Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 ISSUE 047

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

Army and community in land tussle By EKUWAM ADOU locals giving them food as well as ownership dispute. sweets and biscuits for the children,” On one hand, Kenya Army Nakeny Lenapangai, 50, forlornly she recalls. claims ownership of large piece of sits in front of her thatched house, “However, the relationship land in the area and accuses the lo- lost in deep thoughts in dilemma started deteriorating in 1990s, after cal community of squatting on the and uncertainty over ownership the introduction of cafeteria system land they claim legal ownership of. of ancestral land looming large. where the soldiers paid for their The local community, on the She has to contend with constant meals. The children who were used other hand, says the army wants to threats of eviction by the Kenya to feeding on leftovers were chased disinherit them from their ances- Army hanging on her head like the from the barracks. From then on tral land, claiming it was a typical the soldiers developed a cold at- case of the proverbial camel owner proverbial swords of Damocles. The Kenyan Army at a parade and showing off their military Not even the grave of her hus- titude towards the local Chokaa and the tent. power. The forces have been involved in a tussle over land with the band — a stone’s throw away from community,” explains Nakeny. “You cannot purport to evict her house is proof enough to dem- This manifested in many forms, me from my land, after being of- residents of Chokaa Village in Isiolo County. onstrate to the soldiers that she starting with disconnection of wa- fered a space to carry out training Pictures: Reject Correspondent does not have any other place to call ter to the tap serving the locals and exercises. You cannot turn around home. restriction to shopping at AFCO and evict the owner, if anything, With a lot of pain, she remi- canteens located in the camp. The the Kenya Army ought to pay lease nisces the earlier days when they locals were worst hit when they for use of community land,” point- had invited the army to come and were issued with an eviction notice. ed out Paul Lenapangai, a teacher practise in the area. The fate of Nakeny and over who was born in Chokaa Village Clockwise: Women from Chokaa Village adjacent to the School of Combat “I vividly remember those early 3,000 residents of Chokaa village and still lives there. Engineering pondering over their future during a recent community days in 1965 when the Kenya Army about 40 kilometres from Isiolo, Across the western side of Isio- soldiers came for training exercise in residing adjacent School of Com- lo, seven kilometres away in Burat meeting held to chart the way forward over the military eviction threats. the area. I was still young, the com- bat Engineering (SOCE) Kenya Location, the situation is also rep- Kenya Army officers during a training session. Below: A villager with his munity welcomed them with open army training facility lies in bal- licated, with close to over 11,000 herd of camels at a watering point. A section of Isiolo town. arms. They were friendly to the ance following a protracted land Continued on page 5 Pictures: Ekuwam Adou and Reject Correspondent Read more Reject stories online at www.mediadiversityafrica.org 2 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Accident victim wallows in misery after family abandons him

By PAUL OLALE technician at a soap making company, San In 1990, Oriro used some of the mon- Manyatta. ey to help the son buy a plot and put up A man who had a near fatal accident at a fac- “I found myself two days later in a hospital five two-roomed semi-permanent rental tory has been abandoned by his next of kin at a bed. I was told I went into a coma following the houses at Shibale Estate, Mumias. Kotia, house in the outskirts of Mumias Town. severe burns and shock,” he explains. his wife and three children then settled in The bed ridden man is famished and alone. He was taken to MP Shah Hospital, Nai- one of the houses. The wife later died in His wife died and his three children disap- robi by a sympathetic engineer at the company 1999. Six months later, the children then peared after their mother’s death. Relatives no identified as Davies Bill. Four months later, he aged nine, seven and three years mysteri- longer visit him and it seems he has just been was transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital, ously disappeared from the house. He has left to die. because the bills had accumulated beyond his not heard of them since. His late wife’s “I can’t figure out why I have been rejected at means. Some relatives collected money and family in Yala, Gem District denied they a time when I really need support. I need food, cleared the bills. were linked to the children’s disappear- help to bathe, change clothes and to relieve my- ance. self,” he said. Compensation Kotia said the money he had is long David Kotia, 46, a resident of Shibale Es- In 1989, Kotia’s father James Oriro, sought gone and he cannot pay for treatment nor fend “I can’t figure out tate, Mumias, hangs onto life courtesy of sym- compensation from the factory owner through for himself; more so because one of his legs pathetic neighbours and members of the area advocate Francis Etole. was amputated at Busia District Hospital. why I have been Seventh Adventist Church (SDA), who occa- According to an insurance assessor, the Kotia’s skin is unnaturally black, scaly and sionally bring him food. There are also some compensation was evaluated at about KSh- with some chronic gaping wounds. He is evi- rejected at a time children within the locality who bring him 3million. Kotia alleges the advocate was un- dently frail and cannot leave his bed without sugarcane that has fallen off tractors as they willing to part with any money after they help because of the amputation. when I really need are being taken to the sugar factory. However, heard that the company had issued a cheque, However, despite the wasting away of the this is not working for him as he cannot chew though the exact amount could not be ascer- body, slurred speech and limited mobility; the because disease has ravaged his jaws. tained. man’s memory is clear. His white sunken eye- support. I need Kotia’s rural home is Mulambo Village, This forced Oriro to involve the police who balls spell loneliness and desperation. Butere District, about 30 kilometres from his prevailed upon the advocate to oblige. The ad- “Even when I relieve myself in the bucket, food, help to bathe, current home. However, he cannot get help vocate said he was given only KSh405,000. He it has to wait for someone to come around to from there because his father, 70, is also bedrid- gave Kotia’s father KSh395,000, arguing that the empty it for me,” he says. change clothes and den. His mother is frail and his brothers, who balance was his legal fee. Another problem is that his houses have are cane cutters, say poverty hinders them from A dissatisfied father decided to pursue the become dilapidated for lack of maintenance. to relieve myself.” helping him. matter, and engaged another advocate Ojwang’ The tenants have also taken advantage of his “My in-laws from my wife’s side have also Agina, of Sane and Company Advocates. How- condition to default on rent in the last three — David Kotia cut links. I suspect they are linked to the disap- ever, the family members do not know the fate years, denying him what was his only source pearance of my children,” he says. of the case to date. of income. Kotia narrated how he was seriously in- Part of the compensation money was spent “I appeal for medical assistance, re-union jured in 1987 when a boiler burst and spilt on Kotia’s treatment at various hospitals that with my children, follow-up on my full com- said. He can be reached through the Secretary acidic content on him at a factory in Industrial include Kenyatta, St Mary’s Mission Mumias, pensation and funds to renovate my houses of Shibale SDA church, Aggrey Musindalo, Area, Nairobi. He was then working as a plant Alupe and Busia District. and action taken on the obstinate tenants,” he mobile phone number 0720-453188. SMS Explosives leave village under siege By EKUWAM ADOU Stanley Lenyakopiro moved the com- mittee that was on a fact finding mission at monitoring mittee members when he claimed that the training ground that there has been a Dozens of the victims allegedly maimed by there were increased cases of induced systematic and deliberate expansion of the unexploded military ordinance at the Brit- abortions and miscarriage by pregnant military training area leading to encroach- ish Army training grounds in Samburu women in the area due to toxic explosives ment on private community held sanctu- to curb drug East were paraded before the Parliamen- that are used during the training. aries at Lesosia and Girgir. tary Committee on Defence and Foreign “We have lost many children due to Aloise Leariwala, chairman of Gir- Relations. miscarriage and still-births among preg- gir Group ranch called for compensation stock outs The House committee led by the chair- nant women affected by levels of toxicity from the British government for the loss of By CHARLES NJERU man Adan Keynan came face to face with of explosives used,” lamented a bitter Le- lives and injuries besides paying for envi- the gravity of the matter when they heard nyakopiro. ronmental degradation. A new SMS system has been launched in five Kenyan dis- from the victims who attributed their in- Hearing impairments among the area Britain has in the recent past acknowl- tricts to monitor malaria drugs stock. This new system juries to military explosives carelessly left residents have increased due to excessive edged and paid compensation for injuries was launched this September by Novartis, a multination- behind at the training range by British noise pollution generated by bombings and deaths caused by munitions left at the al drug company. The initiative aims to avoid drug stock Army soldiers undertaking the exercise in and shootings at the range. training field in Samburu East. outs which have been common in the past. the area. Community leaders of Lessosia and The Norvatis programme director Jim Barrington Pauline Lemiyok, 33, and Kapua Learata group ranches complained bitterly Payment says that the new system is working well. “An SMS Lemokon, whose hands were chopped off of increased loss of lives and injuries of The last such payment was in 2002 is sent to one health worker at a health facility every recounted how they separately picked an herdsmen attributed to unexploded mili- when millions were paid out to victims Thursday by 2pm. The health workers are asked to re- unknown metallic object which exploded tary munitions left behind in the training and relatives of the affected in an out of ply with information on the drugs available in stock. The in their hands, leaving them writhing in field. We have been left to graze our cattle court settlement led by a London law firm SMS is programmed with a message. “The worker also pain. “I fell and only woke up after some in confined grounds. When they leave Leigh and Day Company. gets a reminder to send data within 24 hours,” says Bar- minutes to find my body soaked in blood. I training, they leave behind live bombs The house committee fact-finding mis- rington. “Please send your stock data of AL (Coartem) also lost my right arm,” said Lemokon who which have so far killed and maimed hun- sion comes against the backdrop of the and RDTS,” the programmed SMS reads. The informa- was looking after his family’s herd of calves dreds of our people,” lamented Leariwala, deaths of four boys in Ngong area after an tion is then sent to the District Commissioner who then that stepped on an explosive device lying the Losesia group ranch chairman. “They explosive device they were playing with takes action during meetings every Monday morning. on the grazing lands. now use helicopters to chase away our cat- went off. The new SMS service also gives incentives for each reply tle and even shoot people,” he added. The children aged between six and nine with airtime valued at KSh50. The system is available in Shiny object Led by the Member of Parliament Ra- were taking care of cows at a grazing field Machakos, Manga, Musambweni, Vihiga and Ijara dis- Paul Leakono 45, recounted how he phael Letimalo, they demanded uncondi- in Ole Maroroi village, Ewaso Kedong tricts at no cost. was lucky to have survived. He curiously tional withdrawal of British Army soldiers about 25 kilometres from Ngong town Kenya is the second country in Africa with such a hit a seemingly shiny harmless object with training in the area. This will allow for when they found the device. service after it was first initiated in Tanzania last year. It a walking stick and the next thing he heard fresh negotiations over the use of the land The area is routinely used by Kenya is available in 4,000 Tanzanian health facilities. “This sys- was thunderous explosion that left him arbitrarily given by the Government with- Army to conduct training and the device tem is so far doing well. We hope it will increase in other with burns all over his body. He also lost out consent from the local community. was one of many unexploded military or- Malaria endemic areas of the country before the end of his testicles. They argued that the Kenya govern- dinance left behind by the soldiers. the year. We hope to make more malaria drugs available Leakono survived by the grace of God ment erred by unilaterally entering into a Kenya Army personnel have since ini- and make the history of drug stock outs a thing of the after he underwent extensive treatment at moratorium with the British over training tiated a thorough mop up exercise to rid past,” says Barrington. “The new SMS system seems to Wamba Mission Hospital. of their soldiers in the area without seek- the area of any unexploded munitions left be working well in our facility. We rarely experience Joseph Lepartobiko, 65, who suffered ing approval from the local community behind by the soldiers. stock outs,” says Joshua Onyango, a senior nurse at the burns on the abdomen, recounted events who legally own the land in form of group The mop up exercise led by experts de- Bugamangi Dispensary in Vihiga. leading to his injuries after he accidentally ranches. ployed to detonate explosives has already stepped on a rusty metallic object. Letimalo told the Parliamentary Com- retrieved 11 live bombs from the area. ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth 3 Kenya’s own dog whisperer By JOSEPH MUKUBWA He has read many books on dog training and learnt more For many, dogs are just petty animals but for a from friends. More than 30 years man in Othaya, it is his business, pride and joy. later, he is still pursuing courses As one approaches the dilapidated gate to his related to dog training. two bed-room house, one is immediately con- The training includes track- fronted by huge dogs who are barking all over. ing, attacking, defending and Their size is enough to scare anybody away. One even swimming across River two-year-old German Shepherd weighs 54 kilo- Thuti without the aid of the grammes. owner. At the banks of River Thuti on the outskirts The dogs undergo poison- of Othaya town one finds John Kagombe, 46, ing training, which is vital espe- alias wa Ngui (ngui is the Kikuyu word for dog), cially when guarding compounds a man who has dedicated his life to dog-keeping where criminals have a tendency for more than 30 years. of poisoning dogs using raw or His life is all about dogs. He eats, sleeps and cooked meat. dreams dogs. Wa Ngui is also educating his two Kagombe emphasises that children with income from the dog business. the poisoning training is impor- His dogs are for commercial purposes and tant as it dismantles the crimi- they are his joy and pride as they provide for nal’s possibilities of killing the their daily meal. He passionately narrates how guard dog. he sold dogs to pay dowry for his wife. This man who holds a diploma in Building Poison training and Construction says that because of his love “This training involves for dogs, he abandoned his career to keep the starving of the dogs for two to canines. three days after which they are Every year, he sells about 20 dogs. One released from their kennel to trained dog goes at KSh60, 000 while the big- find meat and other foodstuffs gest dog is worth KSh150, 000. One puppy goes thrown all over the compound,” for over KSh10, 000. he explains. As other men tether cows and goats to the Kagombe adds: “Unknown to market, Kagombe waits for his dog customers the dogs, the foods are smeared at home. Most of his dogs are booked while still with very bitter substances. Af- young. ter weeks of training, the dogs The farmer cum businessman from Othaya become aware that anything has made a kill in his business and sold many thrown around is bitter.” dogs that have found a home in almost all parts They are then fed on cooked of the country. He has even sold some as far as food comprising of meat, maize John Kagombe playing with one of Uganda and Tanzania. flour, wheat flour, omena and the dogs he is training at his farm. His major customers are security firms and indigenous greens collected The dogs are his best friends and the Kenya Police Dog Unit. He also sells to in- from bushes adding that some source of income. dividuals. of the greens are assumed to Pictures: Joseph Mukubwa be herbs that contain and pro- Special breeds tect dogs when they litter and His 20 dogs, down from the previous 60 go breastfeed. by names among them Simba, Maggie, Diva and Kagombe would later start Docks. Their breeds include German Shepherd, training security groups and acre peace of land which Roberman, Rottweiller, Japanese Spins and Jack individuals who would come with their dogs. he was given by Govern- Russell. Today, he charges KSh30, 000 for an individual ment after occupants de- “As other Kenyans count their wealth in who wants to be trained. serted the 30 houses due to terms of plots, livestock, buildings, land and He acknowledges that a bitch lacking cal- insecurity. The dogs now vehicles, I’m busy counting mine in terms of cium, which is mostly found in bones and om- help to maintain security the number of dogs in my kennels,” explains ena would automatically eliminate most of its in the area. Kagombe. puppies by ‘eating’ them after delivery. Puppies are to be de- When a dog litters, the man is then assured His advice to others in a similar field is that wormed two weeks after of paying school fees and house rent as well as a dog lacking vitamins E and K, which are delivery, an exercise that feeding his family. He is proud of being associ- found mostly on wheat and green vegetables is repeated every two ated with dogs. is likely to bleed excessively while giving birth weeks until they are three The former police reservist says that dogs as the vitamins aid in clotting during delivery. months old. have made him travel far and wide. “I have Most people feed the dogs with maize that Vaccination of Parvo visited Germany, South Africa and Sudan just has been rejected for being unfit for human viruses is also done after remained a puzzle to many. His efforts to appear because of dogs. Most of my clients have paid consumption. The maize is likely to find its way two weeks from the time of delivery where the a simple common man are betrayed by his ex- for my air ticket for me to accompany them to to the posho mill and hence be fed to the dogs. virus is rampant though it can be done at the pensive and modern clothes. their countries to help select the best breeds,” fifth and sixth week of birth. Only those who have visited his kennels es- he says. Dog food This must be re-administered three weeks pecially during the dog training session know Kagombe is a director with a Nairobi-based “This results to aflatoxin (condition where- later after which the puppies are administered Kagombe better. Like in any other business, security firm which was started recently. He by moulds form in the liver affecting the dog’s with the final dose of Distemper Hepatitis Lep- the Kagombe admits that the business also has plans to start a dog training college in future. digestive system resulting to death). This has tospirosis and Parvo (DHL). its challenges. He has to drive to Nairobi to get “I love my dogs very much. Sometimes when caused deaths to so many dogs in big farms and From there, the puppies are ready for market. vaccines and some of the feeds. He gets the clients come to buy them, I feel as if it is a family individuals,” he cautions. One dog gives birth to between five and eight omena fish from Gikomba market at exploit- member I am giving away,” he says. During mating, some dogs need assistance puppies twice per year. They start giving birth ative prices. Kagombe’s interest in dogs developed when as males are most likely to be heavier than the after reaching 18 months. For the maize flour, he travels to Meru he was nine years old, something that brought bitches and hence lack penetration. After 62 days, the bitch is likely to deliver where he owns a maize farm solely for the him into conflicts with his parents from time to To avoid such a situation, upcoming farm- its puppies. A place must be prepared one dogs. He purchases wheat from farms along time. He recalls how he raised KSh6, 000 later af- ers are encouraged to seek assistance from an week before birth so that it can be accustomed Nyahururu Road. ter selling two dogs while in Form Three in 1985. expert. He cautions farmers against oppressing to the surrounding. Since dogs are animals, Kagombe has to vaccinate the animals by He was then aged 16. He does not regret having the dogs. they are likely to dig a hole in an uncemented himself due to the high charges imposed by the several bites and scratch marks on his hands “I have started small businesses like a barber house where chances of survival of puppies Ministry of Livestock Development. In most and legs from the dogs. shop after I got the funds from these canines. are minimal because of predators that include cases, the local offices are not stocked with vac- His love for dogs started when he was at I have done much due to dogs. At one point, I safari ants and snakes. Kagombe’s advice is cines and other necessary supplies. Mtopanga Primary School in Mombasa as helped to clear may father’s bank loan of over spreading of the sand in cemented kennels up Scarcity of training facilities has also been his father also loved dogs. “I was close to my KSh1 million,” Kagombe says while cleaning one to about three inches from the floor. a barrier. He says that training is important to dad and so I came to like dogs, I was given of the puppies. Though popular in Othaya and other parts enable the farmer keep up with modern dog two dogs when I was leaving Mombasa. That’s Kagombe’s business is situated on the one- of the country, Kagombe’s updated lifestyle has technology. where I started.” Most of Kagombe’s customers prefer a The two dogs started breeding and they sold down payment for the puppies from the time the puppies to the neighbours. He started train- “Unknown to the dogs, the foods are smeared with very of birth to the time of taking them to their new ing the animals and would fetch more income. home. One day before collection, the puppies The father of two trains the dogs on obedience, bitter substances. After weeks of training, the dogs become are starved to avoid vomiting during transpor- socialising with people, attacking, tracking, tation. swimming, defending and detecting poison. aware that anything thrown around is bitter.” Kagombe urges youths to invest in the busi- The dogs are also taught to avoid food from sus- ness since it is not costly and has quick returns. picious sources. — John Kagombe He is truly a darling of dogs. 4 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Who owns the Kenyan Coastline. . . By REJECT CORRESPONDENT

Kenya’s Coastal strip is a gold- mine. Everyone who wants to be a land owner would like to have just a piece of it. While it cannot be divided equally among the 40,000 Kenyans, this strip of land that stretched about 10 miles to the in- terior, is unfortunately owned by a select few. The Kenyan Coastline can be divided into various segments. There is the general coastline as well as the North and South Coast. Kenya’s coastline stretches some 480 kilometres from Tan- zania in the south to Somalia in the north, this beautiful stretch is made up of a tranquil of white beaches, golden sand dunes, warm turquoise water, archaeological treasures and idyllic secluded is- lands. In the 9th Century, the Coast was a central stop. Indian, Arabic and African traders settled to create a Swahili culture that is still thriv- ing today. The influence of Kenya’s rich trading history is still very Scenic sites along the Kenyan much a part of the area’s unique Coast where land ownership and lively culture, which makes a is an issue of concern. Most of holiday to the Kenyan Coast more the prime land along the Coast than a simple enjoyment of the sun is owned by a few elite families and sand. and foreigners leaving natives Palm fringed beaches with calm of the area landless. Pictures: inviting waters of the Indian Ocean Reject Correspondent and wide creeks have made the Ke- nyan coastline a popular point of call for the international yachting circuit. as Tiwi Beach, ideal for travel- The Kenyan coast is divided lers looking for a low key break. into four regions: the North Coast Inland, the fertile hinterland of covering the beaches from Mom- Kwale District consists of small basa to Kilifi, South Coast stretch- villages inhabited by the Kamba, ing from Mombasa to the Tanzania Digo and Duruma tribes. border centering on Diani Beach, Further south, the small fish- including Chale Island. Malindi, ing village of Shimoni is home to Watamu including the Tana River a series of deep mysterious coast- Delta and the Lamu archipelago. al caves that stretch from the sea The beaches of the North Coast to deep into the jungles. Histori- comprise Nyali, Vipingo, Kikam- cally, these caves were long used bala and Shanzu that are home to as a refuge for Dhow Sailors, Arab a wide range of world class resorts slavers and explorers. Shimoni with fine cuisine and services while is also an excellent base for big the beach havens of Mtwapa and game fishing in the waters of the Takaungu offer an ideal escape Pemba Channel. from the outside world, with end- The people of the Coast have less deserted beaches. The offshore lost control of the rich natural en- of government are allocated plots, widened to include other tribes, al- reefs are alive with coral, myriad dowments bequeathed by their an- which really mean people who though this could hardly be conso- fish, sea turtles and dolphins. Both cestors. Hundreds of thousands are are from outside the province. lation to coast people. outer and inner reef walls offer landless or squatters, with access to Among the locals it was only These historical sites and mon- world class diving with spectacular neither land nor water, since routes the ruling party officials who have uments include isolated ruins of coral gardens and drop offs. to the ocean have been blocked benefitted. The decree promulgated houses, mosques, tombs, town- The coastline south of Mom- by land demarcation and private in the 1970s requiring presiden- ships such as, Gede Ruins and for- basa is a tropical paradise of palm fences. Fishermen have a problem tial consent for all allocations and tified areas such as the Fort Jesus. fringed white sand beaches, where getting access to the ocean. transfers of land near the beach still They also include monuments like the turquoise waters of the Indian Native observers of the coast’s stands, making it even more diffi- the Vasco da Gama pillar in Ma- Ocean meet beautiful coral reefs. land problems believe that al- cult for the vast majority of the peo- lindi, and urban areas of historical The protective reefs have created though there has been an unde- ple to transact in such land. A wel- and architectural importance, such ideal beaches with calm, inviting sirable trend since independence, come development is that whereas as Mombasa Old Town and the waters. Days are filled with sun- things started getting out of hand after independence allotees came Lamu Archipelago. shine and nights are balmy and around 1988. Only people who from mainly one tribe, since 1978 The North coast beauty and an- warm with gentle sea breezes. have access to the higher echelons the range of beneficiaries has been cient culture that blends well with its hot climate has made regions South Coast such as Mombasa, Kilifi, Watamu, The beaches are bordered by The history of land ownership in Mombasa Malindi, Tana Delta and Lamu a lush green coastal rainforests with gem to many local and foreign in- prolific birdlife and variety of dates back to the Sultan days when select vestors. wildlife including baboons, rare Though many locals and na- Columbus monkeys and even class of people could own land. Some tives are believed to own almost all leopards. A wide range of world prime lands, very few with influ- class resorts, centred around Diani influential families within Mombasa ence and money have so far man- Beach allow visitors to relax and aged to secure documents for their enjoy this natural paradise with the controlled almost all the land. How they lands. However, a large number of best standards of accommodation, the coastal people still live as squat- service and cuisine. came to possess such huge chunks of land ters in their ancestral land. The South Coast also has The history of land ownership many smaller quiet getaways such remains a mystery to many natives. Continued on page 5 ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth 5 Who owns the Army and villagers in Kenyan Coastline. . . Continued from page 4 land ownership battle in Mombasa dates back to the Sultan days when select class of people could own land. Some influential fami- lies within Mombasa controlled almost all the land. How they came to possess such huge chunks of land remains a mystery to many natives. The Mazruis were at one time the ruling elite in Mombasa and by extension the coast of Kenya. To- gether with other Arab families, they owned large tracts of land in Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi areas. Other wealthy land owners included the Busaidi fam- ily, other Omani families and Swaleh Nguru. In 1931, the authorities registered a trust of 2,716 areas in Kilifi for the benefit of the Mazrui. Fittingly, the colonial administration passed the Mazrui Lands Ordinance. This latter became the Mazrui Lands Act which was repealed in 1989. What was changed when the law was repealed? The MijiKenda, the dominant African tribe of the coast apart from the Taita, initially settled by the sea shore. They were gradually pushed further inland to pave way for Arab settlements. The term MijiKenda describes the settlement pattern, which was based on the nine sub-tribes of the people. They settled in nine fortress villages. The MijiKenda practised a blend of communal ownership with recognition of individual title to cultivated land. The Arabs who displaced the Mijikenda from parts of the seashore were predominantly Muslims. Islam recognises individual tenure to farmland and land in trading centres; pasture, forests and water points are Women in deep thoughts wondering where to go, with uncertantainity hanging in their over their future settlement. the properties of the community and are sustained Picture: Ekuwam Adou from the bounties of God. Continued from page 1 Pastoralist tribes in the arid and semi-arid zones peasants farmers living in fear of eviction by who will rendered homeless and destitute. ing camps currently surrounding the town. have their own traditional systems for sharing pas- army commanders from adjacent School of “The land allocation should be nullified in Civic leaders through council clerk Maurice tures and water in wet and dry seasons. Tana River Infantry (SOI), military barrack. face of new constitutional dispensation that Ogolla asked the Government to move away District for example has a large livestock population. The DOD has on several occasions given recognises community ownership of land as the military training bases within the environs Who owns the North Coast beaches? The North quit notice to peasant agro-farmers at Maili spelt out in the new document,” argues Achu- of Isiolo town, following plans to elevate it to Coast beach front starts all the way from the Nyali Nane, Maili Tano and Kambi Sheikh follow- ka. a resort city as envisioned in Vision 2030 eco- Bridge to Lamu. Mombasa old Nyali is an excluded ing massive expansion and encroachment of Mzee Emmal Mekede who has a five-acre nomic blueprint. spot of its own. The old Nyali starts from the bridge to settlement area. The situation has not gone farm producing vegetables and fruits, says he “You cannot have military training bases the English point. Here, beach plots are prime and ex- well with locals. settled at Maili Nane 45 years ago and was in ever expanding town commercial hubs. clusive only for the Kenyan elite and influential class of The farmers supply more than three quar- part of the group of elders who met army of- The camps were established when Isiolo was a tycoons and businessmen. Unlike the new Nyali, the ters of fresh produce consumed by Isiolo resi- ficers when they first arrived. small trading centre,” argues Ogolla. old Nyali is spacious and not crowded. The location is dents. Tonnes of onions, tomatoes, beans and “They told us they would establish a train- “SOI must be relocated because it is a serene and private with crystal clear sandy beach. His maize are produced by farmers throughout ing base between the hills and River Lewa. farming and settlement area. It is also the Highness the Aga Khan is alleged to own land here, the year through irrigation from water tapped That is an area of about 2,500 hectares. Now site of the proposed abattoir and close to the with other few rich persons from European countries. from Isiolo River. they want to extend it to include land up to proposed resort city,” notes Councillor Paul Bamburi is a small Miami in Africa. The place is Isiolo River,” observes Mekede. Mero, immediate outgoing game committee crowded with world class beach front hotels. Very few Memorandum Apart from farms on the western bank of chairman. residential homes are found in this location. Hotels The people settled in the area way back the river, the settlement area houses seven pub- Mero observes that SOCE, occupies land such the Nyali, Reef, White Sands as well as beach clubs 1912, according to Emmanel Achuka, human lic primary schools, Kenya wildlife headquar- that is within the wildlife migratory corri- and expensive restaurants stretch all the way from the right activist affiliated to Isiolo Human Rights ters and health centres. dor used as conduit for wildlife from northern main Malindi-Mombasa road to the beach. These ho- Network (ISIOLO-HURRINET), while pre- At the Eastern side of Isiolo town, two ki- Kenya, Meru, Mt Kenya and the Aberdares. tels are owned by Kenyan elite and businessmen. senting a memorandum to Truth Justice and lometres away sits 78 Tanks Battalion which The Council held in trust all community Reconciliation commission (TJRC) sitting in occupies large swathes of land, displacing over land under the old Constitution and have Demarcations Isiolo recently. 5,000 residents living as squatters at makeshift been at loggerheads with the military on land However, the foot paths to the ocean in these classy By the Second World War, the population Kisima village which has not been developed issues. establishments have been blocked by land demarca- grew due to the demand of migrant workers over a land ownership controversy. The Department of Defence (DoD) top tion and private fences. and soldiers. Later after the war, the people re- Peter Losuu a resident says lack of clear-cut brass have dismissively been ignoring the Mtwapa is one town that is growing fast due to in- mained and their population has been grow- land ownership impasse has impeded devel- Council directive on land matters, saying creased tourism in the area. The presence of foreign- ing. In 1952, the Anti-Poaching Unit was es- opment activity in the area. “You cannot build they were allocated the land by central Gov- ers in this town has made the value of land extremely tablished in the area and recruited the first 40 a permanent house in the area because of the ernment and are not answerable to the civic high. From the creek, basking in the sun is a fleet game rangers from the local population who land ownership problem,” observes Losuu. authority. of boats and yachts for water sports that are mainly are now retired and their children are now At Kiwanja and Epiding area in Ngare- A case in point was when Chinese firm owned by the foreigners. employed in the same unit. mara location, barely three kilometres away constructing Isiolo-Merille Bridge sought to Hotels, villas and rental apartments along the creek The army came to the area in 1981 and was from Isiolo town, located along the great build it headquarters on the land adjacent to are owned by German nationals while the famous Af- allowed to build a temporary tented camp just Trans-Africa Isiolo-Moyale highway, the School of combat Engineering (SOCE), they rica Safari club that stretches all the way to Shanzu beyond Lewa River. They approached com- military has annexed large tracts of land consulted the Army instead of the council. Beach is owned by a local politician. munity elders who showed them where to lo- through establishment of School of Artil- The Army claimed ownership of the land, If one is looking for a retirement retreat, Kilifi is cate their tented camp. The elders were Mzee lery (SOA) training camp, leaving over 2,000 and therefore went ahead into agreement with believed to be an ideal place for such excursions. Ac- Lekwale, Mzee Ewoi Kalasinga, Mzee Emmal residents as squatters. the Chinese firm China Wu Yi, to handover the cording to property agents, retirees, mostly British Mekede, Mzee Mbogori and the late Mzee Bil- Across the bridge on Samburu East side, buildings upon completion of their contract. settlers have put up holidays homes along the beach low among others. thousands of hectares of are being used as The former military spokesman Bogita front. “Unfortunately the shoe is on the other training ground by British army troops on Ongeri has been quoted claiming legal own- Watamu and Malindi is another Rome in Africa, foot by the army claiming that the old men high altitude military exercises. Deaths and ership over contentious swathes of land held villas have flooded the beach fronts. The region’s econ- and the entire community who welcomed injuries caused by undetonated munitions by the military. omy, ranging from the hotel industry and tourism is them have encroached on their land,” laments carelessly left behind in the fields have been “The land was surveyed and we have a title controlled by Italians and very few Europeans. Ma- Achuka. reported. deed. I don’t know where the claim is coming lindi and Watamu has over 20 tourist hotels situated Currently, the army is claiming ownership The voracious appetite for land by the mili- from. What has happened is that people have along the beach. In many circles Malindi and Watamu of the community land and is threatening to tary, which has led to the coordinated expan- encroached but we know where our land lies,” are referred to as playgrounds for Italians. Italian bil- evict people. The land grabbed by the Army sion and encroachment of settlement area has retorted Ongeri. lionaire Flavio Briatore owns the Lion in the Sun Re- which is under contention is estimated to be raised concerns among the local residents. A parliamentary departmental house sort in Malindi. Last year it was said that he was going over 10,000 hectares covering a whole sub- select committee on Defence and foreign to build a club worth 500 million euros. location/ward. Scramble relations led by Wajir West MP Adan Key- The Lamu archipelago beauty and tranquillity has Achuka says people are appalled by the Isiolo County Council recently petitioned nan visited Isiolo and Samburu East to in- wooed many investors heart. The Kenyan elite, crown sheer disregard of all procedures and proto- Deputy Prime Minister who is also Minister vestigate and report back issues related wide princes and billionaires from Europe have bought col of land allocation by the Kenya Army say- for Local government Musalia Mudavadi, to ranging conflicts between the community chunks of land in these seven islands of Lamu. ing the move will displace over 11,400 people ask the Government relocate the army train- and the military. 6 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Citizens reclaim Park from grabbers By OLOO JANAK The grabbing of Taifa Park became a test case of how Kisumu, Kenya’s third largest city is often in the public could protect their the news when its restive youth population property and stop impunity gets involved in political skirmishes. For a through a sustained non–vio- long time, the youth and their propensity for lent campaign with broad agitation have been viewed negatively, paint- based support from all sectors ing the city as a place akin to violence. and estates of the town. However, this is all changing and many “The campaign involved a people have begun to appreciate that public series of activities and utilised agitation and advocacy is after all for public a number methods which in- good. They also feel that it can help kick life cluded public awareness and into lethargic government structures to re- public mobilisation, investi- spond to public demands and improve service gation and data collection to delivery. help drive a credible and fact This was recently demonstrated in the city driven campaign. We also got when a sustained campaign led by the youth and into negotiation and engage- which eventually brought in other stakeholders, ment meetings with the new led to saving a public recreation park from the claimants of the Park to get jaws of powerful land grabbers. them to raise any issues and Taifa Park, located within the Central Business shed light on the process of District next to the Catholic University of East- property acquisition,” reiter- ern Africa, is one of the oldest recreation facilities ates Nyamori. in Kisumu town. Up to around 2009, the Park, He notes it was important though largely unattended, with tall grass and un- to “communicate the public’s collected refuse, remained accessible to the public. resolve to get the Park back It had beautiful, though aging flamboyant to public ownership” through trees and some bougainvillea flower hedges sustained public education, around it that provided shade for hundreds of mobilisation and organisa- the town residents who chose to relax there tion through public forums or ordered food and drinks from the kiosks and rallies, neighbourhood around it. meetings, press releases, ra- dio talk shows and adverts, Private developer IEC materials such as tee- This suddenly changed one early morning shirts, fliers, stickers, banners in mid-2009 when the town residents woke up and flags; theatre, door to to find all the huge trees cut down by people door campaigns, phone calls power saws. Crowds of curious and outraged and text messaging. residents quickly gathered around the park. The town population was outraged as in- Demonstrations formation filtered that the Park had been tak- For months, there were en over by “a private developer”, which with- demonstrations and public out doubt meant that the place would soon see rallies within the town and the construction of some high-rise building. at Taifa Park to keep the There were demonstrations and demands matter alive and show public that those who had cut down the trees and were participation. This alarmed attempting to take over the park be punished. A the authorities, who at times From top: Taifa park which is undergoing rehabilitation after public agitation. A signpost declaring campaign, led by the Nyanza Youth Coalition deployed the police to try to the success of the campaign to reclaim the park from grabbers. Volunteers assemble tools at the (NYC) spanning more than six months, was break up the demos. Park to begin the rehabilitation work. Pictures: Oloo Janak immediately launched. This helped reclaim the In fact, the government park, now under rehabilitation, for public use and the Kisumu Municipal again. Council have, though belat- also held several major public rallies and mu- one morning to find all the trees had been cut “It has not been easy and Kisumu residents edly, now become converts and advocates of sic concerts at the Taifa Park which attracted down. I brought my camera and captured the have had to sustain a campaign to save the the park’s rehabilitation efforts. They have now thousands of town dwellers. destruction. I didn’t know what to do but I am park from the powerful grabbers,” says Joshua joined the members of the public in tree plant- “The Council also realised the issue needed now happy that many people came out to cam- Nyamori, Coordinator of Nyanza Youth Coali- ing and other rehabilitation activities at the park. attention and joined in efforts to find out what paign and get it back.” tion (NYC). One of the most far-reaching methods used had exactly gone wrong. There are many of us John Otieno, 26, a bicycle repairer sta- Property speculators had linked up with by the youth and stakeholders to campaign for at the Council who supported reclamation of tioned next to the Park mourns both the loss corrupt elements at the Kisumu Municipal the reclamation of the park was the targeted the Park,” says Councillor Caroline Owen of of business and shade for his customers. His Council, transferring its ownership to wealthy product consumption boycott and threat of Nyahera Ward. business people through an intricate chain of stopping tax payment to the council. garage was located at a corner of the Park from They sent petitions to the District Com- where he used to serve his clients. fraudulent means. These included faking the This involved non-violent campaign to missioners, Kisumu, the Provincial Commis- loss of the original title deed and processing a boycott buying and consuming bread, wheat “They destroyed my shed and the big tree sioner, Nyanza, United Millers, the Municipal under which my customers used to rest as I new one through the Ministry of Lands to aid and maize flour and a host of other products Council, the Ministry of Lands and Parlia- worked. I am one of those who participated the transfer to the private developers. from United Millers whose owners were al- ment over the grabbing of the park. They also actively in the campaign to ensure we got the The beneficiaries of this fraudulent alloca- leged to be associated with the grabbing of the conducted clean up and trees planting activi- tion proceeded to sell of the Park to other par- Park. ties at the park, to keep the matter alive. park back. We will not allow them to destroy ties and were not about to relent easily. They The protesting population, led by NYC and it again, never!” he says waving a clenched fist, mounted both legal and political manoeuvres a stakeholder committee issued a threat to the Rehabilitation as if he is ready to hit the grabbers. complete with intimidation of NYC leaders Municipal Council that they would mobil- Finally, the voices of the people were heard For 32 year old Jane Achieng’, reclamation and other stakeholders in an effort to shake off ise town residents to stop paying rates to the and the campaign has yielded dividends. The and rehabilitation of the park holds the promise the mounting public pressure. council. fake title deeds were revoked a new one was of better business. “We were serious and the Council knew issued in the name of the council to hold the “I used to sell groundnuts, uji (porridge) and Public campaign this. It has happened before and they knew plot in trust for the public. other small items but grabbing of the Park and The NYC secured a three-month in-kind we were not joking on this matter of grabbing With support from USAID under the Ke- cutting down of trees disrupted my business. grant in January 2010 from the Kenya Transi- of Taifa Park,” says Dan Otieno, a boda boda nya Transitional Initiative (KTI) rehabilitation Now you can see I have come back but I sell from tional Initiative (KTI) through the Kisumu of- (motorcycle) taxi operator who was part of the of the Park is awake again. Clearance of the outside as the rehabilitation continues,” explains fice to scale up the public campaign, through campaign. ground has been done and landscaping and Achieng. non-violent means and restore the park to Initially, there was an attempt by the Gov- tree planting is on going. Nyamori, head of the Nyanza Youth Coali- public ownership. ernment and the Council to intimidate, harass Interviews with various stakeholders reveal tion who led the spirited campaign to reclaim The campaign was also meant to send a clear and arrest the leaders and kill the campaign. a sense of triumph, relief and satisfaction that the park says the fight is far from over. message to potential buyers and sellers of pub- However, the support for the campaign, “The masses, when mobilised and organised lic land in Kisumu that impunity would not be dubbed “Returning Taifa Park to the Public” public effort has saved the park from powerful are a powerful tool against impunity, corruption tolerated. KTI later gave additional support that was so overwhelming that any attempt to dis- and well connected individuals who hitherto, and bad governance but the corruption networks led to the current phase of physical rehabilita- perse the crowds meeting would have degen- thought they were untouchable. tion and beautification. erated into violence. “As young people who have been using the in Kisumu are powerful and vicious. So we must Residents of Kisumu through their or- park to rest and eat ‘air burger’ during lunch, remain vigilant,” observes Nyamori. ganised stakeholder groups led by NYC were Sensitisation we feel proud that our struggle to reclaim the The success of the non violence approach convinced that the fraudulent acquisition of Throughout 2010 spilling over to this year, Park has not been in vain,” observes Vincent among the youth and other Kisumu stake- Taifa Park by private developers, if left unchal- the campaign has been on, vigorous but non- Ochieng’, a member of the Park Reclamation holders in agitating for change opens a new lenged, would set stage for the grabbing of all violent. A number of activities were undertaken Steering Committee. chapter and method of engagement within the other surviving public utility plots in a during the campaign which included private David Munyasia who works at Auto Ex- Kisumu Town. town which had since the 1990s lost a substan- investigations to establish the status of the Taifa press, a business firm next to the Park could not “Leaders and the business community now tial chunk of prime public plots and property Park block 7/240. hide his joy as he watched the ongoing rehabili- know the people have the power to change to both corrupt public officers and private in- The steering committee, drawn from dif- tation work. He says: things peacefully and that they must be listened dividuals. ferent stakeholder groups but led by NYC “Two years ago, I wept when I woke up to,” notes Nyamori. ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth 7 Hope for the Honey pots of Korogocho children of Putting food on the table knows not the source of the money By BEATRICE GITAU

Vilwakwe Martin Okello and John Ndegwa make their way to a latrine they have been emptying the whole By ELIZABETH AWUOR morning. Ndegwa pushes the handcart massively A woman’s passion for children has seen more bending forward while Okello pulls from the than 350 children from poor families get edu- front, appearing as if the handcart has curved his cation at Vilwakwe Children Centre in Mom- back. His rough hands, spotting thickened veins basa. and huge blisters, portray images of hard work Mary Kopulo, the founder of Vilwakwe accomplished with each passing day. Children Centre started a school feeding pro- The path they are taking wounds up and they enter a shanty through a wooden gate. Imme- gramme in 2006. Based at a local church, she diately Ndegwa embarks on the job, as Okello used money from her pocket to feed the seven stands by. pupils she had then, just to keep them in school. Armed with a five litre stringed container, Today, Vilwakwe Centre has grown to Ndegwa throws it into the stinking squat hole of host 395 children, with 206 in primary school the communal latrine and pulls out the excreta. which goes up to Standard Six. He empties the thick greenish marsh into a 20 With assistance from the US government litre bucket that Okello lifts up and dumps in the through the United States Agency for Inter- larger drum attached to the handcart. national Development (USAID) and Edu- The locals sarcastically call the handcart cation for Marginalized Children in Kenya “gari ya choky” (chocolate vehicle) “mahin- (EMACK) in partnership with The Aga Khan dra” or “the honey pot”. Foundation, the centre now has a new face fol- lowing recent renovations. Lack of protective gear The US ambassador to Kenya Scott Gration None of the two men is using gloves or any visited the centre in September 2011 to join other protective gear. They do not have face children and staff members celebrate the new masks to protect them from inhaling the poison- classes and rooms that a KSh300, 000 grant ous fumes. After a few minutes Ndegwa’s hands had funded. are wet with putrid faeces and urine. During his visit to the centre, the envoy The dissimilar shoes are tattered beyond de- applauded the founder and her team for en- scription. There is no difference between him John Ndegwa and Martin Okello at work suring that children from poor families got and someone who is barefoot. His feet were pushing the handcart with sewage. They soaked too. The spills have over time soiled his education. do not use protective gear in their work. clothes such that it is hard to make out what co- Below: John empties one of the toilets. Gration who was accompanied by his wife lour they were originally. Pictures: Beatrice Gitau Judy, said providing education to children was “We don’t wear any protective clothing like the best way of assisting the future generation. gumboots or gloves because it’s a waste of time This special handcart was introduced to the “The brain never grows old, it always and effort,” explains Okello. He adds: “We tried locals by a Catholic missionary many years ago. keeps getting better and what you are doing wearing gumboots but they got soaked which “What Father Alex gave us was too bulky to to the kid’s brains is a lifetime investment,” made it difficult for us to walk, whereas the move around,” says Irungu. Kariuki adds: “It was said Gration. gloves would burn us because of the gas emitted.” entirely made of metal and the drum had a lid. While appreciating the US government’s Ndegwa elaborates: “We prefer to work as we It required five men to move it.” assistance, Coast Provincial Director of Edu- are and when we are done with the day’s work cation Mr. Alex Majani expressed concern that we take a bath with detergent and when we can Survival there are children within big cities in Kenya afford with an antiseptic.” Irungu explains: “People dismantled it and who still cannot access education. “Sometimes when the excrement is too thick sold the scrap metal. We made ourselves these Majani said there cannot be equality if we are forced to go down the latrine and scoop wooden ones, and they have been efficient.” He some children cannot access basic education. the sludge with a spade,” says Okello. While any adds: “Some of these young men were involved Also present during the function was The Aga normal person would suffer inexpressible terror in crime before they started doing this.” Khan Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer of this work, Okello and Ndegwa are both un- Irungu is also the chairman of Uchukuzi Self- Mr. Arif Neky who appreciated the local com- moved and continue with their job fast. Help Group, an organisation for the sewage col- munity’s uptake of education programmes. The two men are among more than 50 young lectors which caters for their welfare. preciated and their humanness smothered. men who make their living in the most horrid Apart from the new face, the centre, For these young men, the natural human “Others do not understand that what we do and unimaginable way. They are probably doing is our source of livelihood. They pay us too little,” through the US government, now has a School hunger for survival urges them on despite the the dirtiest job in Nairobi if not Kenya. says Okello repeatedly. Development Plan (SDP) with a committee debasement, ridicule from society and serious In the absence of any sewer system in the health risks that they face each day. Their suffering is perhaps hailed with the entrusted with the duty of coming up with de- Korogocho slums, these men have to remove the Irungu says the alternative “is between crime greatest joy by individuals of local community velopment programmes such as buying land human waste with their hands and dispose of it and risking our lives in this job to put bread on based organisations that dot the area. Waweru enough for the expansion of the centre to en- in the nearby river. the table”. explains that these people use their situation for able it admit more children. Public defecation and use of flying toilets is a The third alternative, namely the Govern- their own benefit. “The land we are in now belongs to the common scenario in the slums. Privileged resi- ment intervention to improve the situation is a “They come here and talk to us about our Bohra Community. We need our own perma- dents of Korogocho use shallow latrines, forcing funny statement to them. work, they take pictures of us at work, write and nent piece of land so that children who are still them to regularly hire the services of these men “We don’t see the government here,” Irungu send proposals to foreigners soliciting for funds,” in the villages such as Bombolulu, Kazandani to empty the toilets manually once they fill up. explains adding that they only see the admin- observes Waweru reaching for his bucket. and Kagulo get education,” said Mary Kopulo. istration police and local authorities when they He whispers: “When the help is out we nev- Mary, who is currently undertaking an ear- Earnings come to harass them because of what they do. er get to know about it, they use us to enrich ly childhood teaching course believes that the Without wearing any protective gear, these “Recently they drilled holes in the drums so themselves.” Centre will be able to train more teachers who men risk their lives to ensure a sense of sanita- that we do not work,” says Waweru. Kariuki in- will be able to administer quality education. tion in the slums as well as fend for themselves. terjects: “They are making our work difficult and Relief Other than basic education, the Centre also Locally they are known as ‘makairu’, ‘exhaust- yet when the latrines at the Chief’s camp fill up A stop over at a nearby non-formal primary runs forums where girls and boys speak about ers’ or simply ‘watu wa choo’ by the locals. they plead for our services.” school called Big Pen Academy only magnifies the challenges that they face in school and The story is no different for Waweru Mburu The local authorities are enforcing regulations the situation. The pit latrines are filled almost within the community. and Joseph Kariuki. Kariuki derives comfort in set by the National Environment Management to the brim and need the services of the sewage “We encourage children to use the forums the midst of his filthy job from the few shillings Authority (Nema) in attempts to rehabilitate and collectors. he hopes to take home at the end of the day. Mar- According to a teacher at the school Fredrick to express concerns that they fear sharing with restore the Nairobi River. The river which passes ried, the 37-year-old father of three lives between through many other slums in Nairobi and Indus- Kadima, the latrines despite the deplorable con- their parents at home,” she added. his house and the latrines in the slum. trial Area is already heavily polluted with indus- dition are a great relief in the institution. The centre has another project of teaching “This is an utterly unrewarding job. I some- trial effluent and raw sewage by the time it flows The latrines were built last year courtesy of parents on good parenting since this is a cru- times take home KSh100 at the end of the day,” through Korogocho. African Population and Health Research Centre cial element in the academic success and social says Kariuki. He poses in a tone of sympathy: “They warned us against dumping the waste (APHRC) and UN Habitat under a programme well being of the children. “How do I divide that to meet the needs of my in the river but they do not show us where to dis- promoting sanitation in the area. The school is The founder said that poverty combined family?” pose this waste,” says an incensed Kariuki. recognised as a health promoting school and is with some cultural beliefs that do not promote During our conversation I gather that at the According to Waweru, they used to dispose frequently supplied with water which is a rare the education of girls and ignorance about the heart of these sewage collectors situation lays a the waste in a manhole in the neighbourhood commodity in the area. importance of education are some of the rea- search for acceptance in the community a long- but this was closed after cases of people drown- Kadima, however, noted that successful sons that see children within that area remain ing to make ends meet. ing in the hole increased. teaching and learning can only thrive in a illiterate. Joseph Irungu who owns and hires out the The work of collecting sewage carries social healthy and peaceful atmosphere. “We hope to drive all those children into handcarts that the sewage collectors use for their stigma in this community. These sewage collec- “It is very difficult for us when the waste is be- school within the next three years,” she stated. work emphasises how the business curbed crime tors are habitually despised and demeaned by ing dislodged from the school’s latrine, the smell in the area. some residents. Their services have been unap- is very awful,” he observes. 8 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Samburu sets pace for county assembly By MUKTAR ABDI With the devolved governments, there are go- ing to be County assemblies that will look into the interests of specific regions. However, while county assemblies may look new, there are communities that have been hold- ing their own special Parliaments. One such as- sembly is to be found among the Samburu. Having started many centuries ago, it is an assembly of its own kind where elders occa- sionally meet to make binding decisions that affect the entire community. Due to the importance attached to this as- sembly of elders, it has gained the honour of being called a parliament. This Parliament in Samburu Naapo has ex- isted for ages and made many decisions on how cases such as those of cattle raiders from neigh- bouring communities are dealt with. However, for the last three years, Naapo has changed drastically with its main role being promoting peace with other pastoralist com- munities. Locals are now accrediting Naapo for the reduced armed raids which were almost a fortnightly occurrence. Pastoralists are known to own guns which they mainly use to repulse attackers out to steal their livestock despite it being illegal that they be in possession of arms. Gains Raids against the neighbouring Pokot, Bo- rana and Turkana communities have been or- From top: A Samburu woman addresses a gathering outside the Naapo at Lorora ganised at the Naapo where elders have given village. Ezekiel Sikuku blows the Kudu horn. The horn is used to call men to a meeting. blessing to the Morans (warriors) to steal live- Mzee Nguti Letukei, the parliament’s speaker outside the Naapo. Pictures: Muktar Abdi stock. However, in recent times, Samburu elders have started weighing the gains they have made the elders feast on it,” says Sikuku. He explains different duties like who is to take care of the from the raids compared to loss of lives and dis- further: “If an elder is late for the meeting, he animals and who is to shield the village from placement. has to pay a fine in monetary form which the the enemy. “We lost many of our people after several older men in the Parliament use to buy sugar The Samburu have been fighting with other wars broke out between us and the Pokot in the for their tea.” pastoralists over decades where tens of people last two decades,” says Mzee Nguti Letukei. Young girls are allowed into the assembly and animals lost their lives. Letukei is the respected elder of Lorora Vil- but once they are circumcised they can no lon- Jane Meriwas, a women’s rights activist was lage and acts as the Speaker of the local parlia- ger enter the Naapo. in Form Four when the 1995-1997 war broke at ment. However, Mama Namaris Lemuna says it is Kipsing area of Isiolo District. Lorora Village is located in Laikipia West not good to lock the women out as the killing Meriwas, who is the founder of Samburu District and here 300 families reside. These are was part of history. Women for Education and Empowerment Or- families that have been displaced over the years “Women too have voices and should be in- ganisation (SWEEDO) says she and her school- by conflicts related to competition for natural volved in decision making in the Naapo. Men mates escaped death by a whisker. resources, mainly water and pasture. should not use the killings as a way to lock them “Our car was sprayed with bullets as we were The homesteads belong to nine clans that ar- out,” argues Lemuna. leaving school for the holidays but luckily we rived from Samburu, Isiolo and parts of Laiki- She says the work of women is to cook tea survived without injuries,” says Meriwas. pia District at the height of armed conflict. for the men when they meet but they are not Conflict among the pastoralists has been go- Since their arrival at Lorora, Naapo has allowed to go in and serve it. They leave the tea ing on in Laikipia and only recently more than played a crucial role of promoting peace and at the entrance and the men serve themselves. 30 people among them children were killed in avoiding situations that would lead to retalia- Whenever there is a meeting, Sikuku blows Kanampiu Village by raiders. tory raids. a kudu (antelope) horn two times which warns However, in recent times community based the elders that it is time for them to assemble. organisations from the region have been spear- Absence of women The horn has a special resting place on a tree heading the revival of traditional peace building Though it is an open ground surrounded in the middle of the village and only a few peo- mechanisms after Government administration by thorny twigs laid in a circular shape, it is the ple are allowed to blow it to call for a meeting. structures failed to achieve the desired results. symbol of unity among the nine clans. At times, men are called to the Naapo to According to Northern Kenya Indigenous In the middle of the Parliament stands a fire- share stories of the day like clarifying rumours. Pastoralist Alliance (NKIPA) director Joseph place while beside it is a mud-walled hut where “Some people with bad intentions call to say ole Shuel, his organisation has been using the valued guests can spend a night. that the Pokot are preparing to raid us. Such Naapo as a place to make peace among the war- A Naapo can be put where people from dif- calls are normally made by other communities ring communities. ferent clans reside in a manyatta and there are living nearby and are aimed at causing panic. The communities have been using their in- several elders who can meet and consult on is- It is after these kinds of rumours that we call digenous and cultural understandings to build sues affecting the community. a meeting to defuse building tension,” explains peace. The Parliament, however, remains biased Sikuku. “They are the ones who know where war and is not gender sensitive as women are not The number of times the horn is blown de- starts and they are the ones who are greatly af- allowed into the assembly. It is purely a men’s termines the meeting that will take place. When fected,” says Shuel. Besides talking to the Morans and elders, affair and affirmative action plays no role here. the horn is blown three times the Morans (war- the meetings have also been used as a forum Ezekiel Sikuku, the assembly’s secretary says riors) are called to a meeting. If it is blown nine Subsequent meeting to encourage women to take an active role in women are not allowed in the Parliament be- times, it means there is danger, like impending Since last year NKIPA and SWEEDO has decision-making. cause it brings bad memories of an event that attack by raiders. been holding peace meetings in identified trou- In these meetings, women have danced to- happened in the 19th Century. “Nine times and more tells the villagers to ble spots called “battle fields”. gether and warriors from both communities “Our forefathers told us that initially women take shelter as the village is about to be attacked Meetings have been held at Damu Nyekudu, have shared a meal and conversations have could be invited into the Naapo but one day, and the Moran and elders to get ready to defend Tuale, Kipsing and Lorora. In most of those concentrated on forgiveness and reconciliation. raiders struck and as men ran away to get their their families,” he said. meetings, the Pokots and the Samburu have Shuel says involvement in Naapo has con- weapons and fight back, women were killed. Once in the Naapo, the Morans are assigned been called to interact and speak about peace. tributed greatly to cultivating peace among the From then on, women are not allowed to step warring communities. into the Naapo,” explains Sikuku. He adds: “In “Prior to our interventions, efforts by the case their contribution is required, a meeting is A Naapo can be put where people from different clans provincial administration had not borne much normally held a short distance away.” fruit but when we started using traditional in- The assembly has rules and anyone who reside in a manyatta and there are several elders who can stitutions like the Naapo, at least we can hap- dares break them pays a fine. “If one jumps pily say conflicts have reduced and after the over the wall or a woman enters the Parliament, meet and consult on issues affecting the community. Kanampiu incidents, the guns have gone silent,” one is fined a sheep which is slaughtered and he observed. ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth 9 Women find their way into construction jobs By HENRY KAHARA construction work. Although she admits that the For a longtime construction work has been job caters for her daily needs, perceived as a male field where the work is too Wambui is quick to mention that heavy for women. However, things are chang- loneliness is one of the major chal- ing and now women are defying all odds and lenges she faces. claiming their share in this field. “Sometimes I find that I’m the Today, hardly will one visit a construction only woman who is doing this and site and fail to find women contributing in one I cannot share some of my secrets way or another to the building work. with men,” she says. Many may think women who are found in Wambui, 24, says that for the construction sites are only there to sell food to time she has been with this com- the contractors. However, for Purity Wambui, pany, she has contributed to build- a common face on the construction site the ing many houses including Gen- story is different. eral Service Unit headquarters at Ruaraka and Kenya Wildlife Ser- Lack of fees vice flats. Having been raised by peasant farmers from “I move with this company Eldoret, Wambui’s parents were not in a posi- from one area to another so I have Women at work at a construction site in South B, Nairobi. Women are defying all odds by tion to pay her secondary school fee resulting gained a lot of experience now. I engaging in the once male dominated field. in sudden termination her education. can tackle any challenge I encoun- Picture: Henry Kahara “I reached Form Two since my parents were ter,” reiterates Wambui who con- not in a position to pay for my school fees,” says fesses that she will not be in this job not in many places that one will one get such an ties in the house,” observes Mueni. She notes Wambui. for long. amount at once,” she observes. that her supervisors are often humane and give Like any other girl who drops out of school Another woman in the construction indus- A mother of three, Mueni says she still has to the female workers lighter jobs like watering the at young age, she got a job as a househelp but try is Ann Mueni. Although new in the field, do her duties as a woman to both her husband building. due to mistreatment from her bosses she left she was attracted to it by the ‘huge’ amount and children, therefore fatigue due to multi- Although many people still maintain that after a short while. of money that one gets from it. She also saves tasking is the major challenge she faces. gender equality will never come to be, many When she left her job as a house girl two transport costs by walking to work. “For a woman, this job is not easy but we women today maintain that they too can do years ago, her aunt linked her up with Gragab “For now I walk to work and at the end of don’t have an option for we are supposed to what men can and therefore find their way into Companies Limited. The company deals with the day, I will get KSh500. I enjoy my job. It is look after our children and do some other du- the male dominated field of construction.

Cashier arrested Dilemma of being a with fake money girl child in Mwingi By CAROLINE WANGECHI Police in Mwea town in Kirinyaga By JANE MUTUA to be approached by a man and without much County have arrested a mobile ado, I agreed to his request and within months phone money service cashier dis- While we could say that we are living in the 21st into the marriage I realised I was pregnant,” said pensing fake KSh1, 000 notes and Century, there are communities that still firmly Nancy Mwende. impounded KSh25,000 in fake hold onto traditions that are oppressive to the girl Married life was partially good for Mwende currency. child. until she was thrown out by her husband. The cashier and proprietor of A spot check by the Reject shows that majority of “When my due date approached and I went into the M-Pesa outlet were arrested rural girls in Ukambani are becoming mothers at a labour, instead of taking me to hospital my hus- after giving a customer KSh9, 000 very tender age. Most of the girls aged between 10 band took me to my parents home and dumped in fake notes. and 15 years have given birth to at least one child. me at the gate. He never came back for me,” ex- Mwea OCPD Apollo Onyo- Some become mothers after being forced into plained Mwende. nyi said the client who was driv- marriage by their parents when they are barely into ing from Nairobi to Embu town their teens. Abandoned stopped at the M-Pesa outlet to A 10-year old girl in Standard One from Man- Her mother took her to the Nguni Dis- withdraw cash and made a request dongoi location of Kyuso District, Mwingi North pensary where she was eventually referred to to get the KSh9, 000. Constituency recently found herself in a marriage Mwingi District Hospital. Mwende delivered a The OCPD went on to say that situation. baby boy through a Caesarean section. the client, Anthony Ng’ang’a re- “I am extremely bitter with this man since ceived the cash and only realised it Forced marriage he has been staying with my daughter as his was fake after close scrutiny after “I got information from the area chief who was wife only for him to leave her when she is in leaving the outlet. informed by the public about the minor who had labour. Since then no one knows where he Ng’ang’a went back to the agent been turned into someone’s wife for four days,” said went,” says Mary Kilonzi, Mwende’s mother. who denied giving fake notes. Peter Maina, Kyuso District Commissioner. He She adds: “Their marriage was not even for- Girls walk home after school. Majority of the Ng’ang’a then called the police added: “We rescued the girl from the early marriage malised, it was just a come we stay arrangement.” school girls in Mwingi drop out of school due to who conducted a search at the which had apparently sanctioned by her parents.” Mwende dropped out of school when she was early marriage. Picture: Reject Correspondent premises. At the time he acted, arrangements to settle the in Standard Six. The mother says she was good Onyonyi said out of KSh104, dowry for the “young bride” were already in place. in class. After dropping out of school she was ened with death should they spill the beans. In 000 at the outlet, KSh25, 000 was Maina arrested the 28-year old husband and his forced by her father to get married immediately. search of peace and refuge, they drop out of school found to be fake with three differ- would be father-in-law. “Most girls in the larger Mwingi region are and go into the streets.” ent serial numbers. Police gave the During an interview, it emerged that most abused at a very high rate. I have been getting cases Mwinzi accused parents of not playing their role. serial numbers as BF 323 9560, BF parents in Kyuso area were not even taking their of young girls who have been sexually abused by She said if all parents were to provide the girl child 323 9641 and BF 323 daughters to school. Instead, they encouraged them their biological fathers. Due to fear of retribution with basic needs like sanitary towels, food and se- 9576 and warned members of to go into early marriage in return of dowry. they keep the acts secret but the psychological curity, there would be negligible cases of girl child the public and traders to be careful A good number of girls who get married or gave trauma remains,” says Jacinta Mwinzi, Mwingi Chil- abuse and school drop outs. when handling KSh1, 000 mostly birth have had children at the very early age in life dren’s Officer. “Lack of provision of basic needs to the girl child from M-Pesa agents in Embu. lead a very miserable life. The Reject spotted a 16- She says sexual harassment at the home has been by parents has been a great challenge. Mothers The teller was released on a year old girl who got married at the age of 14 but the the leading cause of girls dropping out of school. should be on the forefront in ensuring the girls’ se- cash bail of KSh200, 000. Inves- marriage did not last leading to separation. “Majority of the young girls seen in streets are curity by being close to the child, offering counsel- tigations on the case are still on- ”I just met that man two years ago and he re- not orphans. They were sexually harassed by their ling and supporting their education as well as pro- going. quested me to be his life partner. It was my first time biological fathers or close relatives and are threat- viding them with basic needs,” reiterated Mwinzi. 10 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Climate change leaves traditional healers in the balance

By ABJATA KHALIF Most of them stored medicines to be used during the long drought while Before the recent rains, the prolonged drought others stored seeds using traditional ravaging arid and semi arid areas of northern methods of preservation and planted Kenya continued to affect various activities them during the start of rains. with the latest casualty being traditional healers According to the head of the Tradi- and medicine men. tional Healers Council Daud Abdi: “We Traditional healers are a respected group of are facing a big crisis and may be out people in northern Kenya as they use locally of business. We have never witnessed available plants to treat various ailments. How- such problems before. We suspect that ever, circumstances changed following the bit- we may have done something wrong or ing drought that led to the drying of trees that our ancestors are not happy with what give roots, leaves and tree barks for traditional we have been doing.” medicine. He added: “Right now we have Usually pastoralist communities travel from reached dangerous levels as there are various villages to reach Dadajibula along the no materials from the trees. We don’t border in search of traditional treatment, bless- know where to go and look for plants to ings from traditional healers and advice on make traditional medicine. Our hands various ailments. are tied and our trade is gone.” Due to depletion of medicinal plants that The shrine is only opened for the healers have been affected by effects of climate change, and their style of appeasing their ancestors is the border town known in the region for bus- heard some kilometres away in Dadajibula vil- tling trade in traditional treatment is now a lage as each one of them makes loud cries, sing- ghost town. ing loudly, clapping in an attempt to appease the ancestor for not offering sacrifices for the Climate change plants collected in the area. Traditional healers are not giving into their Prolonged drought hitting the northern tribulations as they hold regular meetings to area has caused a humanitarian crisis with evaluate the problem bedevilling them. They pastoralist communities moving from one vil- continue to search for traditional divine inter- lage to another in search of water and pasture vention that will turn things round by appeas- due to the hostile weather changes getting ing mother nature to open up the skies. worse. The healers through their traditional coun- The situation has forced other pastoralist cil have met to consult their ancestors to know communities to move with their livestock from where they went wrong and how to appease to neighbouring Somalia where they believe their master. They have come up with a verdict they can get the resources in areas along River that traditional healers have not made a sacri- Shabelle. fice to the ancestors for certain medicinal plants The human traffic to the traditional medi- harvested from the village to treat fertility. cine and healing village of Dadajibula is no This has forced them to appease their an- more as community members lack means of gered ancestors in style as the elderly tradi- transport and paying for the services as they From top: Hunger stricken tional healers converge in one of their shrines have lost all their livestock which they use as a woman console her grand to shout, dance, jump and make offerings. means of payment for treatment and services child after missing treatment However, climate change experts have rendered. Pastoralist communities offer the from traditional healer in healers goats and cattle as payment based on warned the healers that such moves of appeas- Dadajibula border village. ing their ancestors through traditional means the type of disease and period of treatment. A deserted traditional will not assist or reverse the situation but they healers clinic in the village. should admit the problem is caused by chang- Payment ing climate patterns accompanied with severe Area resident Sirat Olow claimed the prob- Affected traditional shocks. lem is a blow to local small scale businesses healers attend a meeting Executive director of Kenya Climate Forum like hotels in Dadajibula as most patients in in Modogashe, Garissa to Benjamin Akavasi said the healers need to join search of traditional treatment seek food and discuss the effects of climate the worldwide bandwagon of admitting climate accommodation from local hotels. chage in their work. change is causing weather patterns to change. “My business is completely down. I am al- Pictures: Abjata Khalif “We should expect severe shock and other most closing my hotel. I have no customers and changing patterns,” said Akavasi. for the last two months I have seen only 20 cus- have decimated hundreds of livestock and dis- other seasons when we make big harvests.” He admitted that the changing weather tomers from this village. The business I used to placement of people from various villages to Abdi explained:”We are shocked with what patterns will affect many activities and tradi- get is no more due to problems facing the tra- main towns. we are seeing. The problem is not prolonged tional healers should come up with a clear way ditional treatment,” Sirat said. He observed: “I According to Maryam Bishar, a patient in drought anymore but our failure to make sac- of adapting to the changes so they are not be pray everyday for rain to come so that healers nearby Sabuli Village: “I have been sick for three rifices and offerings to our ancestor. We have thrown out of business. can get medicine and customers come back to months now and I am suffering from yellow fe- repented and offered sacrifices. We hope things this empty village.” ver. My family wanted to send me to Dadajibula will turn around soon.” Coping strategies However, other community members with village for treatment but they received informa- Community belief and trust in traditional “These changes will affect traditional healers few remaining herds cannot seek the ser- tion from traditional healers that there is no medicine is contributing to patients suffering everywhere in the world and they are not the vices as they are aware of the prevailing situ- medicine to treat patients and we should wait in remote villages as their relatives refuse to only group to be affected. However, the most ation where the traditional healers have been for the rains to come.” let them seek treatment in hospitals located in important thing is that they should go back thrown out of business by climatic shocks that Maryam’s father Rashid Gesey said: “My main towns like Wajir, Garissa and Mandera. and take advantage of indigenous knowledge daughter was scheduled to receive her treat- The same sentiments were echoed by local available in coping with the problem,” observed ment by the third week of December last year. health officials that the traditional tendency of Akavasi. “We don’t know where to I was waiting for a go-ahead from the healer seeking treatment might contribute to human He added: “We should not ask ourselves so that I could take her to Dadajibula village. death in the grazing areas and remote villages. what causes the changes but we should focus go and look for plants to However, I was informed that the plant used to According to Abdi Bashe, a local medical of- our attention on the problem and how they treat yellow fever is not available now due to the ficial in Wajir district: “Communities in these should adapt and mitigate the shocks and suf- make traditional medicine. drought.” remote villages prefer traditional medicine to fering.” Head of the healers, Daud Abdi said: “We the modern prescribed ones. We feel that pro- Traditional healers hail from communities Our hands are tied and our were aware that there would be a prolonged longed drought coupled by lack of medicinal rich in traditional knowledge which show how drought as we witness it every ten years. The plants might lead to death. We have created the same communities predicted weather and trade is gone.” last prolonged drought did not affect our work. awareness for the pastoralists to bring their prepared for big shocks like the one being expe- We went on with business though the harvest patients to health centres and hospital but the rienced in northern Kenya. — Daud Abdi of medicinal plants was minimal compared to situation is not changing.” ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth 11 Herders turn to farming to mitigate drought

By JOY MONDAY apprehension as she labours to come to terms with realities of the chang- When a severe drought ravaged Tur- ing world. kana District in 2004, herder Elim- She says all the land where their lim Lomusia lost all his 500 head of herd would graze has since withered cattle. He suffered the agony of pov- due to persistent drought. erty so much that he was been forced Lifestyle in this part of Kenya to embrace a new lifestyle. where most households are deeply Today Lomusia does not have any rooted in nomadism has changed as animals and no longer moves up and food insecurity looms large. down the valleys in search of pasture Elizabeth Etabo, tilling her farm and water. He decided to engage in along the banks of River Turkwel in crop farming. Turkana East District turned to crop The rough palm of his hand is tes- farming after the family lost all its timony to the tilling he has been do- livestock to a grinding drought two ing at the Lokori Irrigation Scheme years ago. along the porous Turkana-Pokot Central border where 5,000 farmers Despair who dropped their nomadic lifestyle Due to the climate change, pasto- have turned to agriculture. ralists are changing their way of life. “I never thought I would be a crop “Life without the sight of large farmer. It is a lifestyle that I always herds of cattle, sheep, camel and looked down upon,” says Lomusia. goats is a life of misery and a curse,” “I once refused to marry off my laments Etabo. daughter to a farmer because I had She is not alone in the despair. little regard for any person without James Ekiru, riding a bicycle and large herds like me before the rustlers transporting commercial water to Lokichar town was displaced by the drove them away,” he says remorse- Janet Ekidor tends her vegetables at her farm in Ille Spring in drought in 2005. fully. Turkana Central district. Below: A Turkana herder with his wife For Lomusia, his cattle were his He claims pastoralism is facing admire sorghum on their farm in Lokori. Pictures: Joy Monday wealth and everyone in the commu- death and urges fellow pastoralists nity respected him for that. who still keep large herds for pride and wealth to read the signs of cli- Lifestyle change mate change. after taking excess water due to de- economic activity and venture “Everyone in the village respected According to Ekiru, global warm- hydration. into crop farming along the and held me in high esteem. I was ing is threatening lives and liveli- “The longest a cow can go without banks of rivers Turkwel and picked to represent our kraal [man- hoods of a once vibrant nomadic water is four days and any other ad- Kerio. yatta] in meetings with rival clans. community. ditional day in the dry spell without However, things have since changed. Ekiru, who was displaced by abundant green grass means death,” Water Today nature is forcing us into a drought from Gold Village in Turka- observes Ekiru who is currently The residents, formerly strange lifestyle,” observes the 55 year na North District owned 250 heads hawking water to eke a living. with no reliable source of water old father of five. of cattle but drought forced him to Due to the vicious cycle of can smile, thanks to govern- Lomusia notes that climate shift with his animals to Kotido Dis- drought in north-western Kenya, ment initiatives through Arid change is a real threat that can no trict, Eastern Ugandan in search of food security remains a challenge Lands and Drought Manage- longer be ignored. He is calling for water and pasture. for the pastoralist community whose ment for their innovation in urgent intervention to mitigate its “My entire herd was driven away livelihood depends largely on live- maximising the underground impact to ensure food security and by armed Karamojang warriors who stock. water resource to bring hope sustainable social and economic de- ambushed my three sons after we Over the years, pastoralists have to the distraught herders. velopment. crossed the border in search of wa- been reduced to relief dependency “They have come up with Esther Ekiru, a milk vendor in ter,” he explains. while others have turned to subsis- the latest technology to har- Lokichar town whose lifestyle has His neighbour who had also gone tence irrigation farming along the ness underground water from also changed remembers the days with another herd surprisingly suc- Turkwel and Kerio rivers. boreholes and shallow water when she lived happily with her hus- ceeded in coming back safely with “Climate change is slowly forcing wells channelling it to a green- band and six children in Kapitir area only ten heads of skinny cattle out them to abandon their traditional house through drip irrigation. barked on introducing new methods with their livestock. of 70. economic mainstay of pastoralism The greenhouse drip undertaken in of diversifying its activities to reach Ekiru remembers with nostalgia Ekiru claims the animals were to the much abhorred economic Turkana is expected to transform the many farmers. the abundant milk produced from lost as they trekked between Oropoi activity of crop farming which most underutilised plains into food pro- “Currently we have 5,000 farmers large herds of cattle kept by local water point and Katiamboi grazing regard as an activity of the less for- ducing baskets,” observes Onyango. growing maize and sorghum in 2,500 herders. fields, about 105 km from Gold Vil- tunate,” explains Richard Onyango, Moses Kiptugen, World Vision acres under irrigation farming and The milk, meat and ghee that lage. area District Agricultural Officer. Kenya manager Lokori says on re- produce 14 bags of maize from an were in plenty in gourds are no lon- On arrival at the Katiamboi water Residents of the large Turkana alising the state of food insecurity acre. Farmers plant sorghum thrice a ger there. Ekiru, 48, holds her head in pan the animals succumbed to death District can easily diversify their in the region, the organisation em- year,” explains Kiptugen. Embu residents clean up town Seed farmers frustrated By KARIUKI MWANGI need for all the members of the public to join hands in ensur- By JOY MONDAY on seed production that they are losing They asked the minister to ban roast- Embu residents in collaboration ing an environment that is clean their crop to thieves and appealed for ing of maize in the area to curb the men- with Tenri, a charitable organ- so as to prevent diseases. “It is Poor prices, theft and bad infrastructure help. ace arguing it has fuelled stealing of the isation in the area recently took our collective responsibility to are frustrating maize seed growers in crop. part in a clean-up exercise of the ensure that we keep our lovely Trans-Nzoia County as the country reels No infrastructure Ndambuki who was accompanied area as part of giving back to the environment clean,” he said. from seed crisis blamed on drought. “Bwana minister we have invested by Kenya Seed Company Managing Di- community. Shionjiri also pointed out Consequently, the Government has millions of shillings on seed growing but rector Willy Bett and the deputy Alfred Tenri country director Yo- that pointing fingers at one an- banned export of maize seeds following we are worried about incurring heavy Taabu Busolo said the Government will shio Shionjiri said that the ex- other on environmental con- shortage of the commodity in the coun- losses unless the theft is contained,” not allow export of seeds until the local ercise of cleaning the town was servation will not solve the try. Babuh lamented. Another farmer John- demands are tackled. being held in the town for the environmental crisis that we Seed growers have demanded that ston Kituyi cited bad roads in the area as “There is no seed for export until our tenth consecutive year since the are facing saying that everyone Kenya Seed Company increase the price a major challenge to farmers. farmers are adequately served. We don’t start of the charitable organisa- should play his or her part in to cushion them from high costs of “The roads are impassable and we want a repeat of this year’s scenario tion in Embu saying that its conserving it. production. The growers contracted by find it difficult to deliver our seeds to where farmers missed the seed,” Ndam- main aim is to ensure the public He said that currently the Kenya Seed Company said the KSh52 Kenya Seed Company on time especially buki directed. Bett said they have con- live in a clean environment. country has only two per cent offered per kilogramme is unfavourable during the wet season,” explained Kituyi tracted 150 farmers in the area to grow According to Shionjiri, the forest cover down to the rec- owing to production costs. of Rengecha farm. He added: “Some- maize seed to enable the firm produce initiative is part of educating ommended United Nations Latipa Babuh, a farmer said there was times crops rot on the farms subjecting enough for the country’s requirement. members of the public on the percentage of 15 per cent for- rampant theft of the crop from farms. us to huge losses.” He said the company has put 143,000 importance of keeping the en- est cover adding that all should She urged the Government to deploy se- The farmers want the seed Company acres of land on maize seed production vironment clean which he said unite in planting trees. During curity patrols to stop the menace. Babuh to buy the seed at KSh60 per kilogramme and assured farmers of enough seed ensures a society free from dis- the exercise over two thousands told the assistant minister Gideon Nd- arguing that they spend a lot to produce next year. eases. tree seedlings were planted in ambuki who visited her 700-acre farm the seeds. Shionjiri said that there is the the town. 12 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Peace and unity agenda restores hopes in Mt Elgon By ABISAI AMUGUNE General John Seii who are renowned peace ne- gotiators and moderators. The Sabiny clan has When Kenyans were at the centre of peace ne- family roots spread in Uganda, and this there- gotiations over the 2007 post-election violence fore necessitated the need to integrate them. (PEV), Mt Elgon District had already been rav- According to PRP programme coordinator aged with fire for nearly two years. Festus Mukoya, the initiative was determined What started as a small dispute over land to involve representatives of the six Sabaot dia- ownership and poor political representation lects to declare an end to hostilities and embark Mt. Elgon residents who turned up in style for the peace talks held in Bungoma. melted into a bonfire among different clans of on development. the Sabaot community. The initiative that kicked off at Kopsiro in- Picture: Reject Correspondent If one was not being butchered in the broad volved Sabaot elders, professionals, politicians daylight, then they would be in a local tradi- and youths and women representatives. It aims people were killed by raiders suspected to have directing the formation of a taskforce backed tional court facing war-like crimes. One such at addressing issues that sparked off the two- links with SLDF. by Sabaot professionals to implement the res- victim who will want to erase memories of the year conflict. Michael Kittiyo, spokesman for the Sabiny olution of forgiving one another for the past conflict fast is James Mayiek, a former civic people said the conflict which was meted on wrongs without conditions being laid out. leader who was allegedly tortured at the hands Emerging issues vulnerable women and children had adversely of security agents deployed to calm the war. From the two conferences at Mabanga and affected delivery of public services like educa- Resolutions During the skirmishes in Mt Elgon, the Kopsiro, it emerged that discrimination, intol- tion, health, water and sanitation. It was resolved that the elders council docu- residents could no longer plough their farms. erance, injustices and abuse of public offices Reuben Butaki of the Koonyi clan noted that ment the Sabaot culture and heritage, an envi- They could no longer enter forests for hunting were among the major factors that sparked off the root cause of the war had been identified as ronmental management plan for Mt. Elgon be and gathering firewood. There was suspicion the violence that claimed over 1,000 lives and erosion of culture and poor leadership and gov- put in place and that the Chepkitale Trust Land among couples intending to marry. The situa- left scores of others injured and displaced. ernance. be fully reverted to Ndorobo-Ogiek commu- tion was just intolerable. It was also discovered that boundary dis- nity as per the UN resolution 45/164 of 1993. putes, neglect of the Sabaot cultural values, ille- Literacy The participants passed that the Sabaot ap- Spiritual approach gal poaching and destruction of forests had put However, Francis Sangula representing the pointed or elected to public offices be leaders This was not enough. The Free Pentecostal youths from the various clans at loggerheads. Ndorobo-Ogiek group was candid. He said: of integrity and that as marginalised commu- Fellowship in Kenya (FPFK), being coordinat- Dorothy Chebet from Trans-Nzoia said cul- “Recognising the low levels of education and nity they be compensated for their farms from ed in Kitale mooted a programme for inter- tural morals among the youth had eroded to poverty among our Sabaot youths made them which they were evicted by British colonialists vention through the spiritual and faith-based the extent of couples marrying from one clan vulnerable to manipulation by selfish elements.” and other influential people. approaches. and dowry being ignored. Participants narrated how brothers killed For the proliferation of illegal firearms, The Peace and Rights Programme (PRP) “It is imperative that our cultural by-laws be their cousins and fathers took on their children the Mabanga forum called for education on opened dialogue for the six clans of the Sabaot amended to allow for certain practices to be ob- and mothers. Rev. Sikowo Chongin asked for community policing and that the government community living both in Mt Elgon and Trans- served while the negative ones get discarded,” forgiveness among the warring clans, families should disband all militia groups as well as Nzoia regions. The clans include Ndorobo- observed Chebet. and individuals. grant amnesty to all those surrendering fire- Ogiek, Koony, Sabiny, Bang’omek, Bokeek and According to Francis Chemwor, chairman Chairman of the Mt. Elgon County Council, arms in illegal possession. Someek. of the Someek clan, his group had fairly been Ruphas Siyoi lamented that 153 families from Attempts to abolish the name of Sabaot as Also involved in the four-day peace talks blamed for producing majority of the Sabaot the Ndorobo clan were left out of the settlement a community was resisted by majority of the held at Mabanga Agricultural College in Bun- Land Defence Forces (SLDF) members who exercise at Chebyuk at the expense of the So- participants who argued that it was a unifying goma was a former Ugandan MP Peter Ka- wrecked havoc on the residents. meek people. umbrella of its people across East and Central muren and a retired Kenyan army officer Major In a single incident at Tuikut village, 714 Mukoya led the over 230 participants in Africa. Case of evictions beyond Mau By ABISAI AMUGUNE IDPs evicted from Mau Forests within the Rift them are seeking for transfers. then Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner Yusuf Valley Province, little did it realise it would The Government through the Forestry and Haji, currently the Minister for defence. On a visit to Trans Nzoia County after the 2007- spark fierce reactions from Trans-Nzoia when wildlife minister Dr Noah Wekesa is adamant Chairman of Kokwo Cooperative Society 2008 post election violence, Deputy Prime Min- it sought to resettle victims of post election vio- that the evictees entered the forest land when Captain (Rtd) Francis Koti has documents in- ister Uhuru Kenyatta and Head of Civil service lence. it had already been gazetted as public prop- dicating deposits made to the Government Ambassador Francis Muthaura came face to According to the Kenya Red Cross Re- erty. Treasury intended for purchase of public land face with the reality of what internally displaced port of 2010, camps that are still in existence His sentiments are echoed by those of Trans- in Tran-Nzoia. persons are going through. include Kiboroa, Teldet, Patwak, Kalaha, So- Nzoia District Forest Officer (DFO) Simon Wa- “Members of the society continued to stay in They stumbled upon a body that could not sio and Rest House. Saboti and Endebess sub- home who says some of the evictees had been camps and open-air markets while the Govern- be buried for lack of space. The shock only left district hospitals, situated over 10 kilometres conned out their money and settled on govern- ment prodded us on collection,” says Koti. the duo to order that the body be interred with- away are the only health institutions providing ment land. The Trans-Nzoia issue is so complex that in the neighbouring forests. medical care. However, according to a report dated Octo- when the Government finally identified Kita- What the two senior government officials Patrick Kisiero, chairman of Kiboroa Squat- ber 7, 2009, prepared by S.K. Mburugu, an of- lale Settlement Scheme and the former Hill- came across started 24 years ago when Moses ters Self-Help Group says several people had ficial at the Ministry of Lands, the Government brook farm to settle the squatters, the alloca- Ndiema was evicted from the Kiboroa Forests succumbed to death due to lack of immediate was currently vetting the landless to authenti- tions were diverted to intruders, outsiders and on the slopes of Mt Elgon by the Government medical health care services. cate genuine cases. politicians. which sought to protect indigenous trees from Head teacher of Teldet Primary School Independent investigations, however, indi- Which is why the Teldet, Patwak, Kiboroa, destruction. Geoffrey Kirui says his school which accom- cate that there are three groups of the victims Kalaha, Sosio and Rest House cry that their Thirteen years earlier, Ndiema’s cousin modates most of the pupils from the camps was who include genuine squatters numbering 731, continued stay in the cold for over 10 years is Peter Ngeiywa also faced similar action when experiencing high drop-out cases as a result former workers of the British colonialists who enough reason for the government to consider together with his family, they were evicted child-labour. are 381 as well as those whose identity could not them for permanent resettlement. from Kiptogot Forest adjacent to Kiboroa for- While Kirui concedes the ratio of pupil to be immediately established and are more than “It is shameful for the Kenya Red Cross and est land. teacher was 6:1, Kiboroa councillor Gilbert Kit- 4,000. other relief agencies to concentrate their ener- And in 2007, Kisiero’s relatives who have tiyo calls on the Ministry of Education to inter- Those ordered out of Kiboroa Forest alone gies on the squatters when they can produce been “co-existing” with plant species within vene and address teacher retention as most of stand at 1,062 following instructions from the food for themselves once settled,” Kisiero says. Teldet forests in the larger Trans-Nzoia County His sentiments are echoed by Councillor from time immemorial were shown the “door” The Trans-Nzoia issue is so complex that when the Pius Mzee arap Kauka who concurs that it has in the continued campaign by the government become difficult and a taboo for the Sabaot to curb illegal logging. Government finally identified Kitalale Settlement community to share accommodation in the The Teldet evictions brought to the realisa- worn-out camps. tion of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Scheme and the former Hillbrook farm to settle the While the situation has forced many school the Trans-Nzoia County who have been staying going girls to resort to prostitution and early in camps or market centres while others have squatters, the allocations were diverted to intruders, marriages, the number of single mothers, wid- sought shelter with their relatives. ows and orphans had continue to rise because While the government gave much hype to outsiders and politicians. of poverty in the camps. ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth 13 Woman helps residents ensure food security Farmers want By EUTYCAS MUCHIRI government As others spend their weekends and vacations resting or attending to domestic chores at home, the situation is different with a 40-year-old wom- to protect an from Mukurwe-ini District, Nyeri County. Lucy Njeri from Thiha Sub-location uses her time to boost food security in her home area, their harvests travelling from Othaya where she works as a District Crops Officer to Mukurwe-ini to offer By ERIC MUTAI technical advice to residents free of charge. Njeri started the voluntary work in 2009 Farmers in Eastern Province want the Gov- through churches, advising them to form a ernment to establish food storage facilities group to enable her assist them easily. She first to help in the fight against hunger. approached Redeemed Gospel, Gospel Out- The farmers who spoke to the Reject said reach and End Time Message churches among lack of facilities has led to post harvest losses others who formed a group that they named The to weevils and aflatoxin. Redeemed Agricultural Entrepreneurs (TRAE) “We were lucky to receive rains in the Self Help Group. area and although the yields are not prom- She trained them on how to propagate yam ising, I have to sell my grains at cheap pric- seedlings using a method known as minisett es to traders to enable me purchase other technology and the multiplying of sweet potato commodities,” explained Martin Njagi. vines population. The group sells the prepared He said lack of storage facilities and in- planting materials to locals. creased cost of living is pushing peasants Njeri not only teaches the group members to poverty adding that farmers may not be but also individuals willing to undertake the able to afford the foodstuff later. projects. This knowledge was taught to her by the Embu West District Commissioner Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) in Maalim Mohamed discouraged farmers Embu during a training of trainers workshop. from selling their meagre harvests saying that a lot of cereal buyers will be invading Variety the area for the maize and beans. “We were trained on how to propagate The farmers are harvesting their beans yams through the Minisett Technique as well as as the Embu and Meru regions received propagating and adding value to orange fleshed rains and are now harvesting as drought sweet potatoes which are rich in vitamin A,” ex- ravages the lower and upper parts of the plains Njeri. province. The group has managed to propagate and Sara Marigu called on the Government sell over 100,000 sweat potato vines to locals to monitor its agricultural programmes to and thousands of yams seedlings at reduced conclusion saying that most of them are left prices in less than two years. It aims to raise halfway done. 10,000 yam seedlings through Minisett Tech- “When the Ministry of Agriculture nique within one year. brought the farmers inputs, there was a bum- The group owns a variety of sweet potato per harvest but the Government did not see vines which include Nars pot, Tainung, SPK 004, to it that the harvested grains were properly Bungoma and Kembu 10 all of which take about stored,” Marigu said adding that most of the three to four months to mature. A single variety Members of the Trae self help group grains were lost to weevils. can yield a harvest of about 80-90 bags per acre. work in one of their sweet potato farms. A vine goes for two shillings. They have earned Below: Lucy Njeri inspects some tomato Involvement over KSh200,000 through sale of seedlings. plants in Margaret Muthoni’s green Marigu said religious organisations, “My objective is to see farmers make flour out house in Mukurwe-ini. the provincial administration and all oth- of yams and sweat potato tubers which can be Pictures: Eutycas Muchiri er ministries related to food production stored for a long time than the fresh harvested should be involved for a long term solution roots. The flour can cushion them from hun- to food shortages. ger during dry spells, while the surplus can be five years during which she will have earned Last season most parts of the province packed and sold in supermarkets,” she explains. about KSh800,000. experienced low rains which resulted in Njeri argues that campaigning for the revival The improvised green house cost her only about 1.7 bags of maize being harvest- of root crops is the only sure way to fight hunger KSh65,000, which is about half the cost of the ed as opposed to the projected 2.9 million in Nyeri County. recommended green house. This is done by bags. To propagate yams through the technique, using tree posts and rafters to substitute metal Agriculture officials have warned that if one needs a mature flesh yam unlike the tradi- ones. It also uses strings which are cheaper com- the poor weather condition prevails, then a tional way where bones are used. Yams propa- pared to wires. much more reduced crop yield will be expe- gated traditionally take about two years to break Elizabeth Wanjiku, is also expecting to start rienced in the coming season. dormancy and germinate, while those grown us- harvesting soon. She uses bucket irrigation to They called for proper plans on water ing the technique take two months. water plants because currently she cannot afford harvesting for irrigation purposes as a long to install drip irrigation. However, she is confi- term measure noting that the Government Process dent that they will be in a position to use it in must learn to deal with climate change. The fleshed yam is kept in a dark place for a future after selling their produce. The Government recently promised to month to break dormancy after which it is sliced provide farmers in the province with mobile and dissected into small sizes of about two inch- Affordable material drying services for their grains during the es. The pieces are then planted in a nursery. Njeri advises other farmers not to shy off if harvesting season through the National Ce- According to Njeri, this method is not expen- they have trees in their farm for posts and rafters reals and Produce Board. sive and multiplies the yam population very fast. and can afford an ultra treated polythene paper. Last season, maize in 29 districts within A nursery of about one square metre can hold She is ready to offer technical assistance to any the province was said to be infected with af- about 100 minisetts. takes about one and a half year to mature. willing farmer. latoxin but due to lack of rapid testing kits, A medium size yam of about a kilo is capable After the success of the two root crops, Njeri “If farmers have trees for production of posts the farmers consumed their maize untested. of producing 30 to 40 minisetts. An acre of yam, has now introduced the use of simple green and rafters and can manage to buy quality ultra At the same time fish farmers are call- therefore, can produce seedlings for tens of acres. house farming. About five farmers already own treated polythene paper, they should not shy off ing on the government to set up cold stor- While in the traditional method only one to two green houses with about 500 stems of tomato from constructing green houses,” explains Njeri. age facilities to cushion them against losses. bones per plant can be attained. plants according to Simon Gikunju, chairman She observes: “However they should be wary of The farmers who started rearing fish last The new method is, therefore, ideal for farm- Trae Self Help Group. second hand polythene sheets being sold by cons year under the Economic Stimulus Pro- ers who would like to commercialise yam farm- Some of the tomatoes have matured and are as these can frustrate them. They cannot survive gramme are harvesting their stocks but lack ing as bones can not be relied on. now generating income for farmers while others the five years as expected.” of a strong market is leading to losses due to “Bones are scarce and take long to grow to are about to mature. One of the famers. Marga- Central Provincial Director of Agriculture their perishable nature. maturity. This is a problem because young farm- ret Muthoni, 50, is optimistic that she will make Joseph Gachingiri is among senior agricultural “Fish farming is a new area and has ers are not patient. Both yams and sweat pota- 10 kilos per plant, which will add up to over officials who praised the work done by Trae self cushioned farmers against losses especially toes are drought resistant and are not susceptible KSh100,000 worth of harvest. help group. “They are playing a pivotal role in with the current erratic rains. They now to diseases and pests that attack other types of “I am optimistic that by the end of the sea- the fight against hunger in the County,” observed need a cold storage facility to encourage food crops,” observes Njeri. son, I will earn a good sum of money that is not Gachingiri. large scale fish farming,” said a fisheries of- If taken care of properly, a single yam plant less than KSh100,000. The tomatoes are already Last year, he catered for transport for two ficer who did not want to be named because can produce 40 kilogrammes of yield. A kilo- carrying healthy fruits and are still flowering,” of the group’s members from Mukurwe-ini to he is not allowed to speak to the media on gramme sells at KSh100 which translates to explains Muthoni. Kabiru-ini show grounds in Nyeri where they behalf of the ministry. about KSh4,000 in returns per plant. A yam She expects the green house to last for about showcased their farming techniques. 14 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Uncontrolled logging threatens forest By JANE MUGAMBI charge of the wild animals and the including elephants that inhabit Forestry Department have been trad- the forest or periodically migrate A ten-acre forest in Kirinyaga East ing accusations over the legality of the from other areas to take shelter District of Central Kenya is in dan- logging activities. and grace during dry seasons,” ob- ger following increased logging amid served O’Brien. conflicting claims by two government Arrests He said there was suspicion agencies over licensing of loggers. Recently, KWS personnel ar- of possible collusion between the The Kamweti Forest is also used by rested five loggers who were found loggers and some forestry depart- more than 6,000 wild animals which operating in the forest at night and ment officers, a claim that was migrate from Shimba Hills during impounded two trucks and six power denied by the area forestry officer drought. The forest mostly has exotic saws believed to have been used in Francis Misonge. trees which were planted during the cutting down the trees were also im- “Timber millers operating in colonial times but also a significant pounded during the raid. the forest are licensed and have presence of indigenous vegetation. Mt Kenya Region Senior Warder paid the Government KSh8.83 There has been a heightened log- Robert O’Brien says members of the million,” said Misonge. ging activity which has depleted sec- public have been helpful in alerting Local leaders and residents have tions of the forest sparking fears that government officers about activities expressed concerns over the rate at it may be no more unless the uncon- of illegal loggers. which the forest was being deplet- trolled logging is checked. “KWS is worried that uncon- ed. They called on the Government Two government agencies, Kenya trolled logging will affect the migra- to take steps to conserve the forests. Wildlife Services (KWS), which is in tion patterns and life of the animals A KWS guard at the Kamweti forest in Kirinyaga. Picture: Caroline Wangechi Monkeys giving farmers nightmare Dangerous By OMONDI GWENGI We cannot plant tomatoes because of the fear monkeys away. “Since I do not have a dog, I use that they will be destroyed by monkeys and hip- a sling to scare them away. They will run away bridge to be William Owino is a disappointed man. He is pos,” explains Otip. but will come back after one has left the farm,” desperately trying to come to terms with what However, she blames the people concerned says Abiero. he has to endure. — KWS/Government — for dragging their feet Over the years, residents have suffered huge Almost all the food crops that he has been in handling the wildlife menace in the area. loses occasioned by herds of marauding hippos reconstructed tending to the last three months on his farm “We have complained but we are being told and monkeys that invade their farms and de- By CAROLINE WANGECHI have been destroyed by monkeys. The animals that we’ll be arrested if we attempt to kill them,” stroy crops, besides threatening their lives. have made his life and that of other residents she observes. This now leaves her and other “We have suffered a big blow because of A bridge that has been posing a risk to resi- who depend on farming unbearable. farmers pondering on how their lives will be. the destruction caused by wildlife. We have dents of Kirinyaga is set for rehabilitation. As their fishing fortunes tumbled, the fish- also tried to address these issues in the chief’s ermen resorted to farming. However, as things Dog method baraza but no action has been taken,” observes The bridge is so dangerous that recently two stand today, they will soon become beggars and As a way of overcoming this problem, Owino. women who were from Karira Mission Hos- dependants of relief supplies. farmers in the area are now using their dogs Some residents, especially women and chil- pital drowned when they were unable to give Owino, a farmer in Usigu Division, Bondo to scare away the monkeys, but this is still not dren are now living in fear given the fact that the way to a passing vehicle in a situation that left District says the monkeys are a thorn in the enough. monkeys terrorise them. them falling into River Thiba. flesh. The havoc they are wreaking, the resi- “We can only keep them off by keeping our “We cannot go to the lake in peace because The Government has set aside KSh17 dents say, is worse than that being inflicted by dogs in the farms which they sometimes over- we fear the monkeys may attack us,” says Owino. million to reconstruct the Karira Bridge in the hippos. look and continue with the destruction,” says Residents say that the escalating wildlife in- Kirinyaga south District. The bridge falls un- Agnes Atieno Otip is one of the many farm- Owino. Even as they tie the dogs, they must also vasion and massive crop destruction is largely to der the rural roads board that is under Kir- ers bearing the brunt of persistent human-wild- be there. blame for the rising level of famine and poverty inyaga rural roads Engineer Edward Mburu life conflict in the area. She says monkeys have He adds: “It is very cumbersome because we in the area. who said that the bridge needs to be recon- become a nuisance in the area as they raid farms have other duties to perform rather than spend- “We cannot get food because of the kind structed to enable residents access services as well as homes. ing all day in the farm.” of crop destruction caused by the wildlife,” easily. “We have no peace on our farms and homes. Samuel Abiero now uses a sling to scare the notes Otip. “The narrowed bridge only gives way to one vehicle adding that heavy commercial vehicles cannot use the bridge since it has a crack,” Mburu said. He added: “The emergency kitty has al- Hague chord strikes on Mt Kenya located KSh17 million for the bridge to avert more deaths and make it easy accessible for By ELIUD WAITHAKA servation. The mountain is one services.” of the tourist sites in the coun- He said that there are three schools and As six prominent Kenyans appear try that generates millions of a hospital which people have to access using before the International Criminal shillings in the tourism indus- the bridge and if it is not constructed immedi- Court (ICC) over the post elec- try. ately, children will not be able to go to school tion violence others may find The reason for this is be- and patients will not receive medical services. themselves in the same court 20 cause Mt Kenya Forest has Mburu reiterated: “There is no other way years from now facing charges of been declared a World Heri- to the facilities and the Roads Ministry has to environmental destruction. tage Site and anyone with the act very fast.” A mural erected in Karatina audacity to abuse its environs Area MP Peter Gitau said that the road town on the slopes of Mt Kenya will be in trouble. So serious is was constructed in 1964 and since then it has by United Nation’s COMPACT, the fate of culprits that only an never been repaired or reconstructed. shows the ICC prosecutor Louis analogy of the Hague trials can He observed that the guard rails that were Moreno Ocampo with some sus- closely depict judgement day. on the bridge have all been stolen and sold pects in court, charged with envi- COMPACT coordinator making it very risky for users, who are mainly ronmental destruction. Fred Kihara says the mural is pedestrians. And with the Ocampo Six at meant to be an eye opener on He urged the Rural Roads Board to re- The Hague’s trial proceedings in greater things to come in the construct the bridge fast for effective service September, the community in future, though it does not nec- delivery citing that it might collapse anytime Mt Kenya has taken the symbol- essarily mean destroyers will be due to the number of vehicles using it. ism of The Hague criminal case to taken to The Hague. “The bridge serves three villages where caution destroyers of forests and “This does not mean that farmers use it to get their rice from the fields,” natural resources on the poten- people who destroy environ- A mural of Louis Moreno Ocampo at ‘The Hague” with suspects explained Gitau. tial danger of being arraigned in ment will be arraigned at the who are alleged to have destroyed environment. The mural is in Mburu said reconstruction of the bridge is court. International Criminal Court Karatina town at the slopes of Mt Kenya. Picture: Eliud Waithaka expected to start as soon as possible but will This has been done by paint- but it is a precautionary mea- only be done once the rains have subsided. ing a full wall mural in the town sure,” explains Kihara. activities that occasion destruc- tribute to this vice by driving He observed that farmers and vehicles will next to Ibis and Star Buck hotels. People living around the tion of the environment. their animals into the mountain have to find an alternative route as the crack The painting raises public mountain engage in charcoal Pastoralists from as far as during drought as they search for on the bridge was widening very fast. awareness of environmental con- burning and firewood fetching Samburu and Laikipia also con- pasture and water. Medical camp benefits villagers

ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth 15 Traditional lifestyles change as lake recedes

By OMONDI GWENGI Lake Victoria water catchment was partly to blame for the receding shoreline. Once a staple food for the people living along “Over 75 per cent of the wetlands have the shores of Lake Victoria, fish has become a been significantly affected by human activities commodity that only a select few can afford. and 13 per cent are severely degraded,” UNEP Today, the waters have receded and the fish noted. Water levels, it added, had started drop- stock has been depleted. The shores are dry and ping considerably in 2002. Traditional lifestyles have been replaced by sand, naked stones and of lakeshore communities have been disrupted stunted shrubs. and are crumbling. Mama Maria Nyandhala, 80, nostalgically Among the more than 30 million people remembers the good old days when there was plenty of food and few diseases. With the deple- One of the fishponds constructed in Usenge sub location-Bondo. Many people are tion of the lake, food shortage and hunger have become common in a community that was once now resorting to fish ponds as the fish ban has affected business at the lake. well fed. Pictures: Omondi Gwengi “When I got married here, there were lots fish species but today we are not able to get whose fate is tied on the lake are the once The government has put in place an annual even fish to eat unless you have money,” says well-fed locals of Usenge Sub-location, Bondo three-month ban on omena fishing. However, Nyandhala. District who have turned to agriculture and it emerged that the practice has opened up a However, in a recent workshop held in aquaculture to balance the situation. fertile platform for corruption to thrive. In a Kisumu on investment and business opportu- Jared Owuor, 25, who once eked a living bid to defeat the law, fishermen go fishing il- nities under Export Processing Zones Author- from the lake, says that a few years ago, they legally and collect money which is given to a ity (EPZA), Lake Basin Development Author- could make an average of between KSh1, 000 beach leader who then forwards it to the fish- ity (LBDA) Regional Manager Joseph Ocholla to KSh2, 000 per night but today, one hardly eries scouts to buy their freedom. The money, said that the region has raw materials which gets KSh50. therefore, ends in the pockets of senior officers the residents must put into use. from the Fisheries Department as protection Stiff competition fee. Degradation “Fishing has been left to the rich. We can- However, with the extinction of other fish “The lake is becoming polluted and can “When I got married here, not afford the fishing gears that are being used species, omena, one of the few remaining spe- no longer support fish exports. The only safe there were lots fish species today,” Owuor notes. He says most of the boats cies has also become an expensive commodity. source of uncontaminated fish is the pond,” that operate on the beaches belong to some Omena traders are frustrated and other fish explains Ocholla. but today we are not able senior officials and it is hard to compete with species like mbuta (Nile perch) and ngege (ti- A recent report by the United Nations En- them. lapia) are now a rich man’s business. They are vironment Programme listed Lake Victoria as to get even fish to eat “When fishing is banned, they (officials) exported to Europe and Asia. being among African water bodies whose wa- continue operating because they have money The Government and other environment ter level is falling due to environmental deg- unless you have money.” and can buy their freedom. For the poor man, conservation organisations around the Lake radation and climatic changes. It noted that you suffer because you cannot afford to pay must not only find a lasting solution but also the loss of trees and wetlands, which form the — Mama Maria Nyandhala. the fine imposed,” Owuor observes. look into the welfare of small fishermen. Militia drive fishermen out of business Medical camp By JOY MONDAY missed death by a whisker when Merille war- to irrigate farms of people desperately in need benefits villagers riors descended on Todonyang Village and of water in southern Ethiopia. By BONIFACE MULU For Hesbon Ekiru, life will never be the same killed ten people last year. In their bid to follow the catch, ill-equipped again. Four years ago, the father of five was a The once bountiful lake in Kenya’s parched Kenyan fishermen who used to ply shallower About 3,000 patients yesterday benefited from promising fisherman in Lake Turkana. north-west has turned into a nightmare for lo- waters are facing a double danger and are often a free medical camp organised at the Kauwi However, the situation has changed and to- cal fishermen, forced into deeper waters and confronted by armed Merille tribesmen trying Primary School in Kitui West District within day Ekiru is out of business. In 2009, like any hostile zones in search of fish migrating from to protect their own source of food. the Kitui County by the Lions Club of Chania normal day, Ekiru left his Todonyang village receding southern shores. Falls Thika. A team of 25 medical staff from the for his daily engagements. Carrying his fishing Weapons, mainly AK-47 assault rifles, have Security charitable organisation, led by Dr.B.D.Vasisht, gear, Ekiru jumped into a waiting motorboat been added to their usual gear alongside the “These days, fishermen have to go far and participated in the colourful event. and headed to the fishing ground, nearly 10 ki- poles and nets. deep inside the lake to find fish but they have Dr. Vasisht is the Governor of the Lions lometres away. Lake Turkana, the northern most part of no deep fishing equipment,” explains John Mu- Clubs International District 411A that covers While in the waters, Ekiru noticed another Kenya’s Rift Valley lakes and fed mainly by an nyes, a Member of Parliament from Turkana Kenya, Ethiopia and the Seychelles. Former boat coming towards them. Soon the people Ethiopian source, is also victim of a drought who is also Kenya’s Labour Minister. He adds: cabinet minister Francis Mwanzia Nyenze in the second boat started shooting and in less that is ravaging East Africa. “The Turkana fishermen must also be well was their host. They were assisted by a team than 20 minutes the fierce gun fire was over. Ngirokol Luchakula, a teenage fisherman, armed should they come across the Merille.” of 20 medics from the Kitui District Hospital. The enemies had overpowered Ekiru’s group nurses a bullet wound on his right arm after sur- With fish supplies dwindling even in the They treated general ailments includ- and escaped with three weapons and all the viving an attack by armed Ethiopian fishermen. northern lakes zone, competition for food has ing malaria, hypertension, diabetes, stom- fishing equipment. led to deadly skirmishes. ach complications, nose problems, ear and “I am lucky to have survived the attack but Death “One has to stay for at least two to three eye diseases. They provided eye-glasses and my AK-47 rifle and fishing gear all went,” re- They killed six of his colleagues at a recent weeks in the lake instead of three to five days as wheelchairs to the needy. Addressing the calls Ekiru of the vicious attack from Merille expedition to the lake’s north in search of food. it was before the drought,” says Richard Eman- patients after the ten hours exercise, Dr. Va- tribesmen from Omorete area in Jinka district, “We were in the lake for three days but ikor, a fisherman. sisht disclosed that the exercise did cost some South Ethiopian Zone. we had not caught any fish at all. At about Although the situation in and around Lake 2.5 million shillings. The doctor said that 4am, we were woken up by gunshots,” recalls Turkana is currently not as alarming as that in they will continue serving the needy people Nightmare Luchakula, whose bandaged arm is suspended North Eastern Kenya, it could worsen. through their organisation. Left with nothing, Ekiru was forced to aban- in a sling. “When people choose to go far inside the “We are a charitable club assisting the don fishing to take refuge in the safe area of Competition by local communities for re- lake, they have to go with the security forces,” needy people,” the philanthropist said. He Lwarengak, 14 kilometres from Todonyang. sources of Turkana, which spans about 250 observes Emanikor. Unfortunately security said that every year they do more than 30 Since then life has become cruel for Ekiru’s kilometres long and 50 kilometres wide has officials are usually not available to provide free medical camps in Kenya. Vasisht’s team family as putting food on the table has become grown fiercer in recent months thanks to the escort. The Kenyan fishermen now want the thanked Nyenze for organizing the event and a nightmare. drought that is threatening the lives of 11 mil- Government to beef up security along the fish- the patients for turning out in large numbers “I used to earn good income from fishing. lion people. These are figures that have been ing grounds to protect them from incursions. for the exercise. Putting food on the table was not a problem. given by the United Nations. Area district commissioner Jack Obuo con- “I had requested them (the lions) to come I was able to send my two children to a high Turkana’s tributaries from Kenya have dried firmed that peace at the border has become do a free medical camp here for the area peo- school in Lodwar,” he says. up and fish mainly tilapia and Nile perch have elusive and several fishermen have pulled out ple who are poor. Their gesture is the service Sharing the same tribulation is Agnes Eki- ventured into deeper waters up north in search of the business. to humanity,” said Nyenze, who is the Water dor, a single mother of two who abandoned of food. “We are trying to talk with our counterparts Resources Management Authority (WRMA) her fish business last year. “I made a living as However, even there, life has not been any in Jinka to restrain the warriors from attacking and also the National Irrigation Board (NIB) a fish monger, but life has not been good since easier. River Omo from Ethiopia, the main trib- the Turkana but revenge is another problem in director. I abandoned the business,” explains Ekidor. She utary feeding Lake Turkana has been diverted achieving peace,” explained Obuo. 16 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Indian Ocean coastline main Anti-Narcotics poorly conduit for drug traffickers equipped

By KIGONDU NDAVANO

Anti-Narcotics Department, the sec- tion mandated with the task to fight drug abuse and trafficking in the coun- try lacks the capacity to deal with the menace. According to the police spokesman Eric Kiraithe: “The Anti-Narcotics Po- lice Department is ill equipped to fight the drug menace in the country and the war against trafficking and abuse of nar- cotics will actually not succeed unless the Government commits itself fully to facilitate its officers with the necessary resources,” said Kiraithe in Malindi. He noted that cases of blame from the public were also on the rise and this discouraged hard working officers in the Anti-Narcotics Department. “Officers need to be encouraged By MNYAZI JOE when they do good work and also be motivated with rewards, especially the Intelligence information within the police force brave ones who manage to seize large indicates that the drug syndicate is rampant hauls of drugs,” observed Kiraithe. within the Indian Ocean which is being used by In an interview with the Reject in traffickers to bring in supplies into the country. Malindi, the police spokesman admit- When Police spokesman Erick Kiraithe vis- ted that the anti-narcotic officers were ited Malindi recently he indicated that he was presently vulnerable to corruption as not happy with the rate at which drug traffick- their capacity to conduct thorough in- ing was taking place within the entire Indian vestigations devoid of compromise was Ocean coastline. limited. “Drugs pass through here (pointing at the “Police officers lack resources for Indian Ocean) when people are asleep,” he said. easy and fast mobility to confront the Even as Kiraithe spoke, the police recently main traffickers who are mainly influ- impounded cocaine worth over KSh200 million ential tycoons with a lot of resources,” in Mombasa. noted Kiraithe. He said the trend was a cause of concern within the police force but expressed optimism Investigation that security agents were coming up with a He added: “The traffickers take ad- strategy to net down traffickers of the illegal vantage of their wealth to silence any- trade. one who blocks them from accomplish- “In Malindi and Watamu, the traffickers The Indian Ocean coast line. The ocean is used by traffickers to bring in drug supplies. Four ing their mission.” usually dock in the deep sea with large consign- of the 12 Malindi addicts who benefitted from a six day detox programme sponsored by Police officers allocated tasks to pur- ments of drugs. They use small but powerful the government at the Coast General Hospital after volunteering through the Malindi sue, identify and investigate drug traf- boats through their middlemen to be brought Maaruf Community Organisation being counseled by an expert, Twahil Abdulkarim (right) fickers require powerful vehicles and on shore at night,” explained Kiraithe. at Sheikh Nassor Mosque. Abdulkarim is also the vice chairman of the organisation. proper funding to be at par with the liv- The boats which are fitted with powerful Pictures: Reject Correspondent and Kigondu Ndavano ing standards of the traffickers. communication gadgets and engine capable of Kiraithe noted: ‘‘Investigating drug going deep into the sea where they carry the traffickers is not easy because one must drugs ashore. at par with the activities of the traffickers,” reit- again for the final consumer. have the resources to mingle with those erated Kiraithe adding that investigating drug He said cocaine which was once recovered involved and frequent the areas where Deep sea trafficking is not easy because one must have in Malindi does not have market in the resort they meet without raising any suspicion When darkness falls very few vessels can be the resources to mingle with those involved town as the locals don’t consume it. Only tour- or running short of money.” seen from a distance, and these are normally and frequent the areas where they meet with- ists use it as the gateway. He expressed fears that some officers thought to be fishermen. out raising any suspicion or running short of “A suspect who was recently nabbed had could be easily compromised with huge However according to the police spokes- money. GPRS monitoring systems which the police sums of money and due to the poor man, the traffickers allegedly operate from the Kiraithe noted that any officer who joins the believed was being used for following up on working conditions. deep seas using small vessels operated by mid- Anti-Narcotics Department gets absorbed into the drugs until their final destination,” he ob- Kiraithe’s sentiments came soon af- dle men to disperse the haul without being no- the lifestyle due to the ‘easy money’ from the served. ter police arrested six suspects with her- ticed by security agents. traffickers. He noted that the trend is not only The current budget allocated to the entire oine worth KSh200 million in Mom- “Large vessels belonging to tycoons and in Kenya but the same almost all over the world. police force to facilitate its operations are not basa recently. Confusion reigned when major traffickers usually dock near Watamu or enough to deal with drug trafficking. questions were asked about the amount Malindi to bring in drugs using small canoes. War on drugs “Officers also need to be motivated through of drugs against weights differing be- Some local fishermen are used as middle men “No country has won the war on drug traf- rewards especially those who manage to seize tween Mombasa and Nairobi. to do deliveries at a fee,” explained Kiraithe. ficking globally because there is no strong po- large hauls,” stressed Kiraithe. “The war against drug is not easy because it litical goodwill in dealing with the menace,” Despite the netting of the drugs involves tycoons who have money and operate he observed. The most trafficked drugs were Lack of resources which earned the police praise gener- in a luxurious lifestyle as opposed to the harsh cocaine and heroine. The packaging was usu- At the Malindi Police Station, the anti-narcot- ally, questions still remain as to how conditions the officers undergo while investi- ally done in the deep sea by people assigned to ics police have only one vehicle and two sniffer the traffickers managed to sneak in the gating these cases,” observed Kiraithe. transport it ashore. The traffickers have a moni- dogs. They have managed to cope with the little drugs with all the intelligence and secu- The officers operate in old vehicles and are toring and tracking system to keep track of the available resources at the police division. Malin- rity checks. not well facilitated to be at par with the drug haul until it reaches its destination. di Police Deputy Chief Willy Simba said they The entry of the drugs raised queries traffickers which make them vulnerable to cor- Other sources claim that the port of Mom- have stepped up the war against drugs and hope about Kenya’s highly porous interna- ruption as their capacity to conduct investiga- basa is also another drug trafficking route they will win. tional boundaries especially in the In- tions without being compromised is limited. which is used as an entry point. Osman Mwambire, Chairman Watamu dian Ocean which appear to be poorly Officers assigned to conduct investigations A government official who spoke on ano- Beach Management Unit said fishermen should patrolled. lack resources for mobility while the main traf- nymity claimed the drugs are different and not- be facilitated to acquire speed boats to help in In Watamu and Malindi, traffick- fickers are tycoons who take advantage of their ed that heroine and white crest is usually trans- monitoring activities in the sea and report any ers are said to be using cruise boats wealth to silence anyone attempting to block ported by road using luxurious tinted vehicles. cases of trafficking that may be going on in the to transfer the drugs from the ships them from accomplishing their mission. Once in Malindi, they are usually taken to a Indian Ocean. He said that with such a boat it docked in the high waters and into the ‘‘Those assigned to investigate drug traffick- house before being distributed to diverse des- will be easy to work with the police and respond mainland. ers vehicles and proper funding to be able to be tinations in wholesale only to be repackaged to cases of drug trafficking. ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth 17 Drugs wasting children in Malindi By FIBI DAVID together in a mansion around Eden Rock Hotel in Malindi where food, drinks and leisure was a For 18 years, Fatma Salim 48 lived on drugs like common daily satisfaction,” explains Salim. bhang, miraa and heroine. This was not enough for her since she had Salim from Barani within town of the Kilifi tasted the killing but fizzling drug and could not County lost her car, a luxurious house and family fail to sniff or smoke on any single day. she loved due to the influence of drugs. Salim recalls of selling her luminous salon car Drug stock in 1994 at only KSh80,000 so as to raise money to Her stock was the biggest. She travelled all buy heroine. Today she is undergoing rehabilita- the way to Mombasa, a distance of 140 kilome- tion at the Coast General Hospital. tres from Malindi to buy a huge stock of about Salim dropped out of school in 1981 when KSh20,000 that she would keep in the house for only in Standard Four at Sir Ali Bin Salim Prima- at least a week before going out for more. ry School in Malindi due to peer influence. Her Salim was born in 1962 in Barani area within grandfather with whom she lived tolerated every the Malindi township to the rich family of the fa- decision she made as his only granddaughter. mous Mzee Salim Ahmed Nasor who owned the Immediately after leaving school, Salim Old Lamu Hotel among other properties. Fatma Salim at L’ALBA international drugs rehabilitation center in Malindi after would party in clubs and ended up engaging Despite dropping out of school in Standard an interview. Fatma claims to have sold her brilliant Nissan Datsun salon car at a with wrong friends who later introduced her to Four, Salim has a good command of the English throw away price only to purchase Heroine. Picture: Fibi David alcohol. language. She also speaks German and Kiswahili The alcohol binging marked the beginning of fluently. Ndogo, Maweni, Muyeye and Sabasaba as well boyo has called on the security personnel in her disastrous life. Soon Salim fell pregnant and Salim has six children. Two born with her as parts of Watamu within Malindi District have Malindi to conduct a thorough crackdown on this did not go down well with her family. Seychelles’ boyfriend are in Britain; two in been identified as hot spots for drug consump- children who engage in selling mandazi. Most According to Swahili culture, a girl can only Mombasa, one is married in Arabia. She cannot tion. Addiction is common among youth and of these children have dropped out of school to get pregnant when officially married. account for the first child with whom she parted some elderly persons. engage in the business. Salim delivered a baby boy and the family, es- ways when he was born. Several non-government organisations en- pecially her father, could not tolerate the shame Children gaged in the campaigns against drug abuse have she brought to the family and community at Addiction Famau Mohamed, chairman Malindi Maaruf limited success because most of the who join large. She was forced to surrender her baby to a “I cleared my bank account to buy drugs. My Community Organisation Against Drugs and their programmes end up going back to drugs well-wisher authorised by the court in Malindi children ran away from me because they could Child Prostitution Famau strongly condemns when they fail to secure employment. under the family wish. not cope with my addiction and my Seychelles the issue of drugs penetrating primary and sec- L’Alba, an international drug rehabilitation account was frozen,” she recalls. ondary schools. He regrets that children are used organisation which was started by an Italian Heart broken Heroine is a killer drug that many youth by barons to transport heroine, bhang and others volunteer Rocco Mazoli in Malindi late last “My first born Issah Omar was taken away within the Malindi and the entire Coast Prov- drugs in their school bags. year has so far recruited over 50 youth from from me immediately he was born and given ince have fallen victim to. The drug sells for “These drugs are finishing our youth and to- Malindi, Watamu and areas of Magarini. How- to a well wisher. I did not know since my family KSh2,500 a gram from the big retailers who later morrow’s generation. School children are engag- ever, its efforts have partially come across as a disregarded him for being borne out of wedlock. sell it to addicts in smaller amounts for as little ing in drug peddling. We want thorough action stumbling block since they cannot afford food, My culture does not tolerate children born be- as KSh250. from the government,” he pleads. full beddings and other requirements needed fore marriage. I was heartbroken,” she laments. A nail pick of heroine powder goes for at Children aged 12 to 17 are engaged in the by the youth. Losing the baby left Salim devastated forcing least KSh100 when business is low and as much drug trafficking trade for a fee. L’Alba chairman Edson Mwambogo alias her to seek solace in drugs. She started by chew- as KSh250 when trade is good. Most consum- Areas of Mbuyu Kusema have become fields Bakari who is also the guidance and counsel- ing miraa before moving on to cigarette and ers combine it with a bhang stick to make what for drug trade where children are sent by their ling teacher at The Omar Project Rehabilitation bhang smoking and finally heroine. is commonly referred to as cocktail. Others just mothers to sell mandazi sandwiched with hero- Centre in Msabaha within the district wants the Before Salim got addicted to drugs, she sniff it directly to get the steam. ine powder and sold only to specific customers. government to provide programmes to gener- turned to street prostitution and targeted tour- Areas around Majengo, Barani, Kisumu Barani area councillor Rua Matho Mwakim- ate income to reforming addicts with a view to ists. She would get tourists from Germany and change their lives. the ‘job’ led to her learn the language which she “Most drug addicts suffer from idleness, job- speaks fluently. lessness and stigma from the community and It was during her life as a prostitute that she “These drugs are finishing our youth and family among other problems. They are forced to met a man from Seychelles’ tourist who bought go back to the vice for lack of support from the her a salon car. The man also built her a house. tomorrow’s generation. School children community,” says Mwambogo. He established for her a bank account where “I want to tell the whole world that drugs he would make sure that she had not less than are engaging in drug peddling. We want are my lifetime enemy. I will not take any more KSh500,000 a month just to ensure that her life drugs and call upon the police to secure me a was comfortable even when he was away. thorough action from the Government.” special cell when I take any drug because I shall “We got married and had two children within — Famau Mohamed take myself there once I partake of any narcotic,” a period of four years, a girl and a boy. We stayed she says. Street children get support from one of their own By KIPKIRUI CHEPKWONY Kingdom, Njenga together with a group of for- vices to push the Government to amend Chil- He said it was wrong and criminal to offer mer street urchins founded the non-profit mak- dren’s Act so that the organisations commercial- only food to children but also termed it as pre- Braving the scorching sun, Peter Njenga walks ing organisation in an attempt to rescue chil- ising on the plight of children can be vetted out. tentious since food was only a myopic objective. up and down the streets in Eldoret to meet a dren imprisoned in a hopeless situation. He said there are many organisations pre- “We need transparent organisations that fo- group of boys and girls. As the Rift Valley Provincial Children Offi- tending to be catering for children that have cus on long term plans like education rather than Though not living under favourable condi- cer (PCO), Sheikh Mohammed, puts it, the or- mushroomed with a selfish motive. “They dis- temporary ones. It is better to teach children how tions, these children’s faces will always light up ganisation is leading in its provision of quality guise themselves as caring when they are not,” to fish instead of giving them fish,” he said. when they see him, a smile is registered on their services to street children. he said. scarred and contorted faces. The scars they have He insisted that the Government should en- Commitment been inflicted on them by members of the pub- Budget courage child participation other than Children Mohammed applauded Ex-Street Children lic who find them to be a bother. “ECCO-UK is not like those other organisa- Charitable Institutions (CCIs) in addressing is- Organisation for their relentless effort to im- Njenga is a former street boy who suffered tions that claim to have a concern for the chil- sues to enable the children feel as part of the prove the lives of the street persons. in life until he realised the dream of unlocking dren and yet they commercialise on their plight community. “The fact that ECCO rehabilitates street chil- himself from bitterness and frustration and is because of potential donors,” Mohammed ob- Njenga said that the growing figure of street dren, teaches music, takes them to school and currently proudly giving back to the society. served during at a meeting held in Eldoret. persons in towns and cities can only be reduced starts them on petty business among other things Born in a family of 12 that lived between a Njenga castigated Treasury for sidelining by an improved economy. “Families earning less is remarkably good. I urge everyone interested to rock and a hard place, Njenga found himself re- street children in the budget. He termed it as be- than a dollar a day propel children into prosti- think and work along such lines,” he said. sponding to a call for life in the streets of Eldoret. trayal and called upon Mohammed to forward tution, child labour and trafficking since their Mohammed promised to work with the Di- Njenga never went to school but today he is their grievances to the concerned authorities. choices are squeezed,” he said. rector of Children’s Services to ensure that Chil- the chairman of Ex-Street Community Children Njenga, who spoke upon arrival from Ad- Two organisations have been a threat to dren’s Act is implemented. Organisation-United Kingdom (ECCO-UK), a dis Ababa in Ethiopia where he had gone to the ECCO’s programmes due to a conflict of “The adoption process is discouraging centre operating within Eldoret town. The or- represent the organisation said the number interests. people who are willing to take on children be- ganisation caters for the welfare of the street chil- of street persons in Eldoret was growing at an Mohammed denied knowledge of one of the cause of complex legal procedures. We shall do dren with emphasis on planning and offering alarming rate. “There are now about 3,000 and organisations that offers food to street children, our best to ensure that the laws governing it long term solutions to their tribulations. the figure is still rising,” he said. alleging that it was formed without adherence are friendly and conforms to the wishes of the With the assistance of a donor from United He called upon the Director of Children Ser- to the formal procedures. people,” he said. 18 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Tourist settles in Kenya to support slum school By NICHOLAS ROBI school fees of KSh50 a month. That is why I am calling on Ke- Behind Wilson Airport in Nairobi is the Mi- nyans to donate clothes that can fit tumba slums wherein lies a community school our children,” urges Chacha. — Charanyab Mitumba Rehabilitation and Everyday the school receives a Community Centre (CHAMRECC). guest who comes to donate food, The school is located along a dusty bypass clothes, shoes, soap and other items road that divides Nairobi National Park and to be used by orphans and other Wilson Airport. When I made my way to the children whose parents are poor. school, I was welcomed by a white man who The administration has an in- introduced himself as Major (Retired) Brian come generating project of selling R. Willis. water in the school compound. In my mind I thought he was touring the This is after one of the well-wish- slums of Nairobi. However, following intro- ers bought a 10,000 litre water ductions, he told me that he was a teacher as tank. The cash that is collected well as UK Funding Trustee in the school. from selling water is used for buy- “I came to Kenya as a tourist in 1997 when ing food for pupils who stay in the I saw the plight of the children in the slum. I school. went back to my country to prepare adequate- ly for a bigger task in Kenya,” explains Willis. Joyous children In 2004 he decided to settle in Nairobi CHAMRECC School also South C as a funding trustee and teacher at the pays KSh26,000 to the landlord. CHAMRECC School. A church in the neighbourhood Alloyce Chacha, 35, the school director has been assisting the school to says he met Willis in the matatu on his way pay rent of KSh23,000, the school from town to South C. Minutes into their con- received a notice from the church versation, Willis decided to start a journey that from next year they will with- of changing the lives of children in Mitumba draw from paying rent. slum. Despite all the tribulations the pupils under- CHAMRECC School has a population of 156 go, when it is break time, they play happily in pupils, 11 teachers who teach from pre-school to the open field in front of the school. Those who class eight. With between KSh50 to KSh200 a are living with HIV and the orphans mingle month, parents can be assured of quality educa- freely with the rest of the pupils. tion for their children at the school. The Standard Eight candidates were busy Orphans have a privilege of learning at no reading for their Kenya Certificate of Primary cost and even get accommodation thanks to the Education exam (KCPE) due at the end of the retired major who has decided to spend his re- year. tirement life in CHAMRECC teaching as well Fred Moses Ratemo, the best boy in Stan- as offering financial support to the slum child. dard Eight wants to join Mang’u Boys School “I am a retired British Army Officer but in and eventually University of Nairobi to study Kenya my strength is enough to give a poor Law. Mercy Chebet the best girl would like to child a bright future,” explains Willis. join Alliance Girls’ School and later land in Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Poverty level Technology (JKUAT) to become a lawyer. According to Chacha, they stopped giving “There is nowhere you can go without edu- lunch to pupils due to high food prices, term- cation and that is a song I sing for myself,” says ing this year the most challenging since they Chebet. started six years ago. The Kenya Red Cross, the main sponsors Trophies of glory Brian pointing a filled-up pit latrine in the school, the school lacks sanitation of school lunch has diverted support to other The school has won several trophies of glo- facilities for the pupils. Below: During a teaching session in one of the classes. hungry Kenyans in the northern part of the ry. In a poetry competition among 150 com- Pictures: Nicholas Robi country. He says that some pupils come to munity slum schools, CHAMRECC School school barefoot, others rely on well-wishers scooped the top position recently. During the ernment of Kenya has forgotten community and non-government organisations develop a to buy them school uniform, books and other previous girls’ football tournament in Lang’ata schools in the slum settlements. I am request- framework of paying teachers in community personal effects. Zone, it emerged the best. ing them to stretch and reach out to the child schools to ease from parents’ the burden of “The level of poverty in this slum is so The school director says the Government in the slum,” pleads Chacha. paying teachers. “We hope the Government high to the extent that a parent can fail to pay has forgotten children in the slum. “The Gov- He recommended that the Government will react soon,” he says. Mwingi’s proclaimed idp’s Call for children’s holding cells By MWANZA MBUVI By KARIUKI MWANGI will so that they are not abandoned and left to live in the streets. Residents of Embu County have called on the Govern- Embu Maendeleo ya Wanawake chairperson Rose- Dozens of homestead and Primary school occupants in Kaningu and Musa- ment to come up with separate holding cells for children mary Nthiga pointed out the need for policies that will vani locations have fled their homes in fear of the security threats by the at the various police stations across the country. ensure inmates who work at various government depart- neighboring heardsmen from Somali zone in Tana River District. They regretted that children who have been arrested ments earn some money from the work they do as this The conflict which commenced six months ago in Ukambani left tens are being confined in the same cells with adults before will enable them support their families and themselves injured and several homesteads torched causing the victims to seek accom- being taken to court. when released. modation from the neighboring Tseikuru Location. Speaking while giving their contribution to the task Kisiuni Primary school is among the six Government institutes that were force on drafting of bills on the rights of persons detained, Discharge boards shut down in the six months. “They scared us away from school and warned held in custody and imprisoned, women’s leader Sarah Nthiga called for strong prisons discharge boards that against coming back. The School compound posses good pasture for camels,” Marigu said children have suffered abuses when confined they are able to follow up and assist in the integration of said one of the class six pupils. with adults. ex-inmates into society. Muthengi Kakutu 50, who is a farmer at Ngeteni sub-location discharged Marigu also pointed out that the Government should “The discharge boards as they are now have no capaci- from Mwingi District Hospital, is now crippled. He lost his hands as he was ensure that children whose mothers are confined do not ty to even profile the status of the inmates, leave alone fol- beaten while protesting that Somali camels should not be fed from his maize share rooms with other inmates. lowing up on them when they are released,” said Nthiga and millet farm. “Women with children below four years end up being adding that they should be enabled to track the individu- Ms Masaa Manandu 40, another victim asked the Government to advo- incarcerated with them. The children are forced to join als for proper integration. cate for peace or register them in official camps for better treatment and daily their mothers in the prisons where there is no privacy “The Judiciary should formulate policies on the pe- necessities and we end up with a generation that is not morally up- riod of time inmates can stay in remand so as to avoid Munuve Musyimi, who owns a business empire in Mwingi and Nairobi, right,” Marigu argued. situations where they stay for as long as seven years only is the host and caretaker of the victims laments that the crew spends at his She proposed that the Government comes up with to be released without charges,” she observed. home- Ngeteni village amid insecurity which is high especially during the policies that will see women with minor offences and Embu North District Commissioner Joseph Bullut night. who have children below four years punished with com- noted that the proposal to introduce conjugal rights in “The Local Tseikuru District commissioner sides with the notorious visi- munity service so as not to deprive the children their ba- prisons is not practical and will set precedence that pris- tors than keeping peace and harmony to the area residences,” he complains. sic rights. ons are very comfortable. Speaking on phone, Tseikuru District commissioner Stephen Momanyi Marigu said that they should also put in place an ini- “The inmates have to miss some of the privileges that agreed to the presence of visitors and assured dialogue with his counterpart tiative in which children whose parents have been con- free people have so that they can change and yearn to be the Tana River DC in establishing peace soon. fined in the prisons are taken by other Kenyans of good- free,” said Bullut. ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth 19 Tribulations of living with a terminal illness By JEFF MWANGI ily. However, Kajira has been forced to leave her home and come every day to cook and Cancer is one of the deadly diseases affecting clean for her sick mother in addition to other most of the people within Africa and Kenyans household chores. has not been left behind. Kajira says with the high prices of foodstuff, The disease remains a dilemma as there are getting food to feed her mother is at times a people who associate it with bad omen, curse or problem. She now appeals to well-wishers to even witchcraft. This has left the disease to claim come to the rescue of their sick mother especially many lives due to lack of information about it. by trying to get better treatment for her as she Jacinta Karwitha from Kambakia in Imenti (her mother) is in great pain. North district within Meru County was diag- nosed with oral cancer two years ago and has Assistance been living in pain ever since. Alice Kinya, a community health worker sta- When the Reject visited her in her home place tioned at Meru District General Hospital says at Kambakia area, we found nurses from Meru quite a number of people are really suffering Hospice attending to the wound on her right from cancerous diseases not forgetting the high chin. rate of HIV/Aids in the district. Meru Hospice is a charitable non-govern- It will be important for the Government to mental organisation set up to provide care to the assist these patients with drugs and foods since terminally ill within the larger Meru and sur- most of them have hardly anything to put in Meru Hospice CEO Gladys Mucee attending to Jacinta’s wound. Pictures: Jeff Mwangi rounding districts. their stomach,” observed Kinya. Karwitha was taken to the Hospice after A few kilometers from Karwitha’s home is Kathure explained that as a result of debilitating Although she has tried to get employment, it doctors at Meru District General Hospital another family which is living in pain. Grace poverty some of the grandchildren are not going has been difficult considering the many grand- found that she was suffering from cancer and Kathure is HIV positive and has 10 grandchil- to school. children she has to take care of. referred her to Kenyatta National Hospital. dren left behind by their parents who died from “My husband died about 10 years ago after “I have tried to get work as a househelp but However, due to lack of funds she never made Aids. contacting HIV. Two of my daughters and two most of the people willing to employ me find it it to Kenyatta Hospital but ended up at Meru We met some of the grandchildren at home, of my sons also died of Aids leaving behind their difficult to cope with my grandchildren saying Hospice. and when we enquired why they had not gone to children,” explained Kathure. they are many,” explains Kathure. school, Kathure who was from fetching firewood Although she is living with Aids, Kathure is Costly treatment at a near-by forest. She was planning to sell the the only person left to care for the 10 grandchil- Repeating classes According to Gladys Mucee, Chief Ex- firewood to get something to buy food informed dren plus her own last-born daughter who is to- ecutive officer of the Meru Hospice, Karwitha us that, they had been ordered by the landlord She says that in various occasions they go tally dependent on her. needs radiotherapy and chemotherapy, treat- of the place they rented to vacate immediately. without food especially when she falls ill and ment that requires a lot of money. Unfortunate- cannot work. Kathure’s last born is in Standard ly the Meru Hospice does not have facilities to Four while agemates are in Standard Six and conduct the same. Seven. Mucee would like the Government to in- “I have tried to get work as Lucy Nkirote though bright has been repeat- tervene and assist saying Karwitha’s case was ing some classes after failing to register for her just one among many patients the Hospice is a househelp but most of the examinations due to lack of exam fees. The girl handling. goes to the near Gitoro Primary School. “I am appealing to donors to assist the people willing to employ me Faith Ngore, a nurse at Meru Hospice says Hospice to enable it handle patients who are that, there is need for the Government to see unable to reach big hospitals for treatment,” find it difficult to cope with the suffering these people are undergoing and pleaded Mucee. assist them. Karwitha’s daughter Anastasia Kajira my grandchildren saying She says the Meru Hospice does not have the whom we found preparing porridge for her capacity to deal with some cases due to lack of mother says she has been taking care of her they are many.” facilities and money as they depend on donors. mother from the time she fell ill as she is the She called on well-wishers to assist Meru only family member around. — Grace Kathure Hospice by giving some donations so that the Currently she is faced with a lot of chal- organisation can be able to reach needy people lenges as she is married and has her own fam- who really need their services. Love lost as woman suffers marriage heartbreak By OMONDI GWENGI mother was alive, but today, everything has just changed,” she explains. It is said that there is a thin line between love and Her husband, a fisherman, has allegedly hate. This statement rings true for 26-year-old abandoned her for another woman and is no Jane Atieno. longer providing for the family. Her emaciated frame and haggard look “He has inherited a certain woman at the speaks volumes about the kind of suffering she beach and rarely comes home. He provides for has to endure. Nothing better illustrates her the family once in a while and I can no longer destitution than her houseless situation. With rely on him,” she observes. the ongoing rainfall, she had to move to her grandmother’s house which is against the Luo Assault tradition. She has resorted to selling nyoyo (mixture of At the time the Reject visited their home in maize and beans) to support her family rather Pala village, Bondo District, Atieno was not at than relying on the husband for support. Her home. However, she had left behind her eight- first born is in nursery school. The second born year-old son to take care of his other siblings. She is five years old and is physically impaired. had gone to hawk githeri around the village in Atieno is also faces frequent assaults by the anticipation that she would put another type of husband. She is now in a dilemma. A few months food on the table for her children who are oblivi- ago, her sister came to take her away from her ous to the suffering she is going through. husband but on condition that she would leave Atieno and her husband are both orphans, her children behind. the young woman doubles up as a mother and “My elder sister came to take me away but I breadwinner for the family. She got married to don’t know how I can leave my children behind Joshua Odhiambo five years ago. because there’s no one to take care of them,” she Jane Atieno with her five-year-old child who is physically challenged outside her The mother of three recalls the early days says. dilapidated house. Picture: Omondi Gwengi of their marriage before her grandmother died. Despite several meetings by family mem- When she left her parents’ home in Alego, Siaya bers to discuss their issue, Odhiambo has not Living along the beach is challenging and Atieno has been tested twice just to know her District, Atieno hoped to find solace in the arms changed. It has become difficult for Atieno to Atieno is faced by the temptation of unfaithful- status in order to take another dimension in life. of Odhiambo but things did not to work accord- access her conjugal rights because she stays in ness. “I sometimes think of looking for another “I was tested in Mbita and Oele beach with ing to her expectations. Today, her marriage her grandmother’s house. man who can take care of my needs rather than mobile Voluntary Counselling Test (VCT) vans,” has inflicted more pain on her almost healing “I have not had sex with my husband for the a drunkard man who cares less about his family,” she says. Since then Atieno says she has never wound. last 10 months and it is difficult for me since I am Atieno observes. However, her fear is the HIV/ had sex with him. “I am not ready to have sex “At first we lived happily when my grand- still young and I have feelings,” she says. Aids scourge that is rampant along the beaches. with him unless he goes for a test,” she adds. 20 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth ISSUE 047, Sept 16 - Sept 30, 2011 Amplifying subdued consumer voices

By ALEX GAKURU tion from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPUTR) which prohibits the use of editorial What would you do after erroneously transfer- content in the media, including twitter, blogs ring mobile money to a recipient who imme- and other social networking websites, for the diately withdraws the cash? And the mobile purpose of product promotion where the pro- money platform owner or operator regrets moter has been paid, unless such payment is informing you, “there is nothing we can do to clearly identifiable to the consumer. help you get your money back”. Service providers often hide undisclosed Infuriated customers undergo denial, an- additional fees and surcharges over the adver- ger, bargaining and depression before finally tised price, such as “service activation fees” on accepting loss of their money. The psychologi- mobile phones, hidden in fine print so con- cal dynamics of this customer’s predicament fusedly and obfuscated by ambiguous termi- can be explained by the Kübler-Ross grief nology that they are essentially undisclosed. model as: Other tactics include unfair contract terms, Denial — “I feel fine. This can’t be happening, for example, unstated consumer compensation, not to me”; use of customer data for purposes other than Anger — “Why me? It’s not fair! How can this they were obtained for, applying unfair fees, happen to me? Who is to blame?” charges and penalties on transactions, artificial Bargaining — “I will do everything to get my restrictions on the duration within which cus- cash back.” tomers can submit claims. Legal Instruments. Depression — “I’m so sad, why bother with anything?” Constitutional rights Acceptance — “I have lost and it is going to We must hail the Constitution for elevat- be okay. I can’t fight it. I should prevent it ing consumer rights in Article 46. Notably, from ever happening again.” consumer’s right to the information necessary Frantic efforts to help the affected individual for them to gain full benefit from goods and may range from sudden realisation or call for services. Consumer’s Welfare, Part VI on Com- enforcement of tough consumer protection petition Act, 2010 provides offences and pen- alties for false or misleading representations, laws, demand for immediate reimbursement A mobile subscriber making a phone call. Picture: Reject Correspondent and culprits’ punishment among other strate- unconscionable conduct, product information gies. However, a strategic approach is necessary standards, notice to consumers, role of Kenya to realise sustained consumer protection. The Communication Technologies (ICTs) where Experiences like these compel us to reflect Bureau of Standards and referral of complaints steps are quite a number and interrelated with service providers literally ‘speak down’ to their on the direct conflict between commercial in- to government agencies. There is also notifica- the first one being able to define the consumer. customers using terms that are difficult to com- terests vis-à-vis consumer protection media tion by consumer bodies, among others. prehend. As such, many easily get away and obligation. Clause 9.6 ‘Role of Consumers and Users’ Protection strategies cannot be held accountable. For example, on Products goods and services purchase deci- on National Information and Communications A consumer can be defined as one who ac- service level agreements, advertised quality of sions are based on best available information, Technology (ICT) Policy by Ministry of Infor- quires goods or services for direct use or own- service and customer care service quality. belief and trust of its accuracy and honestly. mation and Communications (January 2006) ership rather than for resale or use in produc- Research has revealed that the total rev- Therefore, relaying any misleading advertise- states: “Consumers and users will be expected tion and manufacturing. This is then followed enue realised from local media broadcast on ments, misinformation, opinion manipulation to participate in ensuring: a) Universal access by a methodical protection strategy. radio and television, six major print newspa- and hosts of other misrepresentations rob con- and affordability of ICT services; b) Quality of The methodical protection strategy is com- pers, magazines and periodicals from Janu- sumers their fundamental rights and threatens services is maintained; and c) Continued re- posed of three avenues open to pursue con- ary to June 2011 total KSh19.1 billion. While democracy. Media tilting of public perception view of Government policy in accordance with sumer rights protection. the total for January to December 2010 was and opinion to favour big advertisement spend- technological and consumer trends.” The most common but least effective is the KSh35.5 billion. ers subdues the legitimate consumer interests Furthermore, the Kenya Information and ‘industry engagement’. It is an approach that and down plays genuine complaints for com- Communications Act, 2010 obligates Com- involves background bargaining for resolu- Advertising revenue mercial interests. munications Commission of Kenya to protect tions of complaints with the ICT service pro- The communications firms advertisements Representation, omission or practice that is ICT consumers. In doing so, the agency is sub- viders. The second more powerful ‘firefighting’ on the other hand contributed KSh4 billion likely to mislead the consumer qualify as de- sequently expected to implement the purpose approach is the occasional featuring through and KSh9.5 billion (or 21 per cent and 27 per ceptive acts. Instruments of mass communica- of the Act via various gazetted regulations. media highlights of the disastrous incidents. cent) respectively. In 2009, advertisement ex- tion, traditional media or modern ICTs can be This will not only attract public sympathy penditure across Kenyan media was KSh31.5 abused to misinform consumers frustrating Efforts or backlash but will also set the ball rolling for billion up from KSh21.4 billion in the previous their constitutional rights. Consider the US Unfortunately, there are efforts to stop enhanced visibility thereby compelling speedy year. According to media reports, top spend- Federal Trade Commission which fines blog- the Commission from implementing visibly action by policy makers. ers were telecommunications companies, led gers up to KSh1 million ($11,000) for not dis- working consumer protection regulations. The third and most effective option, in- by mobile phone firms. closing payments received to praise products Certain telecommunications services provid- volves review of government policies, laws The foregoing data helps explain how lu- online. ers and, strangely, a new government agency and regulations and persistent engagement crative advertisement revenue and competi- In July, 2010, UK Office of Fair Trading — Competition Authority lack legal capacity with the Government on consumer protection tion among media houses threatens and re- (OFT) investigated online activities of Hand- to carry out the mandate. Due to the technical advocacy. sults in toned-down to blocked-out consumer picked Media, (self-described ‘Collective of incompetence, they are unable to drive con- The end results are: a) policy, laws and complaints on local media. independent sites and blogs with a focus on sumer protection agenda on Information and regulations changes; b) follow up on imple- Media enterprises threatened with cancel- publishers’) on suspicions of engaging and Communication Technology terrain. mentation and; c) recommending further pol- lations for carrying editorial content deemed paying individuals for online promotional ac- It will be interesting to find out whether the icy changes that reclaim, protect and advance as ‘adverse publicity’ by top advertisement tivity in circumstances where such remunera- constitutional consumer rights requirements consumer rights and interests. spenders would think thrice before publishing tion was not clearly disclosed to consumers. would be met, better, through cancellation These avenues must be used in comple- more of such illegitimate, dissatisfactory con- OFT concluded that Handpicked was op- of already gazetted Ministry’s ICT consumer mentary combinations not in isolation of oth- sumers’ expressions. erating in breach of the Consumer Protec- protection regulations as demanded by the ers. This can be realised through a receptive, newly established government agency or not. issue-oriented, dynamic relationship with the In the event that they succeed, we should various stakeholders, consumers, businesses Media tilting of public perception and opinion to favour expect a return of prior existed environment and government. Consideration must also be of ICT consumer protection void, negating all given to the interests of intermediary stake- big advertisement spenders subdues the legitimate gains made, offering rogue telecommunica- holders to forestall skewed or biasness. tions services providers a fresh lease of life. I Knowledgeable consumers are empowered consumer interests and down plays genuine complaints sit back and watch events unfold. and better armed to demand for their rights The writer is the Chairman, ICT Consumers especially in complicated new Information and for commercial interests. Association of Kenya

Executive Director: Rosemary Okello Write to: Editor: Jane Godia [email protected] Sub-Editors: Florence Sipalla, Omwa Ombara and Mercy Mumo Designer: Noel Lumbama Contributors: Ekuwam Adou, Paul Olale, Joseph Mukubwa, Oloo Janak, Beatrice Gitau, Elizabeth Awuor, Muktar Abdi, Henry Kahara, Jane Mutua, Caroline Wangechi, Abjata Khalif, Joy Monday, Kariuki Mwangi, Abisai The paper is produced with funds from Amugune, Eutycas Muchiri, Eric Mutai, Charles Njeru, Eliud Waithaka, Omondi Gwengi, Boniface Mulu, Mnyazi Joe, Kigondu Ndavano, Fibi David, Kipkirui Chepkwony, Nicholas Robi, Mwanza Mbuvi, Jeff www.mediadiversityafrica.org Mwangi and Alex Gakuru.