitant costs of Artificial Insemination (AI) and dairy feeds farmers have not reaped much from milk sales,” Nyagechaga added.

Another concern of the farmers is the low conception rate once their animals have been artificially inseminated (AI) due to poor health of the animals caused by substandard feeding.

ISSUE 023, August 16-31, 2010

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Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

FOOD SECURITY

Lifestyle in the north changes as food insecurity looms large

Partnerships to help improve food situation

By NICK ODHIAMBO While food security remains a challenge in most parts of the country, the government together with development partners as well as non-governmental and community based organizations are working at ensuring there is enough to put on the table.

In collaboration with the International Funds for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Government is spending a total of KSh1.42 billion to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods of the communities living within the Southern Nyanza region.

The funds, channelled through the Southern Nyanza Community Development Project (SNCDP), are being used to undertake development projects in six priority divisions in six Southern Nyanza districts. The districts, having been selected through a consultative process involving local communities, government officers and other collaborative partners.

Reducing food shortages

By ISSA HAROUNI During the ravaging drought of 20062007, livestock farmer, Mr Ali Hassan lost 360 heads of cattle. He suffered so much that he has been forced to embrace a new lifestyle.

Today he no longer moves up and down with his livestock. He decided to engage in crop farming. The rough palm of his hand is testimony to the tilling he has been doing in the Sankuri Leheley farm with 30 farmers who dropped their nomadic lifestyle.

“I never thought I would be a crop farmer. It is a lifestyle that I always looked down upon,” says Hassan. He recalls: “I once refused to marry off my daughter to a farmer.”

Changing lifestyle To Hassan, his cattle was his wealth and every one in the community respected him for that. However, things have since changed. “Today nature is forcing us into a strange lifestyle,” says Hassan.

He believes climate change is a real threat that can no longer be ignored. He is calling for urgent intervention to mitigate its impact to ensure food security and sustainable social economic development.

Hassan is not alone in this line of thinking. Ms Halima Adan, a milk vendor in Garissa town whose lifestyle has also changed remembers the days when she lived happily with her husband and ten children in Kapsuley area with their livestock.

Adan recalls the abundant wild, sweet and juicy fruits suspended from the blossoming green branches of different plant species which she can only name in local dialect as marer, deka, kamash and the kosay. The milk, meat and ghee that were in plenty in their gourds are long gone.

In her mid 60s, Adan holds her head in apprehension as she labours to come to terms with the realities of the changing world. She says all the land where their herd would graze has since turned barren.

Aden Ali Hassan tilling his father’s farm along the banks of River Tana at Raya Location, Garissa District after they lost all their livestock in a grinding drought.

Due to the climate change, pastoralists are changing their way of life.

Pictures: Issa Harouni

“Life without the sight of large heads of cattle, camel and goats is a life of misery and a curse,” laments Adan.

She is not alone in her despair. Muhsin Ali, 70, riding on top of a donkey cart transporting commercial water was displaced by the drought in 2009. He claims pastoralism is facing a death knell and urges fellow pastoralists who still keep large herds for pride and wealth to read the signs of climate change. He also admits that global warming is threatening lives and livelihoods of a once vibrant nomadic lifestyle.

Mzee Muhsin, who was displaced from Bulla Golol in Fafi District, says he owned 300 heads of cattle but the drought forced him to shift with his animals to Southern Somalia in search of water and pasture.

He says the entire herd was wiped out due to dehydration as the animals trekked for long in search of water.

His two sons who had also gone with their herd surprisingly succeeded in coming back safely with only 30 heads of skinny cattle.

Muhsin claims the animals were lost as they trekked between Salagle water point and Qokhani, about 65 km from their pasture land in southern Somalia.

On arrival at the Qokhani earth pan the animals succumb to death after taking excess water due to dehydration.

“The longest a cow can go without water is four days and any other additional day in the dry spell without abundant green grass means death,” explains Muhsin.

Due to the vicious circle of drought in northern Kenya, food security remains a challenge for the pastoralist community whose livelihood depends largely on livestock.

Over the years, pastoralist have been

reduced to relief dependency while others have turned to subsistence irrigation farming along the Dawa River in Mandera and Tana River in Garissa District.

The climate change is slowly forcing them to abandon their traditional economic mainstay of pastoralism to the much “abhorred economic activity of crop farming”, which most regard as an activity of the less fortunate.

Diversification Garissa and Mandera residents can easily diversify their economic activity and venture into crop farming along the banks of rivers Dawa and Tana.

Residents of Wajir with no reliable source of water can equally smile, thanks to the Kenya Red Cross Society for their innovation in maximising the underground water resource to bring hope to the distraught herders.

They have come up with the latest technology to harness underground water from boreholes and shallow water wells channelling it to a greenhouse through drip irrigation. The green house drip undertaken in Wajir is expected to transform the fertile plains into food producing baskets.

Red Cross District Coordinator, Mr Khalif Dughal says on realising the state of food security in the region, the organisation embarked on introducing new methods of diversifying the activities through the green house drip irrigation.

The project which has already kicked off in Eldas, Giriftu, Habaswein and Wajir town has enormous gains as an acre of tomato is expected to yield 70 tonnes.

Khalif urges other humanitarian agencies to focus on formulating sustainable ways of ensuring food security.

The development projects that have been selected are aimed at reducing frequent food shortages, lack of access to portable water and proper sanitation facilities and suffering from heavy disease burden, including malaria, diarrhoea and HIV/Aids infections.

Project Manager, Ms Dorothy Owino, says the venture is expected to end in 2012 and is covering Ndhiwa, Nyamira, Kuria, Migori, Rachuonyo and Suba districts.

“This is a very important project and we expect the communities identified will benefit from it and we will be able to see an improvement in standards of living,” explains Owino.

She says some projects are currently under way and have been doing well in empowering the community to take their own initiative in development activities including provision of clean domestic water supply.

She added that primary health care will be prioritised and they will ensure treatment and mitigation support is given to people living with HIV/Aids and improved nutritional practices.

Health care “This primary health care will be given to areas mostly affected by the HIV/Aids pandemic especially communities living along the Lake Victoria region,” she adds.

The SNCDP is also ensuring the funds are channelled towards improvement of agricultural and livestock development in the six districts. It aims to improve food security, nutrition, income levels and employment by increased agricultural production and income generating enterprises through technology transfer and extension.

The Government has given 10 per cent of the funds with 87.4 per cent coming from the IFAD. The rest will be provided by the community in terms of labour, local materials, land and some little cash to show commitment.

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ISSUE 023, August 16-31, 2010

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

FOOD SECURITY

Food shortage blamed on adverse weather

By BEN OROKO

over-relied on chemical fertilizers.

This, she explains, has compounded food shortage and insecurity as majority of rural poor believe that without fertilizer they cannot engage in productive crop farming.

Due to prohibitive fertilizer prices, majority of low-income residents in the Kisii go for cheap and fake fertilizers sold in the streets, thereby compromising quality of their crop.

“Lack of information among many rural-based farmers on natural fertilizers has resulted in worrying food security situations in Kisii region,” explains Ocharo. She adds: “Majority of the local people do not use farmyard manure that is readily available and could increase their crop yields if used well.”

As about 3.8 million Kenyans across the country stare at food insecurity, the country continues grappling with spiral over effects of drastic weather patterns and climatic change.

This comes in the wake of the country’s efforts to achieve maximum agricultural productivity and food security.

In Kisii alone, effects of weather and climate change have adversely impacted on agricultural activities and food security. Many smallholder farmers are counting crop losses due to hailstones, heavy storms, floods and surface runoffs witnessed during the long rains in May and June.

Floods

Fertilizer misuse

Ms Annah Kerongo, a resident of Riakemuma village, Giasaiga sub-Location, Gucha District is disappointed.

Her farming dreams were shattered after losing almost half of her maize crop to floods.

Kerongo regrets having invested in the farm as her maize crop was washed away by the floods, causing her heavy loss in terms of farm labour, seeds and fertiliser that she used when planting.

“These weather related calamities have been unfair to me since all my hopes were in this farm which has been my family’s bread basket,” she laments.

The floods and surface runoffs eroded the top soil that is viable for crop farming, depriving her farm of its fertility, leading to poor yields.

“Although rain water is crucial for agricultural activity, effects of weather and climatic change have sometimes been adverse to farmers’ investments,” she laments.

Traditional food crop Besides experiencing adverse weather effects, Ms Martha Ocharo, 81, an elder community member and a resident of Masiacho village, Bassi Chache location, Gucha District, attributes food insecurity to poor eating habits among many locals.

She says most locals have embraced western eating habits at the expense of traditional ones which would enhance food sufficiency and security.

Ocharo is critical of community members who have shunned cultivating traditional food crops. “During our days, we embraced cultivation of traditional foods to enhance food security,” recalls Ocharo.

She explains that unlike today where surplus food is wasted, in the past communities maintained food reserves.

Through innovative surplus food preservation and storage practices the community averted food shortage.

Ocharo observes that looming cases of famine and food insecurity are as a result of poor farming methods especially

A farmer inspects his drought stricken maize farm. Poor farming methods and over-cultivation of agricultural land has led to crop failure. Picture: Correspondent

over-cultivation of agricultural land which leads to soil and fertility exhaustion, translating to poor crop yields.

“Traditionally, rotational cultivation of land under agriculture enhanced crop yields as the practice allowed soil to regain its fertility before the next planting season,” she explains. The sit-

uation has since changed due to pressure on land.

“We are currently experiencing poor crop yields and food insecurity due to land fragmentation driven by increasing population pressure and over cultivation,” observes Ocharo.

She says the present generation has

“Traditionally, rotational cultivation of land under agriculture enhanced crop yields as the practice allowed soil to regain its fertility before the next planting season.”

— Martha Ocharo

She says some farmers in the region opt to either plant without fertilizer or plant with fertilizer only what is enough to feed their families. This means there is no surplus for sale.

However, Mr Moses Ariba, 60, a resident of Boigesa village, Gucha District says quality of crop production especially maize has been compromised by inadequate application of fertilizer, stripping soils of the essential nutrients meant for crop production.

Ariba blames food shortage and insecurity on adulterated or counterfeit fertilizers and hybrid seeds sold to unsuspecting farmers by unscrupulous middlemen and traders.

He says agricultural extension officers should educate farmers in choosing and buying quality fertilizers and hybrid seeds from certified stockists.

“This will guard them against unscrupulous traders and middlemen who take advantage of their ignorance to exploit them,” explains Ariba.

However, he blames the seasonal food shortage and food insecurity to poor food management practices and post-harvest food handling as well as storage practices which lead to surplus food wastage in the region.

Though the region is agriculturally endowed in terms of surplus food production, Ariba regrets that lack of food storage preparedness among farmers, compounded by lack of post-harvest food handling have contributed to wastage of surplus food in the region.

He observes that lack of crop farming diversification among area farmers has also contributed to food insecurity with majority of households relying on maize as their preferred staple food crop.

“I am encouraging farmers in the Kisii region to diversify their crop farming activities and stop over-dependence on maize,” Ariba urges local farmers.

ISSUE 023, August 16-31, 2010

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Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

FOOD SECURITY

Farmers urged to embrace organic farming

Provincial administration warns against grain sales

By RYAN MATHENGE Food security in many parts of Central Kenya remains a mirage as majority of the families consider githeri (a mixture of maize and beans) as their staple food.

After the long rains in March and April, many of the families reported having a bumper harvest only to sell the produce to middlemen who in June and July flooded the villages in search of grains.

It has taken the Provincial Administration and Department of Agriculture to create awareness on the locals to stop selling their harvest to middle men.

Mrs Wayua Nzomo of Kambiti Location in the drought hit Makuyu Division says most of the farmers forget the previous hardships immediately after harvesting as they are lured by middle men to sell their grains at low prices.

“Last year, the entire Makuyu Division, Murang’a South District was at the mercy of the nation after many went hungry. They were saved by food donation from the Government and well-wishers,” says Nzomo.

A farmer weeds his farm. Farmers have been urged to embrace organic farming to increase yields. Picture: Waikwa Maina

By BEN OROKO Farmers are being asked to embrace organic farming as one way of boosting food security.

Among the farmers targeted are smallholder growers in Kisii who are to benefit from organic farming to enhance crop production and food security in the region.

Speaking in Kisii after training farmers on the benefits of organic farming technologies, Mr Nathaniel Otieno, Western Kenya regional manager for Lachlan Limited advised farmers to use organic fertilisers instead of chemicals to increase their crop yields and fast-track the food security situation in the region.

Otieno said: “We are advising farmers across the country to embrace organic farming products as it will reduce the cost of production and maximise crop production for both household consumption and marketing.”

The company offered tips on how to

protect farmers from counterfeit fertilisers being sold by unscrupulous middlemen and traders. Otieno said his company had an efficient product development and distribution strategy.

Farmer education “One farmer is identified as a reference or demonstration point from where farmers can learn before adopting a certain organic fertilizer purchased from the selected farmer who doubles up as a stockist,” he said.

“Our company has adopted the farmer to farmer strategy of distributing organic fertilizers as opposed to selling to stockists whose business is profit making,” explained Otieno.

He added: “Our farming strategy aims to educate farmers through fellow farmers before they can adopt certain organic fertilisers.”

He also denied that the company’s organic fertilisers had no direct relationship with aflatoxin effects reported in

“We are advising farmers across the country to embrace organic farming products as it will reduce the cost of production and maximise crop production for both household consumption and marketing.”

— Nathaniel Otieno, Western Kenya regional manager for Lachlan Limited

various parts of the country.

The company identified Mr Nelson Oisebe as the reference and demonstration point in Kisii region, from where both coffee and food crop farmers will learn before adopting various organic fertilizers purchased from him.

Oisebe, a prominent farmer and director of Tsotsi Agencies, a Kisii-based agri-business firm, will be the link with grassroots farmers in the region.

A coffee farmer from Otamba in Nyaribari Chache in Kisii Central, Mr Lindon Gikenyi, welcomed the idea of using organic fertilisers. “They are cost effective as they will give farmers value for their money in crop production,” reiterated Gikenyi.

Farmers’ views Gikenyi who attended the training commended the packaging of fertilisers into small bags that were economical and affordable for low-income farmers.

A small-holder horticulture farmer from Boronyi village, Mrs Rebeccah Onsare, also echoed Gikenyi’s sentiments.

She said they were cost effective in terms of production costs compared to chemical fertilizers which were packed in large quantities, locking out low income farmers.

“I am impressed with the economic benefits accruing from the use of organic fertilizers as compared to chemical fertilizers, whose use and application is costly for the low income farmers,” observed Onsare.

Sale of produce Nzomo in her 80s reiterates that in many homes people have failed to construct granaries as they sell their grains almost immediately they harvest.

Women’s groups have been formed to educate the population against selling their cereals.

Nzomo says during bumper harvest, only a few farmers manage to sell the surplus to National Cereals and Produce Board with most of them turning to hawking for quick cash.

Murang’a South District Agricultural Officer, Mr Peter Waihenya says food security is paramount.

“This includes helping the community put in place storage facilities,” he explains.

Waihenya says that it has been realised that many farmers do not have storage facilities for their produce.

“We are currently encouraging people to have storage to ensure rogue traders will not continue exploiting farmers,” said the agriculture officer.

Owing to poor storage and low rainfall, Murang’a region unlike other parts of Central Province has been described as a net importer of food.

The worst hit areas are Makuyu and Kiharu divisions which have been on Government watch over their food situation.

Murang’a East DC, Mr George Natembeya, however, cautions farmers that they risk being denied famine relief food if they continue selling their produce after harvesting.

“It is very embarrassing to see fleets of lorries heading to the lower parts of the district in search of grains immediately crops mature yet they are sold at lower prices,” say Natembeya.

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ISSUE 023, August 16-31, 2010

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

FOOD SECURITY

New road brings smiles to farmers’ faces

By Lydia Mwangi For the last decades, the quest for better roads for Nyandarua residents has remained a pipe dream.

The region that has been the main source of food for Nairobi and its environs, has been cruelly rewarded with some of the country’s worst roads.

This has been mainly due to the heavy rainfall that frequently drenches the area.

The consequence of all this has been the unending hardship farmers and other traders face in transporting their produce to markets in Nairobi and other urban centres.

Nyandarua is one of the country’s leading producers of green vegetables and dairy products.

The construction of the Njabini-Ol Kalou–Ndundori Road must have, therefore come as a God-sent relief to residents, whose fortunes are now set to change for the better.

The 102 kilometre C69 road whose construction began in 2007 is now in its final stages. It is scheduled for launching later this year.

Transporting produce Already, farmers in the area are enjoying the fruits of the new road as transportation of their farm produce to the market has improved significantly for those using the completed sections.

“We thought these were empty promises by the Government to construct a road in Nyandarua, until we found the contractor on site,” says Ms Judy Wanjiru, a business lady at Miharati town. She adds: “This is a dream come true for majority of us who have never even seen a tarmacked road.”

Wanjiru recalls the days when her lorry would get stuck in the mud for as many as three days whenever it rained.

“We used to wait for the sun to dry the roads as our perishable produce rotted.

This is no more,” she says.

Despite the heavy rains that have been pounding the area for weeks, the contractor has been able to complete 90 percent of the road.

According the firm building the road, China Wu Yi, the work is expected to be completed by mid year.

“We are left with only 20 kilometres from Engineer to Njabini. The work will be complete in the next few days,” says Mr Xiong Kaihua, the chief engineer.

Once complete, the road will serve motorists from Nairobi to Nyahururu, shortening the distance by 80 kilometres.

“Some of our vehicles have already registered to be plying the route. It will obviously be fun to travel through the cool weather of the Aberdares,” says Moses Karuga of Nucleur Services, a matatu travel agency.

The road project has brought with it other significant changes to the region.

An acre of land in Ndundori area that previously cost KSh180,000 is now fetching much more.

“Land prices have now doubled. We expect a lot of investment and that is why people have hiked land prices,” says Mr Gerald Njomo, a resident.

Workers at the ongoing construction of the Njabini-Ol Kalou –Ndundori road. On completion, the road is expected to ease transportation of farm produce to the markets. Below: A section of the complete road.

Pictures: Lydia Mwangi

Accidents However, all this new development are deemed useless if caution is not exercised.

Already there is an alarming number of accidents that are being blamed on speeding drivers and motor cyclists. Police say there is at least an accident occurring along the road daily. A total of 20 people have died in the 42 cases reported so far.

“The major casualties are cyclists who largely do not observe traffic rules,” notes Mr Patrick Manyasi, Nyandarua Traffic Commandant.

The worst accident occurred on December 12, 2009, when a four wheel vehicle with 18 members of a family, rolled several times at a sharp bend after hitting a goat. Eleven passengers died, eight on

the spot, while others were admitted to various hospitals with serious injuries.

Manyasi says traffic police have intensified checks on the road to help curb the rate of accidents.

The road’s chief engineer urges motorists to undergo further training on how to handle a vehicle on various classes of roads.

Training

Kaihua says: “This road is a class C, which is smooth but with sharp corners and steep slopes. It needs a lot of concentration from drivers.”

The engineer says that most motorists do not observe the laid down road safety rules and hence the many accidents.

“They drive along the road in the same

manner as on normal highways. This is why majority of them are involved in accidents,” he observes.

Kaihua at the same time lamented the theft of road sign boards by residents, an action that has left many drivers confused, especially in sections with sharp corners or diversions. He wants the Government to step up security surveillance along the road and arrest suspects committing the offence.

“We do not know where they take them as they are causing the company heavy losses. The Government should take action and arrest these people,” he urges.

Despite these challenges, local leaders have expressed optimism that the road will do them more good than harm.The road has been constructed at a cost KSh3.5 billion.

ISSUE 023, August 16-31, 2010

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Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

Stalled projects get a lifeline from CDF funds

By FIDELIS KABUNYI Githunguri Constituency has spent a total of KSh51m in the last financial year to complete CDF initiated projects in the area.

Health facilities in the region received KSh3,518,713. This money went into financing amenities in the health sectormajority of which lacked basic facilities with residents being forced to walk long distances to access medical care at Kiambu District Hospital.

“This necessitated the upgrading and equipping of existing health centres and dispensaries,” said Mr Njoroge Baiya, who is the area MP and CDF chairman.

With this development, residents will now have to walk shorter distances to access health facilities. Githunguri Health Centre received the largest share of KSh1,813,713 to upgrade and equip facilities. Other health centres that received funds include Mbari-igi Dispensary which was allocated KSh700,000, Miguta Health Centre received KSh500,000 while Kiababu Health Centre was awarded KSh300,000.

A water project started almost four years ago was awarded KSh1 million to aid in the completion of a borehole. Ikinuriuki was among the stalled water projects that received KSh20,587,103. Also earmarked for funding was Ihiga Gatitu Ikinu and Keria water projects which were financed at a cost of KSh1.2million. On completion, the projects will benefit thousands

of families in areas where water has been a major problem.

Education Among other projects funded included initiatives in the education sector which were funded to the tune of KSh10,185,721. Mukuyu Secondary School received the lion’s share of KSh2.5 million which went into the completion of the dining hall. Kiaria High School received KSh1,612,750 to complete a dining and multi purpose hall while Kamondo Secondary school was funded to the tune of KSh1,150,000 for the construction of the school laboratory.

An additional KSh10million was allocated to 2,180 students as bursaries and the road network was allocated KSh8million.

The CDF offices received KSh1,165,248 to assist in the completion of the office. Other stalled projects which benefitted from the allocation included Ngemwa Police Post which was awarded KSh1,100,000 to aid in the completion of the project while Gathanje Police Post received KSh200,000 to oversee plastering.

Baiya says projects that have been financed within the period under review were based on needs assessment drawn from strategic plans, local leaders and the constituents. He says that the constituency had come a long way after its accounts were frozen during the 2006/2007 financial year due to misappropriation of

The administration block at Ndururumo Police Post in Juja Constituency that was funded by the CDF kitty. Picture: Juja CDF website

funds through stalled and ghost projects after the then Member of Parliament, Mr Arthur Magugu was hospitalized.

However, the MP was quick to point out that contractors have been conspiring to defraud the CDF kitty by inflating prices of supplies and using substandard materials.

He cited a contractor who has done upper Githiga water intake at a cost of

KSh1.3 million while the same intake at lower Githiga done by Athi Water Services Board cost only KSh650,000.

The MP says the contractor has threatened to move to court and declined to take the cheque paid to him by the CDF committee. The MP says that he has reported the case to the National CDF board adding that contractors who do shoddy work should be blacklisted.

Programme to boost Looking forward to good governance economic recovery

By GILBERT OCHIENG The successful implementation of the Economic Stimulus Programme will pave the way for long term solutions to challenges of food security.

It will also offer expansion of economic opportunities in the rural areas for employment creation as well as promotion of regional development for equity and social stability.

Speaking at Funyula ACK Church recently, Fisheries Minister Dr Paul Otuoma said the ESP will boost the country’s economic recovery and return it back to the envisioned medium term growth.

“It will lead to improvement of infrastructure as well as quality education and health care for all Kenyans,” explained Otuoma.

Economic growth

The minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Funyula said ESP will enhance conservation of the environment and access to ICT in order to expand and accelerate economic growth.

The minister made the remarks during a district development committee forum. He noted that lack of proper information from the Treasury to the constituency with regard to ESP implementation was still a problem. However, he said the issue was being addressed and very soon everything will be clear.

District Fisheries Officer, Mr Charles Ondu, told the meeting that the department has received a total of KSh8million for the construction of 200 fish ponds in the district.

“Fourteen clusters which farm fish have already been identified and farmers will be trained,” explained Ondu.

He said a total of 9,500 acres of land had been set aside for the establishment of fish farming.

“For this purpose 2,000 youths will be employed at a rate of KSh250 per day to undertake the construction of the fish ponds,” Ondu said. He added: “The government will provide the initial seed and feed.”

By BOB OMAMBIA

The positive outcome of the recent referendum on the Proposed Constitution and the forthcoming promulgation by President Mwai Kibaki has put the nation and her citizens on the right path towards good governance, democracy and accountable leadership.

Immediately the votes were declared, Gusii residents burst into celebration. A 70-year-old peasant farmer, Ms Mary Gesare, is impressed with the way Kenyans put aside their daily chores to cast their votes without any influence from politicians or religious leaders.

However, Gesare regrets that over 20,000 votes were spoilt nationally during the referendum, a situation she links to inadequate civic education by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission, religious leaders and politicians.

She says the leaders dwelt more on contentious issues and failed to educate the electorate on the voting procedure.

“Devolution of resources and power from the central govern-

ment to counties is a major milestone in the country’s democracy and good governance,” says Gesare.

She notes: “The 15 percent funds to be channelled to the counties will alleviate poverty and spur economic development.”

Accountability A businessman in the region, Mr John Osoro, 30, says that the new Constitution will make Members of Parliament more accountable. He adds that the recall clause will put the lawmakers on toes lest they be recalled and lose their seats.

Osoro observes that vetting of names by Parliament for potential Cabinet ministers, approval and assent by the President means only credible professionals with an untainted past will get the ministerial jobs to serve Kenyans better.

He notes that the system is better than the previous one where an MP doubled up as a Cabinet Minister and owed his loyalty to the appointing authority, making it difficult to fire him or her due to the political influence he or she wields.

An advocate’s clerk, Mr David Nyangau, says the new law caters for women’s interests as well as that of youth and special interest groups. He notes that issues affecting specific groups or individuals will be articulately addressed unlike before when politicians used youths during campaigns and abandoned them after capturing parliamentary seats.

“The slogan that youths are leaders of tomorrow is irrelevant in the new constitution. They have a chance to take up leadership posts and ascend to the top,” says Nyangau.

Bill of rights A secretary, Ms Jane Mogoi, 20, is impressed with the Bill of Rights, noting that individual rights will be respected and upheld regardless of one’s social, cultural, political or economic background.

She appeals to MPs to hasten enactment of various legislation to back up the new Constitution to speed up implementation and make it a reality for Kenyans who endorsed it.

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ISSUE 023, August 16-31, 2010

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

Ugandans, Tanzanians laud Kenyans over successful referendum

By ODHIAMBO ODHIAMBO Kenyan fishermen operating at the disputed Migingo Island in Lake Victoria never got the opportunity to participate in the just ended referendum vote after their plea to be given a polling centre was rejected by Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC).

Except for the few who managed to travel back to the mainland, majority sat back on the fish-rich island to follow the voting and counting process on their radio sets.

Ugandan security officers and fishermen also joined their Kenyan counterparts in the pubs and hotels located on the rocky island, to follow the unfolding events.

And islanders from the two countries burst into song and dance soon after the IIEC declared a ‘Yes’ win.

The Ugandans said Kenyans had proved wrong critics who thought it would slide back into anarchy such as the one witnessed in 2007.

Implementation “Congratulations to Kenyans... they have displayed a rare resolve to overcome challenges because constitutional referendums are usually never peaceful,” said a security officer who requested anonymity.

But Kenyan fishermen urged the Government to implement the East African free market protocol to “stop recurrent harassment and intimidation by our Ugandan brothers.”

“And with the passing of the new Constitution, we want to be told whether Migingo belongs to Kenya or Uganda,” said Mr Paul Odhiambo, a fisherman.

The only national event the Kenyans on Migingo Island participated in is the last population census in which the Government dispatched enumerators to collect their data.

Across the Tanzanian border of Sirare and Tarime, the peaceful voting in Kenya was the talk in market places, bars and offices.

The neighbours praised Kenyans for achieving a rare feat in history and challenged other African countries to emulate the country.

“The voting and counting process was very peaceful and organised and I think our neighbours should allow the interim elections body to continue until 2012 to conduct their elections,” said Mr Mohammed Hassan, trader at the Sirare border town.

Inmates form part of history making

By George Murage As the first rays of the sun hit the high walls that surround Naivasha GK Prison, a lazy smoke was rising to the sky from the large kitchen in the penal institution.

Soon the clatter of keys and padlocks was heard as warders moved from one cell to the next opening up the heavy doors for the inmates.

Stretching, yawning and cursing under their breaths, the inmates trooped outside the blocks where more warders awaited them.

Here they were ordered to kaba (squat) for counting and after the numbers were tallied and confirmed, they lined up heading to the kitchen to receive their breakfast, which is a bowl of porridge.

After breakfast, a warder called out the names of the inmates who would participate in the referendum.

With their chins raised high, the over 100 inmates who were registered to vote in the just concluded referendum were escorted to a hall where the exercise was to be conducted.

Majority of those whose names did not feature in the list watched as the administration and their colleagues headed out.

These were the scenes at the country’s largest prison where for the first time prisoners in Kenya’s history were allowed to vote.

Low turn-out Of the over 2,800 prisoners, only 156 of them had registered for the exercise.

The rest failed to register because they did not have their IDs when they came into prison and could not register to vote.

“Some of them used fake names when they were arrested and would not want their real identity known,” said a warder familiar with the ongoing.

After what seemed like an eternity, a senior officer from IIEC announced that all was ready.

The officer first issued directives on rules

Some of the 156 inmates from Naivasha G.K prison display their voters and identity cards in preparation to vote. This was the first time in Kenya’s history for prisoners to vote. Picture: George Murage

and regulations for anyone to participate in the voting. One after the other they trooped into the hall ready to cast their votes.

Jovial mood It was joy for the inmates at the biggest penal institution in the country as they made history by participating in the referendum.

The inmates who included 53 serving life sentences expressed their happiness after they were allowed to vote.

Dressed in their white stripped prison attire and open sandals, the inmates started voting at around 8pm.

Smiles, hugs and patting on the backs were the order of the day at the prison as the inmates joined Kenyans in the referendum.

According to the officer in charge of the prison Mr Patrick Mwenda, 156 prisoners from the prison and the neighbouring Annex prison had registered for the exercise.

But of the number, only 140 of them participated in the referendum as the others had either been set free or transferred to other prisons.

“We had worked with IIEC officials ahead of this exercise and we expected everything to be smooth,” he said.

However IIEC officials admitted that

the biggest challenge facing the inmates was illiteracy.

This was evident as of the 140 votes cast 12 were rejected on the basis that they were marked outside the required boxes.

In some of the cases, inmates decided to sign on top of the Yes or No signs giving the observers and the IIEC officials no other option but to reject the votes.

The presiding officer, Mrs Catherine Wanjohi, said the exercise was smooth and no anomalies were noted.

Opportunity According to one of the inmates, Mr Idris Abdi who is serving life sentence, this marked the biggest day in his life.

“We appeal to the state to allow us to vote in the 2012 elections as we are Kenyans just like our colleagues who are free,” said Abdi.

His sentiments were echoed by Mr Henry Ayua also serving life sentence.

“We have read and understood the Proposed Constitution and we feel great for being given a chance to decide on how we shall be governed,” said Ayua.

Another inmate serving life sentence, Mr Joshua Kinyua said: “We are overjoyed to be voting today and we hope that we shall be counted among other Kenyans in the history of Constitution making.”

Residents with land issues base hope on law implementation

By Ryan Mathenge Days after Kenya’s endorsement of a new constitution, many are anxiously awaiting its implementation following promises made by the Government during Constitutional review campaigns.

Top on the agenda in Central Kenya are that those who incited the country to violence after the 2007 general election leaving thousands dead, others injured and homeless will be charged and if found guilty dealt with according to laws of the land.

The land issue also remains a thorny one for those who obtained the 999 years lease especially the foreigners and many of the African farmers want to buy them off after slashing of the lease to 99 years.

Internally displaced persons who are

still suffering are anxious that the new law will bring to an end the injustices ensuring they return to their farms where they were up rooted after the 2007 polls.

Mary Njambi a mother of three sheds tears as she remembers how her investment was burnt in Eldoret leaving her poor only to be accommodated by relatives in a goat shed.

“I had a decent house before hooligans came and torched it to the ground because I did not come from that area leaving me and my children to suffer as I can not afford a decent means of living,” says Njambi who is accommodated by relatives in Murarandia area of Kahuro District.

Mau Mau war veterans who are still awaiting compensation from the British government after the humiliation they under went in the struggle for the first libera-

tion also hope the new law will look into their demands.

Mau Mau war veteran leader Hackman Muniu says thousands of former soldiers live in abject poverty as on return from the forest they found their land had been allocated to other people perceived to be loyal to colonialists.

“We are still waiting for our share from the colonisers who have turned a blind eye to our demands,” said Muniu in an interview with The Reject.

More interestingly is the clause that will look into members of parliament paying taxes.

Many of the Kenyans are anxiously waiting to see if their elected leaders will follow Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth and his Kangundo counterpart Mr Johnstone Muthama in paying taxes.

ISSUE 023, August 16-31, 2010

13

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

Nyeri residents laud transparent process Patients taken

By JOSEPH MUKUBWA

Commissioner, Mr Kiplimo Rugut, over 7,000 police officers were deployed to polling stations Nyeri residents have lauded the within Central Province. good work the Interim IndependOver 75 per cent in the larger ent Interim Commission (IIEC) Nyeri District voted in support did in the referendum. of the Proposed Constitution.

The residents said the exercise “We have done our work. It was transparent and orderly. Howis now time for them to start the ever, they now want implementaimplementation of the document tion of the proposed constitution now,” says Mr Wahome Gikonyo, to start immediately. a lawyer in Nyeri town.

Many of those interviewed also The residents hope the new congratulated Kenyans for holding Constitution will not be misused peaceful elections. like the older constitution.

They acknowledged the good At King’ong’o GK prison work of Kenyans for maintaining Nyeri residents queue to vote during the referendum at Nyeri which is the only prison in the peace before and after the referenTown Health Centre polling station. Picture: Joseph Mukubwa larger Nyeri district, out of the dum.

117 prisoners who cast their vote A newspaper vendor, Ms Mary only four of them voted No. call for a new Constitution and voted No. Mwangi says: “I voted Yes and I reA total of 113 inmates voted Yes which ally enjoyed the good work of IIEC did. Ken- However, Maina says: “It is time for the both yans also played their part well in maintain- Yes and No team to join hands for the future means that over 95 per cent endorsed the Proposed Constitution. ing peace. It is now time to settle down for the of the country.”

Initially, the institution had registered 135 With tight security at the polling stawork.”

Her sentiments are echoed by, Mr John tions, not a single ugly incident was reported voters but some had already been released Maina A mechanic, who did not support the in Nyeri. According to Central Provincial and feared to return for voting.

Lobbying for positions in devolved government

By Ryan Mathenge With passing of a new constitution many have started looking for positions in suitable institutions that are expected to come up.

Many of the old politicians are busy trying to look at the positions that will be established under the new constitution.

Some of the lucrative positions being sought are those of governor and senator that have started giving local leaders nightmare as they try to muscle their strength.

New positions In Central Kenya, the two seats that will be given according to the region one hails from, have started attracting intense lobbying.

In Murang’a region for example, many of the politicians like Mr John Michuki are said to be better off with the senator slots.

However, youthful leaders have vowed to muscle their support to elect one of their own.

Although nobody has declared interest for governor and senators slots, insiders claims underground campaigns and lobbying have been started with each constituency from Gatanga to Mathioya having one of their own in mind.

Murang’a county will now have Gatanga, Kandara, Kigumo, Maragua, Kiharu, Kangema and Mathioya constituencies.

Many votes spoilt due to voting illiteracy

By PAUL MWANIKI Residents of Laikipia East constituency will need extensive civic education on matters of elections in the future.

This is after a high number of spoilt votes were recorded during the just concluded referendum.

The constituency which comprises three districts recorded 2,346 rejected votes, a clear indication that more civic education needs to be conducted during such national voting exercises.

In Laikipia North District where it was expected to lead with the number of rejected votes, things were different.

The region has a high number of illiterate people but that did not deter them from voting correctly to the amazement of many.

Regions like Tigithi in Laikipia Central and within Nanyuki Municipality, thought to have most enlightened people, recorded the highest number of spoilt votes.

Assumption Before the referendum date non-government organisations flocked to Laikipia North for civic education with the notion that other regions were okay.

Interestingly no campaign rally was taken to this northern part by any politician.

The campaigns concentrated in Laikipia East and Laikipia Central with the consideration of where the majority votes were.

Groups such as COVAW and Yiaku People’s Association among others camped in Laikipia North, Samburu and Isiolo districts conducting civic education using the local languages to explain the proposed.

This helped the aged and illiterate who went to ballot box with the knowledge required and where one needed help there was somebody reliable as they had been informed during the civic education.

Residents of Laikipia North are also known to vote as a block and this is mainly characterized by

the side their leaders take.

The region boasts of being home to former National Assembly speaker, Mr Francis ole Kaparo, who is a respected opinion leader in the region.

However, the fact that Kaparo was undecided for long left many of the residents at loss of which direction to take.

Standpoint This came to an end during a Yes rally at the historic Suswa grounds in Narok where Kaparo who was among other leaders present and declared he was supporting the Proposed Constitution. Kaparo then urged the Maasai speaking community to support the draft. This sent him to a series of campaign meetings back home in his Laikipia North district. The Laikipia Maasai are optimistic that the new Constitution will look into matters of land of which they say they have suffered because of historical injustices.

Mzee John ole Keshine says that land that belonged to their fathers was taken by foreigners in the Laikipia plateau on a 999 years lease.

“The new Constitution has reduced this to 99 years of lease to non citizens which we think is logical as we will finally get our land back,” said Keshine. He added: “We will benefit from the tax the government will be getting from those with huge chunks of land and do not use them.”

He said that some of the shrines where they buried their forefathers are now enclosed by ranch owners who are mainly foreigners who keep wild animals and cattle against the will of the community.

At the same time the region which has been sidelined on development programs hopes to gain from the devolved system of government in the adopted Constitution.

“With the introduction of county Government we hope that more funds will trickle down to this region where most of the things required include infrastructure such as roads and electricity, water and construction of more secondary schools to improve the level of education,” said Mr Peter Kilesi, a youth leader in Dol Dol town.

from hospital to vote

By Paul Mwaniki

Prophetic biblical saying of the sick shall walk was literally seen in Nanyuki as voting for the proposed constitution took place.

It was a reprieve to admitted patients at Nanyuki District Hospital when they got a chance to vote in the just concluded referendum.

The hospital management decided to ferry willing patients to vote within the Nanyuki Municipality to their respective polling centres for the exercise using the hospital vehicles and ambulance.

The Medical Superintendent, Dr David Njoroge said that patients who were willing to vote could not be denied the chance to participate in the historical exercise just because they were in hospital.

“We agreed that since there were no major duties to attend to, patients who had registered as voters within the Nanyuki Municipal Council and had their IDs and voter’s cards with them will be ferried to their respective polling centres,” said Njoroge.

Participation Those who had complicated illnesses were accompanied by a nurse for their welfare.

The hospital, he said, had come into this conclusion after patients who came a few days before the voting day and had cases which needed admission were always complaining that they needed to participate in the national exercise and some were declining admission.

“We had to convince people to get admitted and promised them that we will look into ways that would enable them vote including discharging others before the referendum,” explained Njoroge.

A taxi driver, Mr Anthony Macharia who was involved in an accident when he was riding on a motor bike had been admitted with broken limbs and head injuries but had a chance to vote at Nanyuki Central Park polling centre.

He had lost hope for participating in the referendum since he had been hospitalized for a week and never thought he could get to his polling centre.

“I thank the hospital management for giving us a chance to participate in this historical exercise,” said Macharia after casting his vote.

He appreciated the fact that the new law has taken into consideration the youth who have been forgotten in a long time.

“The Constitution is giving a chance to young people to have mandatory seats in all stages of the devolved government,” noted Macharia.

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ISSUE 023, August 16-31, 2010

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

Why Lower Eastern did not wholly support the new Constitution Yes vote dictated by

desire for new law

By MUASYA CHARLES The referendum voting in Kambaland was not only characterised by low voter turn out but a unique scenario where majority of the voters were middle aged and elderly women.

A spot check in several polling stations across the region witnessed majority women voters though turning up in small numbers. But are these the voters who voted against the draft and why?

BY AGGREY BUCHUNJU

Factors To the youth, it is due to politics where some people wanted to settle differences with some leaders.

Sources say there was political Voters queue at a polling station. Majority of citizens in lower eastern voted against the discontent in some of the leaders new constitution. Picture: correspondent who spearheaded the ‘Yes’ camget the money to pay the land rate if Malonza says the community was used paign. They said say some politicians are becoming irrelevant and could there is nothing that comes out of it that to receiving famine relief and has no idea she can sell. about land rates. not be taken seriously.

“Paying of land rates is not a new Others said they could not disown thing in the country as other farmers in their faith and had to support what the A widow who only identified herself other regions have been doing so. Howchurch leaders were saying. Majority of the people interviewed, however, cited as Kavutha wondered where she could ever, in Ukambani, it is a big issue and land as their reason for being against the get money to pay the land rate when title that is why they went ahead to disapnew constitution. The community has deeds of her late husband’s parcels lay at point their leaders by rejecting the draft,” vast idle land most of it used for grazing the local Lands Office as she could not said Malonza.

Civic leaders who feared they could and other chunks of land held in trust for raise money to collect them.

Most of the residents did not under- lose their jobs in the Devolved Governthe people by the local authority.

“Is this the land we are being told we stand what the chapter on land was talk- ment also campaigned against the proshall be paying rent?” posed Ms Martha ing about. The information they received posed constitution.

The councillors feared that some of Ndunge when interviewed at Mbusyani indicated that they would be heavily taxed the wards may be scrapped and lose their Primary School polling station after she for their land.

However, a Kitui based business jobs. This is the loophole the No camcast her vote.

Ndunge wondered where she would development expert Titus Mwendwa paigners capitalised on to win votes.

Land issue

The recent passing of Kenyan’s Constitution has been received with joy by the majority of residents of Bungoma District.

In a spot check, it emerged that most people did not read the draft but voted as per the wishes of political or church leaders.

Even the few who read the document and understood its contents had their direction of voting largely influenced by the leaders and the long period Kenyans have been yearning for the new constitution.

“Constitution making has consumed a lot of tax payers’ money. We could no longer afford to finance the process at the expense of other contentious issues,” says Mr Fred Nyongesa a resident of Kamukuywa, Kimilili constituency.

Others like Ms Everlyne Nabwoba, a resident of Myanga, Bumula Constituency admitted to not knowing the contents of the document. “Almost everybody in this area had agreed with the area MP to support the document. Who was I not to join the majority?” she poses.

However, issues such as what legislators earn could have pushed others to supporting the document. The director of a human rights lobby group, Mr Job Bwonya, says that once the new constitution is promulgated, civil society organisations will collect four million signatures to push for a reduction of the MPs’ salaries.

Bwonya, of the Bungoma based Western Kenya Human Rights Watch expressed optimism that with the new Constitution, leaders will be transparent and accountable.

“With the new Constitution leaders will no longer dictate issues since there will be checks and balances,” he reiterated.

Business community warmly A yearn for change in provincial administration welcomes the new law

By BEN OROKO

By MWANZA MBUVI Mwingi Professional and Business Community has endorsed the new law.

Speaking in his office in Mwingi town, the organisation’s executive board led by secretary, Mr Campel Mwendwa Munyambu, said newly endorsed law allows the national wealth to be shared equitably among all counties.

With regards to equitable distribution of resources, Munyambu said: “The wealth of the country will directly benefit the common man on the ground.”

However, he reiterated that Kenyans had basically contributed to what was contained in the Constitution. He explained: “The new constitution is important for this country since its content is primarily the views of Kenyans.”

Members of the association accused the KANU regime of failing to deliver a new constitution. They told Mwingi residents to gear up for with the new constitution they will have a better life.

They said Mwingi District has been neglected for too long and has neither middle level college nor institution of higher learning unlike the neighbouring Kitui District which has a number of training institutions.

They hoped to that the first one will be the Mwingi Teachers’ College for which they have already acquired ten acres of land.

Counties A member of the Association, Mr Julius Munyoki Mutemi reminded Ukambani leaders to ignore the propaganda being peddled on how the county councils are to be merged.

“Machakos, Makueni and Kitui councils will remain as they are while the counties, as entrenched in the new constitution means the leadership will be closer to the people,” he explained.

Munyoki, who is a political activist, advised the Mwingi residents not to panic about the land tax, saying even today land is taxed when two parties are in transaction.

Following the endorsement of the new Constitution, the debate has shifted to implementation of the new law.

And from the on-going talks one thing is certain, more civic education for interpretation and implementation of the Constitution remains a critical issue.

A spot check by The Reject in various parts of Gusiiland shows that decentralization of government has generated debate among rural communities with majority zeroing in on the Provincial Administration. Key interest is on chiefs and their assistants in the new constitutional dispensation.

A resident of Otamba village, Nyaribari Chache, Kisii Central District, Mr Lawrence Nyangaga, says the Provincial Administration should be re-structured for it to be accountable to the people.

Nyangaga says: “There is need for chiefs to be subjected to elections under the new law to make them accountable to the public.”

Accountability A resident of Bonyamasicho village in the same district, Mrs Jane Mose concurs that many people in rural Kenya have lost confidence in the chiefs and their assistants. This, she argues, is the reason why majority supported the new Constitution with the hope

that it will allow them to directly appoint chiefs and their assistants.

She adds: “Majority of rural folk believe the new Constitution will make provincial administrators, more accountable to the people and this will win them public confidence.”

Mr Moffat Moindi, a youth and resident of Masiacho village, Bobasi Chache Ward in Gucha District says in some communities’ chiefs and their assistants are viewed as a symbol of terror and treated with contempt.

“I was born and brought up in the village knowing chiefs and their assistants as people who harass villagers and ‘eat’ their chicken or forcefully take away villagers’ property,” recounts Moindi.

However, Mrs Agnes Gisiora, a resident of Riakemuma village, Bobasi Constituency in Gucha District differs with those calling for the direct election of chiefs and their assistants. She argues the approach will not offer solutions to the communities’ problems. Instead, she says, it will politicise the system and compromise service delivery to the local communities.

Gisiora agrees that restructuring the Provincial Administration as provided for in the new Constitution was the only way to repackage the image of the system and make it win public confidence.

“It is a known fact that the role of chiefs and their assistants in harmonising the society at the grassroots remains fundamental to the local communities,” observes Gisiora.

ISSUE 023, August 16-31, 2010

15

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

Peace education stirs region into calmness

By ABJATA KHALIF It is Monday morning and the yellow colour of the rising sun cascades the famous village of Alungu in Mandera District. The village is famous locally and internationally due to the coverage it received during the inter-clan conflict between two communities over ownership of a watering point and boundary in Alungu village.

Abdirahaman Ali stands next to his cattle shed as the milking process goes on in the morning. He says the area is now coming back to relative peace compared to past years when clashes between the communities claimed many lives.

Ali says: “I have lived here for 50 years but what we saw during the interclan clashes between the two communities will never go off my mind.” He explains: “The problem started when the government decided to drill the borehole here in Alungu. The clashes started over the ownership of this area and every group armed its youths to defend and take control of the area.”

He continues: “It was fatal as clan militias started attacking villages, women collecting firewood and young men looking after animals.”

Boundary wrangle The village was centre of protracted armed battles between two clans living in Mandera East and Mandera Central. The Government in effort to address perennial water shortages decided to drill a borehole in the area which had boundary rows between the two communities.

The drilling of borehole reactivated interclan ownership saga with one clan claiming the borehole was within the boundary of Mandera Central and therefore, belonged to them. The other clan claimed they had inhabited the area for decades and it belongs to them administratively and according to the government boundaries.

Intervention The Government attempt to intercede and bring in a peaceful resolution but the intervention ended up being a disaster as people were beaten and livestock confiscated so that the two communities could surrender guns and stop the bloody fights.

Ali remembers how the military officers who came to quell the clashes surrounded his cattle shed and traditional hut. They ordered him and his family out of the hut before searching inside the hut and inside the cattle shed.

“They did not find any firearms but they beat us up so badly. I was left bleeding from the beating while my wife’s hands were broken. She still nurses the wounds,” he says.

Tension in Alungu borehole was linked to the dispute over the exact boundary between Mandera East and Mandera Central districts which created confusion among the residents because many people associate administrative boundaries with clan boundaries and thus with their grazing

pected to help heal old wounds.

“I have seen that what we discussed during the community peace building is being achieved. The programme has reached the target audience and now all problems or factors that contribute to conflict will be addressed by village mediation committee that was created during the outreach missions,” explains Hassan.

Resolution The peace education further cemented community integration, respect for human lives, inter-communal activities like barter trades, livestock marketing, marriage as well as sharing of same grazing space and watering points.

The communities are embracing traditional methods of conflict resoA group of women at a peace education meeting in Mandera District. Such forums lution that ironed out cultural bias have helped conflicting communities come together and share scarce resources. and stereotypes that have fuelled conPicture: Abjata Khalif flicts over the years.

The peace programme has assisted and water rights. munity outreach, awareness campaigns communities living in conflict hotspots The Government said it had facilitated and peace education. like Alungu in Mandera. They are now able dialogue between the two clans three times. to embrace rival communities and share It had sent a technical team to ascertain the district boundary.

The peace campaign addressed various scarce resources that would under other Despite the mediation efforts the hos- factors that fuel conflict including cattle circumstances ignite and inflame intertilities continued, resulting in the death rustling, direct marginalisation and re- clan conflict in their area.

“This education is good. It is the first of 18 locals and three policemen between source competition in water, pasture and time there has been awareness creation August and September 2008. salt licks. It also looked at eradication of However, according to Abdirahman small arms and light weapons, popularis- on conflict and how to solve the problems the area is now experiencing relative peace ing traditional governance systems and using the existing traditional system of though they fear attacks can recur. traditional methods of conflict resolution, conflict resolution and traditional governpromoting inter-cultural exchange be- ance system,” says Ali. He adds: “We can tween the rival communities, empower the now live together and share same watering As the region continues to experience ex-combatants on alternative livelihoods points and grazing areas without problems.” relative peace, a group of stakeholders and positive integration into the society. from Northern Kenya Peace Network took The peace committee chairman in Gara three month peace education campaign issa, Mr Hassan Osman says: “The peace The peace education has taught the in to the region aimed at educating the education has helped in bringing the warcommunities that the search for peace is a communities on peace building, social co- ring communities together to dialogue on common responsibility for all irrespective hesion, bonding and reconciliation. factors that led to fierce fighting in their of faith, clan or group in the region.

The team came up with the ideas of areas.”

A resident of Sankuri, Mr Ali Olow initiating the peace education after a comHe explains: “In the past community is happy with the World Association of munity peace building workshop that was reconciliation involved elders and womChristian Communication for empowersponsored by World Association of Chris- en leaders from respective communities. tian Communication [WACC Global] However, it is now different as peace cam- ing local communities through peace educame up with various recommendations paigns have gone to the remote villages of cation and outreach.

Olow says: “I am happy to hear all these on addressing peace to initiate healing, Garissa District and the communities paractivities have reached Sankuri with aim bonding and reconciliation among the ticipate through dialogue, peace songs and of getting peace supported by a Christian warring clans. outreach programmes. In fact the commuorganisation.

It shows us how other people Northern Kenya Peace Network, hosted nities now own the peace initiatives.” in the world want a peaceful world with no

by Kenya Pastoralist Journalist Network Hassan who took part in the peace camconflict and blood letting.” brings on board stakeholders from women paign and outreach is happy that the strategy The Program manager of WACC Glopeace builders, conflict victims, journal- which was laid down during the first combal, Mr Philip Lee avers that there are no ists, peace committees, youth peace build- munity peace building has been achieved in boundaries in the search for peace.

He says ers and elders. It took the peace campaign good time and will allow the communities it is the collective responsibility of all citito 16 hotspots in the region through com- to dialogue amongst themselves. This is exzens to co-exist peacefully and respect human life.

The WACC will continue to promote peaceful co-existence and sharing of information and knowledge for social justice.

“People of all faith should work together to improve peoples’ lives, to advance and celebrate peace as well as communicate better understanding,” says Lee. He adds: “There are no religious boundaries to peace work. There are also no political, social, cultural boundaries to genuine dialogue.”

Conflict causes

Peace

Lessons learnt

The peace programme has assisted communities living in conflict hotspots like Alungu in Mandera. They are now able to embrace rival communities and share scarce resources that would under other circumstances ignite and inflame inter-clan conflict in their area.

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ISSUE 023, August 16-31, 2010

Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth

Cleric reclaims youth from illegal sect

By Fidelis Kabunyi In 2006, there were many killings taking place in Central Kenya that were blamed on Mungiki.

Fear of the illegal gang stopped many of the region’s residents from discussing what was going on.

However, one woman felt that she needed to act and stop these senseless killings. She felt that by preaching peace to the youth who were aligned to the gang, she would bring salvation to the region.

Revered Margaret Wanjiku Kahoro of Rehoboth Outreach Ministry says that her peace initiative dates way back to 2006. “This was at a time when I felt that there was need to end the merciless killings of young people in Kiambu District on the pretext that they were Mungiki followers,” she explains.

Prison visit In 2007 there were also killings and with the post-election violence Kahoro intensified her peace programme by embarking on a door to door campaign. She also started going to prisons.

During her numerous visits to Kamiti Prison, Kahoro met with the then Mungiki leader, Maina Njenga and started preaching the gospel to him. “Maina then linked me to followers of the sect and I was able to persuade them to denounce the illegal sect,” Kahoro says.

That was her turning point and she started receiving numerous calls from Mungiki followers who wanted to convert into Christianity.

“I joined them at Mukuru kwa Njenga where over 60 youth defected from the sect,” she said during an interview with The Reject.

Kahoro, an ardent peace crusader, has managed to convert over 500 youth who had been initiated into the proscribed Mungiki sect through an elaborate peace project which has earned her accolades from far and wide.

Today Kahoro serves as the chairperson of Kiambu Peace Initiative for Sustainable Development under the Ministry of National Cohesion and Integration after being appointed by the Central Provincial Commissioner, Mr Japhter Rugut to coordinate peace in the larger Kiambu District.

Kahoro is also among the 13 elders spearheading activities geared towards the realisation of cohesion and integration in Central Province.

Generating income She has been able to introduce many youth to income generating projects. The youth were initially engaging in criminal activities as their only way of survival.

“I have been able to equip them with skills to make organic fertilizer which

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they sell for income generation,” she says.

At the beginning she faced a lot challenges as the police were still hunting for some of the youth not knowing that they had reformed.

“I had to sit with the Kiambu District Security Committee and elders to convince them that these people had really changed.”

Kahoro later organised a meeting between the provincial administration and the reformed youth to work out modalities to integrate them to society.

“The provincial administration responded positively and has since accepted them in the society but under supervision,” she says.

She has received a lot of support from the Kiambu District Commissioner, Mr Albert Kimathi, District Officer for Kiambaa Division, Mr Patrick Kilonzo and District Youth Officer.

“These officials have been very supportive and always ensure that some of the reformed youths are recruited in the ‘Kazi Kwa Vijana’ Initiative.

The DC has also been buying some of their home made products like soap to motivate them.

A well wisher, Mr Bidan Nga’ng’a, has leased on goodwill a five acre piece of land to youth for a period of five years. The youth have planted trees that are ready to market and are calling upon environmental organisations and lovers of nature to promote them by buying the trees.

She has overseen five youth groups registered under community based organizations. Four youths have been united with their families and have been ac-

Rev. Kahoro with the reformed youths accompanied by their relatives at a peace rally at Karuri Stadium in Kiambu. Below: some of the reformed youths demonstrate their taekwondo skills to the public at the stadium. Pictures: Fidelis Kabunyi

cepted in the community in unification ceremonies.

According to Kahoro, community stereotypes and attitudes against reformed youth are a major challenge for them in getting employment.

Most of these youths had negative ways of getting money and now that they are transformed, they need to earn a genuine living and this can only be achieved if the community accepts them fully. They should also be given them job opportunities.

Change

Mr Samuel Njuguna, 30, says that it was not effortless to adjust to another lifestyle.

However, he quotes from a Kikuyu proverb that says ‘only a fool doesn’t change’.

He says: “At this point in my life change was inevitable.”

Njuguna has received a three months scholarship to Korea to train in tae kwondo after which he will compete in Senegal.

However, he faces the challenge of raising KSh100,000 for the ticket.

A father of three, Mr Samuel Mburu, 34, believes that it was the appointed time for him to transform. ‘‘I had to make peace

Executive Director: Rosemary Okello-Orlale Programme Coordinator: Wilson Ugangu

Editor: Jane Godia

Sub-Editors: Florence Sipalla and Mercy Mumo

Designer: Noel Lumbama

Contributors: Kipkoech Kosonei, Waikwa Maina, Nick Odhiambo, John Oroni, Frank Ouma, Joseph Mukubwa, Muasya Charles, Gilbert Ochieng, Issa Harouni, Ryan Mathenge, Ben Oroko, Mwanza Mbuvi, Odhiambo Odhiambo, George Murage, Aggrey Buchunju, Paul Mwaniki, Fidelis Kabunyi, Lydia Mwangi and Nick Odhiambo and Abjata Khalif.

with the Government as it was always a cat and mouse game. I was always on the run as my life was in danger.”

Mburu says: “I was growing older and had nothing to show of it especially being a father to three. I had to correct my ways of living to secure life for the sake of my children.” He adds: “I hardly had time for my family, it is only now that I am trying to bond with my children.”

Kahoro’s chargees include six girls who were members of the sect of them. One of them was abusing tobacco. The girls are now making liquid soap while others are tailors.

Kahoro has been supporting the youth with her own money. She has made tried to get funding from NGOs, Ministry of Youth and other donors but has been unsuccessful. She is calling on the government and the area Member of Parliament, Mr Stanley Githunguri to intervene.

“The youth plan to put up kiosks, salons and barber shops or furniture houses immediately they get funding. Most of them were initially drivers before joining the sect and we would like to buy public vehicles for them,” Kahoro says.

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