We send you all our good wishes for a happy and blessed Christmas. Thank you all for your continuing prayers and support. This is the time of year that we miss you all, especially our family.We will be back with you in the New Year
Sunday, December 14, 2008
As the anniversary approaches, there is tension in the air
At this time last year the country was preparing for a General Election. We all know what happened in the aftermath. Since March 2008 there has been an uneasy peace held together by a hastily assembled coalition. We avoided outright civil war by a hair’s breadth. Since then nothing seems to have improved. There are still thousands of IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and now there is hunger because of gross mismanagement and a growing rage against the government.
The most recent fiasco about selling the staple maize meal at two different prices has misfired as we suspected. Certain people will be making millions of shillings, paid for by the tax payers–who do not include the MPs.
President Kibaki was heckled and jeered this week at a Jamhuri (Independence) Day celebration in his own Central province where he has long been revered as a demi-god. This would have been unthinkable just a few short years ago. Odinga, who rode in on his white horse a year ago to become Prime Minister, has been revealed as self serving as the rest once in power.
In a latest manifestation of ineptitude a Bill has been passed giving the government power to close down media outlets, seize equipment and even dictate what they are allowed to convey to the public. There is outrage at all levels. People were arrested this past week for protesting and even for wearing T shirts with slogans indicating support for all Kenyans to pay tax.
I have never seen such newspaper articles. The general belief is that the senior officials have grown embarrassed by the insistence on prosecution of those responsible for last year’s troubles and the implementation of the Waki report as well as the exposure of parliamentary corruption.
Another Bill, a Constitutional amendment, devised to dismiss the bungling Electoral Commission, might be vetoed by the president. Some believe the fear is that the Commissioners, if dismissed, would in retaliation reveal too much about last year’s shenanigans.
I don’t have a good feeling about all this. It seems things could explode again. I don’t believe people want the same kind of turmoil we experienced a year ago, but when they try to demonstrate peacefully (just by wearing a T shirt), they are arrested and roughed up.
No healing and reconciliation programme, however powerful, can withstand this kind of provocation.
Yesterday we went to the market to buy five woven baskets (less that $1 each) We will fill these with a bag of flour, sugar, tea, margarine, cookies, jam and a phone card for each of our three instructors to share with their families. Johnstone, who has a birthday on Dec 26, gets a new pair of shoes. He has resoled his existing ones three times and they won't last any longer. The fifth basket is for the young man Sammy, the shamba boy, who lives in a small hut, looks after the animals and always opens the gate for us with a big smile.
On Wednesday we leave for our Christmas break. I have an appointment at the Canadian High Commission on Thursday to present a proposal for a Local Initiatives grant. It is submitted by the Virtues group on behalf of the local Task Force set up by the Provincial Commissioner who is very supportive of the work we have been doing in Western. The Province has seen a decline in violence in the schools where we have trained and we are now beginning community workshops. We desperately need solid funding to continue and the Canada Fund is one possibility. We will also meet some other potential donors on the morning of 19. We fly out to India on the afternoon of 19, returning on Jan 1.
The most recent fiasco about selling the staple maize meal at two different prices has misfired as we suspected. Certain people will be making millions of shillings, paid for by the tax payers–who do not include the MPs.
President Kibaki was heckled and jeered this week at a Jamhuri (Independence) Day celebration in his own Central province where he has long been revered as a demi-god. This would have been unthinkable just a few short years ago. Odinga, who rode in on his white horse a year ago to become Prime Minister, has been revealed as self serving as the rest once in power.
In a latest manifestation of ineptitude a Bill has been passed giving the government power to close down media outlets, seize equipment and even dictate what they are allowed to convey to the public. There is outrage at all levels. People were arrested this past week for protesting and even for wearing T shirts with slogans indicating support for all Kenyans to pay tax.
I have never seen such newspaper articles. The general belief is that the senior officials have grown embarrassed by the insistence on prosecution of those responsible for last year’s troubles and the implementation of the Waki report as well as the exposure of parliamentary corruption.
Another Bill, a Constitutional amendment, devised to dismiss the bungling Electoral Commission, might be vetoed by the president. Some believe the fear is that the Commissioners, if dismissed, would in retaliation reveal too much about last year’s shenanigans.
I don’t have a good feeling about all this. It seems things could explode again. I don’t believe people want the same kind of turmoil we experienced a year ago, but when they try to demonstrate peacefully (just by wearing a T shirt), they are arrested and roughed up.
No healing and reconciliation programme, however powerful, can withstand this kind of provocation.
Yesterday we went to the market to buy five woven baskets (less that $1 each) We will fill these with a bag of flour, sugar, tea, margarine, cookies, jam and a phone card for each of our three instructors to share with their families. Johnstone, who has a birthday on Dec 26, gets a new pair of shoes. He has resoled his existing ones three times and they won't last any longer. The fifth basket is for the young man Sammy, the shamba boy, who lives in a small hut, looks after the animals and always opens the gate for us with a big smile.
On Wednesday we leave for our Christmas break. I have an appointment at the Canadian High Commission on Thursday to present a proposal for a Local Initiatives grant. It is submitted by the Virtues group on behalf of the local Task Force set up by the Provincial Commissioner who is very supportive of the work we have been doing in Western. The Province has seen a decline in violence in the schools where we have trained and we are now beginning community workshops. We desperately need solid funding to continue and the Canada Fund is one possibility. We will also meet some other potential donors on the morning of 19. We fly out to India on the afternoon of 19, returning on Jan 1.
Friday, December 12, 2008
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Uganda experience
The Anglican Church in Mbale, Uganda, about an hour across the border, requested a Virtues workshop to train some of their members. I was reluctant to go, since I think we have our plate full with everything developing right here in Kenya, and I feared the costs that might be incurred, but I allowed myself to be persuaded on the promise of adequate fees being paid by participants to cover fuel, copies etc.
I made copies, loaded the laptop & projector and we left Monday, Rod driving our vehicle. He dropped us at the border crossing at Malava, which is just as chaotic as the one at Busia. There were close to 1,000 trucks lined up waiting to cross (this is the only road from the port of Mombasa into the heart of Africa) We saw that a trailer truck had overturned right in the customs area and was causing the back up.
The organizer of the workshop met us and was positive I didn’t need a visa. I have been across before without a visa, but only for a few hours at a time. However, I didn’t really want to pay $50US either. We took a back way and drove to the town and were taken to quite a nice hotel. So far, so good. We had been told to expect 15 or so people and had made copies for 20. There might be 30, we were told, but there was a copy shop close by. On the way to the hotel we passed by the hall rented for us, a huge place, but we decided we would use a stage at one end and white sheets would be tacked up for a screen.
It turned out that Monday was Eid, a Muslim holiday, and recognized in Uganda. So all banks etc were closed, leaving us without Ugandan currency until Isaiah managed to find a street money changer.
However, we had a pleasant dinner in gardens across from the hotel and were told breakfast started at 7 am. That would be good since we wanted to be setting up around 8. The breakfast room was in complete darkness and locked at 7, but by 7.40 there was food available. Of course, no one came to pick us up until nearly 9. At that time it appeared that some ‘officials’ in town wanted to meet the organizer and Isaiah, the Kenyan coordinator, to find out what we were doing. That sounded a bit strange, but since we have been dealing with government officials in Kenya, who have supported the programme we weren’t too concerned.
About 10 I agreed to start the teaching alone. There were about 15 people by then and some 10 more wandered in over the next 2 hours. I couldn’t give them all handouts. Isaiah and George, the coordinator, did not reappear. I soldiered on, not knowing what arrangements had been made for refreshments, lunch etc. There didn’t appear to be any provision made at the hall.
After four and a half hours of teaching with only a 15 minute break, Isaiah came back and took over the last part, thank goodness. We finished the workshop, had a meal (about 4 pm) and learned the bad news. Most participants had not paid the full agreed fee and there would be no money for copies or fuel, although the meal and our hotel could be covered. I was not surprised. Then we learned that there is a supposed law in Uganda that any ‘international’ project must register and pay a hefty fee in order to operate. Of course the name of the programme is ‘Virtues International’ and no amount of arguing could persuade them that we had no funds, we were unpaid and totally volunteer. George was threatened with arrest. The first fee they wanted was $700US but it reduced to $400 by the end of the afternoon.
It became apparent we could not leave without paying, or promising to pay, and I did not have a visa.
In desperation on Wednesday morning I took my bank card to Barclays to withdraw the *** money and get out of Dodge, only to find the Ugandan banks are not on any international system such as Cirrhus and I couldn’t withdraw anything.
Isaiah then went to write an affidavit promising to pay and we decided to set off for the border again. There was some difficulty taking the car through the gate and we thought they might ask to see our passports. So we loaded our bags & walked through with the crowd. Rod was waiting for us. The smiling Kenyan Immigration officer put a reentry stamp in my passport and said ‘Karibu tena’-- "welcome back"
While were driving I asked George how the officials knew we were there. After all this had been a private arrangement with a church group, not publicized in any way. It seems that in Uganda there are hundreds, if not thousands, of ‘security’ informants in plain clothes who report directly to the President. They monitor all rentals of space for group meetings. George hastily told me, as the driver listened, that all Ugandans were grateful for being kept so safe and well looked after.
On Thursday morning in Kakamega I withdrew $400 US and Isaiah traveled back to the border to meet George. There is some money in the Virtues bank account, so I am hoping to be reimbursed since cash is getting low as we start the second part of our stay.
This was a very good lesson in two ways: we have to have a deposit of some kind before we travel, not just empty promises of fees to be collected. Secondly, we need a guarantee from organizers outside Kenya that we will be able to operate legally.
Personally, it will be a long time before I agree to any more such undertakings.
I made copies, loaded the laptop & projector and we left Monday, Rod driving our vehicle. He dropped us at the border crossing at Malava, which is just as chaotic as the one at Busia. There were close to 1,000 trucks lined up waiting to cross (this is the only road from the port of Mombasa into the heart of Africa) We saw that a trailer truck had overturned right in the customs area and was causing the back up.
The organizer of the workshop met us and was positive I didn’t need a visa. I have been across before without a visa, but only for a few hours at a time. However, I didn’t really want to pay $50US either. We took a back way and drove to the town and were taken to quite a nice hotel. So far, so good. We had been told to expect 15 or so people and had made copies for 20. There might be 30, we were told, but there was a copy shop close by. On the way to the hotel we passed by the hall rented for us, a huge place, but we decided we would use a stage at one end and white sheets would be tacked up for a screen.
It turned out that Monday was Eid, a Muslim holiday, and recognized in Uganda. So all banks etc were closed, leaving us without Ugandan currency until Isaiah managed to find a street money changer.
However, we had a pleasant dinner in gardens across from the hotel and were told breakfast started at 7 am. That would be good since we wanted to be setting up around 8. The breakfast room was in complete darkness and locked at 7, but by 7.40 there was food available. Of course, no one came to pick us up until nearly 9. At that time it appeared that some ‘officials’ in town wanted to meet the organizer and Isaiah, the Kenyan coordinator, to find out what we were doing. That sounded a bit strange, but since we have been dealing with government officials in Kenya, who have supported the programme we weren’t too concerned.
About 10 I agreed to start the teaching alone. There were about 15 people by then and some 10 more wandered in over the next 2 hours. I couldn’t give them all handouts. Isaiah and George, the coordinator, did not reappear. I soldiered on, not knowing what arrangements had been made for refreshments, lunch etc. There didn’t appear to be any provision made at the hall.
After four and a half hours of teaching with only a 15 minute break, Isaiah came back and took over the last part, thank goodness. We finished the workshop, had a meal (about 4 pm) and learned the bad news. Most participants had not paid the full agreed fee and there would be no money for copies or fuel, although the meal and our hotel could be covered. I was not surprised. Then we learned that there is a supposed law in Uganda that any ‘international’ project must register and pay a hefty fee in order to operate. Of course the name of the programme is ‘Virtues International’ and no amount of arguing could persuade them that we had no funds, we were unpaid and totally volunteer. George was threatened with arrest. The first fee they wanted was $700US but it reduced to $400 by the end of the afternoon.
It became apparent we could not leave without paying, or promising to pay, and I did not have a visa.
In desperation on Wednesday morning I took my bank card to Barclays to withdraw the *** money and get out of Dodge, only to find the Ugandan banks are not on any international system such as Cirrhus and I couldn’t withdraw anything.
Isaiah then went to write an affidavit promising to pay and we decided to set off for the border again. There was some difficulty taking the car through the gate and we thought they might ask to see our passports. So we loaded our bags & walked through with the crowd. Rod was waiting for us. The smiling Kenyan Immigration officer put a reentry stamp in my passport and said ‘Karibu tena’-- "welcome back"
While were driving I asked George how the officials knew we were there. After all this had been a private arrangement with a church group, not publicized in any way. It seems that in Uganda there are hundreds, if not thousands, of ‘security’ informants in plain clothes who report directly to the President. They monitor all rentals of space for group meetings. George hastily told me, as the driver listened, that all Ugandans were grateful for being kept so safe and well looked after.
On Thursday morning in Kakamega I withdrew $400 US and Isaiah traveled back to the border to meet George. There is some money in the Virtues bank account, so I am hoping to be reimbursed since cash is getting low as we start the second part of our stay.
This was a very good lesson in two ways: we have to have a deposit of some kind before we travel, not just empty promises of fees to be collected. Secondly, we need a guarantee from organizers outside Kenya that we will be able to operate legally.
Personally, it will be a long time before I agree to any more such undertakings.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Some of this, a little of that.
Tomorrow I will travel to Uganda to do a community Virtues workshop, so will be away for three days. In the past week or so we have run a community workshop in Kakamega and one for teachers. At the latter the Provincial Education Officer came in person to tell the participants that he is entirely behind the project and expects all schools to be compliant. He told them of the reduction in serious violence we have seen and reiterated that it will spread through the province.
Our rutted and potholed dirt roads in town have been graded because the President came on Thursday to preside at the graduation ceremonies of the university.
Today we visited the three wells we have going. Tambua and Lirhanda are going well and should be finished next week. We will organize the official handover in January. Ingidi had more problems. They hit rock twice at the spot we had designated, so moved to the other side of the compound. At first I was concerned about the proximity of pit latrines to this site, but we checked it all out, taking into account the slope of the ground, and they just squeak by for distance between the latrines and the water hole. I’ll try to post a couple of pictures when I come back from Uganda.
Here’s what’s keeping us talking:
The government has adopted the tried and true way to stall decisions by proposing a tribunal (commission) to look into the issue of MP taxation. Even if the result is what people want, laws will have to be rewritten. Not likely that anything will happen until a new government in 2012.
After vehemently protesting the implementation of the Waki report to bring instigators of last January’s mayhem to justice, there has been an about face and the government is setting up a tribunal, rather than see the whole affair handed to the World Court in the Hague. Two of the judges must be foreign and one Kenyan. The prosecutor must be foreign. A Dutch lawyer who is a World Prosecutor has arrived in Kenya on her way to Uganda to work in the prosecution of the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army. She also served in the court that condemned Saddam Hussein. She says "something is wrong" with the way Kenya is handling the local tribunal issues. She warns against those who were opposed and are now advocating the tribunal. They may be attempting to frustrate the process.
Subsequent to the outcry about the cost of maize meal, the government came up with two brilliant ideas. The first is to decree a reduction in the price of flour, ordering farmers to sell at a new (lower) fixed price. The second was to make two prices for the 2 kg bags: one for the ‘rich’ areas and another (about half) for the ‘poor’ areas. Of course there is no indication of how this difference in sale price will be controlled or administered. If you were an MP and had lost some revenue on your stock of meal because of the enforced reduction in selling price, where would you buy your new supply?
A new regulation will force teachers and civil servants to take home 33% of their pay. Many have bank loans to service that eat the whole of their monthly cheque. Thus they are constantly stretched for money and looking for odd jobs to make ends meet, neglecting their classes. An example shows a typical pay slip of 18,000 or so shillings ($300) of which the teacher takes home about 2,000/- ($30) Question is, why do the banks and credit unions loan this kind of money to begin with?
The Electoral Commission of Kenya is on its way out. That’s the good news. The jaw dropping news after all their incompetence earlier this year and the confirmation that they were at least partly to blame for the turmoil, is that they have requested severance packages which would total about 500 million shillings (close to $1 million)
We hope a senior police officer (Chief Inspector) is facing jail. He arrested a suspected rapist of an eight year old girl last year, but let the man go after three days. He then asked the father to accept money from the man to drop the case. When the father refused, he was arrested and charged with giving false information with the alleged rapist a witness in the case.
A big case of land grabbing has come to the fore. This one has a certain irony. The Ministry of Lands had a plot of ground to build a new head office. The employees of the ministry faked title deeds and divided the plot into six, which they were preparing to sell. In Eldoret alone 54 fake documents have been issued.
An MP has been in the Cabinet for two years. During that time he has managed to acquire a small aircraft which he uses to visit his constituency. A rough calculation will show that even his bloated salary would not enable him to operate the plane and care for his ordinary living expenses. Being in Parliament is the door to unheard of wealth. It sees the Anti Corruption Commission has given no indication of interest in this example.
The government, supposedly annoyed that the newspapers are keeping certain issues (like MP taxation, Waki report, EKC) front and centre, is trying to introduce a bill that would give more presidential control over the media.
In all this we are humbled by the indomitable spirit of the people with whom we live and work. Hunger, unemployment, disease cannot dampen their faith and optimism. Why else would we have so many giving time and money to attend our workshops in the hope that this will help bring about societal change? They love their country and hate their government. They continue to hope that one day strong, honest leaders will appear.
Our rutted and potholed dirt roads in town have been graded because the President came on Thursday to preside at the graduation ceremonies of the university.
Today we visited the three wells we have going. Tambua and Lirhanda are going well and should be finished next week. We will organize the official handover in January. Ingidi had more problems. They hit rock twice at the spot we had designated, so moved to the other side of the compound. At first I was concerned about the proximity of pit latrines to this site, but we checked it all out, taking into account the slope of the ground, and they just squeak by for distance between the latrines and the water hole. I’ll try to post a couple of pictures when I come back from Uganda.
Here’s what’s keeping us talking:
The government has adopted the tried and true way to stall decisions by proposing a tribunal (commission) to look into the issue of MP taxation. Even if the result is what people want, laws will have to be rewritten. Not likely that anything will happen until a new government in 2012.
After vehemently protesting the implementation of the Waki report to bring instigators of last January’s mayhem to justice, there has been an about face and the government is setting up a tribunal, rather than see the whole affair handed to the World Court in the Hague. Two of the judges must be foreign and one Kenyan. The prosecutor must be foreign. A Dutch lawyer who is a World Prosecutor has arrived in Kenya on her way to Uganda to work in the prosecution of the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army. She also served in the court that condemned Saddam Hussein. She says "something is wrong" with the way Kenya is handling the local tribunal issues. She warns against those who were opposed and are now advocating the tribunal. They may be attempting to frustrate the process.
Subsequent to the outcry about the cost of maize meal, the government came up with two brilliant ideas. The first is to decree a reduction in the price of flour, ordering farmers to sell at a new (lower) fixed price. The second was to make two prices for the 2 kg bags: one for the ‘rich’ areas and another (about half) for the ‘poor’ areas. Of course there is no indication of how this difference in sale price will be controlled or administered. If you were an MP and had lost some revenue on your stock of meal because of the enforced reduction in selling price, where would you buy your new supply?
A new regulation will force teachers and civil servants to take home 33% of their pay. Many have bank loans to service that eat the whole of their monthly cheque. Thus they are constantly stretched for money and looking for odd jobs to make ends meet, neglecting their classes. An example shows a typical pay slip of 18,000 or so shillings ($300) of which the teacher takes home about 2,000/- ($30) Question is, why do the banks and credit unions loan this kind of money to begin with?
The Electoral Commission of Kenya is on its way out. That’s the good news. The jaw dropping news after all their incompetence earlier this year and the confirmation that they were at least partly to blame for the turmoil, is that they have requested severance packages which would total about 500 million shillings (close to $1 million)
We hope a senior police officer (Chief Inspector) is facing jail. He arrested a suspected rapist of an eight year old girl last year, but let the man go after three days. He then asked the father to accept money from the man to drop the case. When the father refused, he was arrested and charged with giving false information with the alleged rapist a witness in the case.
A big case of land grabbing has come to the fore. This one has a certain irony. The Ministry of Lands had a plot of ground to build a new head office. The employees of the ministry faked title deeds and divided the plot into six, which they were preparing to sell. In Eldoret alone 54 fake documents have been issued.
An MP has been in the Cabinet for two years. During that time he has managed to acquire a small aircraft which he uses to visit his constituency. A rough calculation will show that even his bloated salary would not enable him to operate the plane and care for his ordinary living expenses. Being in Parliament is the door to unheard of wealth. It sees the Anti Corruption Commission has given no indication of interest in this example.
The government, supposedly annoyed that the newspapers are keeping certain issues (like MP taxation, Waki report, EKC) front and centre, is trying to introduce a bill that would give more presidential control over the media.
In all this we are humbled by the indomitable spirit of the people with whom we live and work. Hunger, unemployment, disease cannot dampen their faith and optimism. Why else would we have so many giving time and money to attend our workshops in the hope that this will help bring about societal change? They love their country and hate their government. They continue to hope that one day strong, honest leaders will appear.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Not so happy Christmas
December is traditionally the time for the "Cut" in most societies in Kenya. Boys are circumcised just as they start to reach puberty It is a time of celebration in the community. Boys spend a few days in isolation after the surgery and emerge as ‘men’. The dangers in this practice are dirty instruments and infection and also the transmission of HIV from the poor hygienic practices. A boy this year died from excessive bleeding and could not be taken to hospital because of the tradition of isolation after the cut.
In general terms I think there are many such rituals all over the world. The bonding with one’s ‘age mates’ who all undergo this at the same time is extremely strong. Amongst the Masai, a traveling ‘warrior’ can ask shelter from his age mates in the new community. Failing any such, then his father’s age mates must offer hospitality.
All this sounds very reassuring. Girls do not fare as well.
A couple of years ago I wrote an article on FGM (female genital mutilation) which I won’t repeat here. Suffice it to say, that although the practice is illegal in Kenya many tribes still gather together their young girls at this time of the year to undergo the cut.
This week a father was arrested for attempting to force his two daughters, aged 8 and 9 to be ‘circumcised’. Of course if your only hope of acquiring more cows (ie wealth) is to obtain the bride price for your daughter, and if you cannot marry her off because she has not been ‘circumcised’ there is strong compulsion to follow the cultural norm.
Child rights activists have rescued more than 200 girls who were being forced to undergo the ritual. The girls are aged 10-15. At least one was found with hands and feet bound.
In another area a 32 year old woman is fighting for her life after being forcibly circumcised over the weekend. She had somehow resisted for over 20 years but sustained serious injuries and suffered from severe bleeding. She underwent a 3 hour reconstructive surgery and blames her mother for secretly organizing the cut.
I am happy to say that the Luhya, amongst whom we live, practice the male cut but do not 'circumcize' their girls.
In general terms I think there are many such rituals all over the world. The bonding with one’s ‘age mates’ who all undergo this at the same time is extremely strong. Amongst the Masai, a traveling ‘warrior’ can ask shelter from his age mates in the new community. Failing any such, then his father’s age mates must offer hospitality.
All this sounds very reassuring. Girls do not fare as well.
A couple of years ago I wrote an article on FGM (female genital mutilation) which I won’t repeat here. Suffice it to say, that although the practice is illegal in Kenya many tribes still gather together their young girls at this time of the year to undergo the cut.
This week a father was arrested for attempting to force his two daughters, aged 8 and 9 to be ‘circumcised’. Of course if your only hope of acquiring more cows (ie wealth) is to obtain the bride price for your daughter, and if you cannot marry her off because she has not been ‘circumcised’ there is strong compulsion to follow the cultural norm.
Child rights activists have rescued more than 200 girls who were being forced to undergo the ritual. The girls are aged 10-15. At least one was found with hands and feet bound.
In another area a 32 year old woman is fighting for her life after being forcibly circumcised over the weekend. She had somehow resisted for over 20 years but sustained serious injuries and suffered from severe bleeding. She underwent a 3 hour reconstructive surgery and blames her mother for secretly organizing the cut.
I am happy to say that the Luhya, amongst whom we live, practice the male cut but do not 'circumcize' their girls.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Sunday School conference:
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On Nov 25 I taught as usual at the Sunday School teachers’ conference at the theological college. I always like to do something very active with them that they would not be able to do otherwise. For three years I have taught cooperative games and they always clamour for more. We have so much fun.
This year I wanted to depart from the tried and true so we did the Lord’s Prayer in sign language. Such concentration as they all tried to follow the gestures and did a pretty good job!
Then I distributed small packs of beads (photo) I had put together in Canada to make Anglican Rosary beads. We went outside under the trees because there was more room than in the conference hall and it gets pretty hot in the afternoon. I had visions of all the tiny beads spilling out so I gave out paper cupcake holders to tip them into. I had brought for just about 95 people and I think there were about 5 more needed. I had some spare beads & crosses, but unfortunately a couple of people had to go without. This is always so difficult. I gave away my own set to someone almost in tears because she had arrived late and missed the distribution.
We finished with the usual cheers, thanks and enthusiastic songs and we received some nice colourful cotton wraps.
I don’t think they really missed the cooperative games, but I did leave them with one to play that needs no equipment.
This year I wanted to depart from the tried and true so we did the Lord’s Prayer in sign language. Such concentration as they all tried to follow the gestures and did a pretty good job!
Then I distributed small packs of beads (photo) I had put together in Canada to make Anglican Rosary beads. We went outside under the trees because there was more room than in the conference hall and it gets pretty hot in the afternoon. I had visions of all the tiny beads spilling out so I gave out paper cupcake holders to tip them into. I had brought for just about 95 people and I think there were about 5 more needed. I had some spare beads & crosses, but unfortunately a couple of people had to go without. This is always so difficult. I gave away my own set to someone almost in tears because she had arrived late and missed the distribution.
We finished with the usual cheers, thanks and enthusiastic songs and we received some nice colourful cotton wraps.
I don’t think they really missed the cooperative games, but I did leave them with one to play that needs no equipment.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Is this obscene or what?
The big concern in the country right now is the price of food in general and maize flour in particular. I have mentioned before that the staple food (called just ‘food’ in most places) is ugali which is a thick, pudding-like starch which fills the belly and lasts for hours.
A short while ago it sold for 60 or 70 shillings for a 2 kg bag. Then there appeared to be a shortage and prices shot up to 120 shillings and more and stores imposed rationing.
Why the sudden shortage?
It turned out that certain MPs had obtained (who knows how) special letters of permission to buy from the cereals board in large quantities. They bought and held on to the stocks, driving up the prices, watching while people cut their food intake more and more. Many eat no meat, even once a week. Children get a thin gruel or suck on sugar cane. If a day labourer is fortunate to earn 130 shilling a day and pays rent of 2,000/- per month you can see how much is left.
The newspapers are full of bitter hatred for the MPs who still steadfastly refuse to consider paying taxes on the salaries they set.
A short while ago it sold for 60 or 70 shillings for a 2 kg bag. Then there appeared to be a shortage and prices shot up to 120 shillings and more and stores imposed rationing.
Why the sudden shortage?
It turned out that certain MPs had obtained (who knows how) special letters of permission to buy from the cereals board in large quantities. They bought and held on to the stocks, driving up the prices, watching while people cut their food intake more and more. Many eat no meat, even once a week. Children get a thin gruel or suck on sugar cane. If a day labourer is fortunate to earn 130 shilling a day and pays rent of 2,000/- per month you can see how much is left.
The newspapers are full of bitter hatred for the MPs who still steadfastly refuse to consider paying taxes on the salaries they set.
Hudson's autobiography
I have been so busy this past week that I had no chance to write of post the blog entries. I’ll try to catch up over the next couple of days.
Many of you support our work by helping various young people go to school.
This was sent to many by Marie, our Kenya Liaison
KEEF INFOMERCIAL
The situation in Kenya is not good. The August harvest of maize was significantly reduced due to poor weather and the fact that many farmers could not afford fertilizer when they planted. The cost of food has risen three fold and many children will not only lack school fees they will go hungry.
After reading the following I hope all of you understand how much your support means to the Kenyan students.
Autobiography
Born 24 years ago, Hudson Wereh Shiraku are the names I was assigned. Wereh is my father’s - so they said, but he declined responsibility. Being only sixteen, mum could not get a job as she had dropped out of school in standard four – this was because grandpa did not value educating a girl-child. It was also said that am not the first born as I think; at fourteen, mom conceived and aborted a baby girl. Given her status; age and level of education, mother could not take care of us - herself and I.
One day, it is said, she set off with me and went to Kakamega town. Here, she left me on the street and went to stay with a relative for six months. She then went back home and when asked where I was, she said I was dead and buried. – She hoped I’d either die or land in some good custody. She feared seeing me suffer. So I became ‘past tense’ in these people’s mind. Fortunately, while strolling in town, a neighbor recognized me playing amongst my fellow street kids. He took me back home and life continued as normal with no step being taken against her.
On another occasion, she wanted to kill me and commit suicide but her plot was foiled. She wanted us to die like rats do after taking poison. It was at this point that an aunt took me. That’s her sister. Having lost face, Mum left, never to be seen again. I remained at my relative’s. I joined a local primary school and coupled as a herd’s boy. Despite my irregular visits to school, I can hardly remember missing among the top five. It was because of this that they became insecure – it is said that here that if you stay with a child full of problems, he/she takes blessings from your children. They believed this because their own children were not performing well in spite of having all the literature. They had to act and fast enough to salvage the situation; I was thrown out of the home.
I landed at my paternal uncle’s who was equally hostile but compelled to accommodate by the fact that he was the only son in the home and was the one charged with the responsibility of taking care of my mother plus her luggage – me. In fact he’s the one to blame for my mother’s waywardness. Here, they were too poor to own a cow but this did not mean no working for me, many are the times I went to tend crops while my cousins ‘ate books’ but this did not deter me from showing them dust at school.
In standard eight’s KCSE; I missed by only nine points to scoop all the eighty four points. But another boy who got 72 pts got 555/700 against my 545/700; he had more marks than me while I beat him with points. Up to now we haven’t agreed who was really number one. We had two number ones, so we agreed. I thank God for this situation for it is the one that landed me at ACCES. When he went to seek a scholarship, this other boy -Edwin, whom I owe a lot, had trouble telling Nora exactly what his position was. So he had to talk about one leading in points and the other in marks. Nora asked if I had managed to go to secondary school – because only one student from a rich background at my primary school had managed to, and the next thing is, we were at the gate the following day at 6am – having ridden on one bike for 20Km. At the gate, we had to cheat our way in because the gate keepers had been instructed to let in only college students. The next thing I remember is going to Shikunga High School by myself to ask for a chance to school there, - I had been called to a provincial school but no one was willing to take me there.
One year after other students of my class had joined secondary; I also did the same after acquiring some skills as a barber. (I have one year experience.) At this point I had acquired some autonomy and therefore I moved to another relative who seemed more understanding - during the holidays this is where I could go. They only gave me a place to sleep and for the other stuff I depended on the little money I saved from my pocket money – this was partly because of the wayward notion that Mzungus give lots of money to people. These problems did not discourage me from performing well but rather they motivated me.
I qualified to join university. My friend – Edwin fell out with ACCES and is now languishing in the village, I thank God I made it this far.
At this point people started appreciating me and pretended to be friends, but when grandpa was dying, he partitioned a piece of land for me, uncle was not ready to see me posses it. He decided to go against grandpa’s dying wish for his selfish interest. This was like an eye opener to me. I have tried on several occasions to locate my father but all my efforts have been thwarted by his reluctance to see me. As I say now, I’ve never set eyes on him. After staying in darkness with regards to my mom’s whereabouts for all this time, I recently learnt that she’s actually here - in Nairobi.
I managed to locate her and she’s not doing well. She is sick. She is living in some slum here called Kibera where she has found solace in illicit brews. I forgave her when I found her and am trying to help her and I forgot all to do with my father.
Right now, am staying by myself, - during the holiday I rent a room in Kakamega where I stay doing some odd jobs. Am really focused on my future and am planning well for it.
Hudson
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH KENYA A FEW COMMENTS.
Luhya (the tribe Hudson belongs to) children belong to the father which is why his paternal uncle was forced to take him in.
I first met Hudson when he came to the ACCES office with Edwin Endoshi looking for help to go to high school. Both boys had been out of school for a year because of lack of fees. ACCES did not take high school students at the time so Nora Harrison sponsored the two through the Unitarian Church.
I remember well when Hudson received his marks from the KCSE exams which determine if you will go on to University as a government sponsored student or have to find your way privately. Hudson had the required grade B but he lacked one mark! He was devastated.
Fortunately the universities lowered the requirement and he was admitted to Environmental Sciences. Throughout his term at Kenyatta University he has been sponsored by the Wilsons though KEEF.
Hudson and my mother have a special bond – I gave him one of my late father’s watches when he was in high school and he wrote a lovely letter to my Mom to thank her. He never misses an opportunity to ask about the health of “granny”. She in turn sends him sox and other necessary items!
It is getting close to the time that fees will be needed for students in High School. The Kenya school year starts in January.If you have not already sent your donation please try to do so soon as we like to be frugal and send only one money transfer. Cheques should be made payable to KEEF and sent to Margaret KlesnerSuite 9042135 Argyle AvenueWest Vancouver, B.C. V7V 1A5
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Marie
Many of you support our work by helping various young people go to school.
This was sent to many by Marie, our Kenya Liaison
KEEF INFOMERCIAL
The situation in Kenya is not good. The August harvest of maize was significantly reduced due to poor weather and the fact that many farmers could not afford fertilizer when they planted. The cost of food has risen three fold and many children will not only lack school fees they will go hungry.
After reading the following I hope all of you understand how much your support means to the Kenyan students.
Autobiography
Born 24 years ago, Hudson Wereh Shiraku are the names I was assigned. Wereh is my father’s - so they said, but he declined responsibility. Being only sixteen, mum could not get a job as she had dropped out of school in standard four – this was because grandpa did not value educating a girl-child. It was also said that am not the first born as I think; at fourteen, mom conceived and aborted a baby girl. Given her status; age and level of education, mother could not take care of us - herself and I.
One day, it is said, she set off with me and went to Kakamega town. Here, she left me on the street and went to stay with a relative for six months. She then went back home and when asked where I was, she said I was dead and buried. – She hoped I’d either die or land in some good custody. She feared seeing me suffer. So I became ‘past tense’ in these people’s mind. Fortunately, while strolling in town, a neighbor recognized me playing amongst my fellow street kids. He took me back home and life continued as normal with no step being taken against her.
On another occasion, she wanted to kill me and commit suicide but her plot was foiled. She wanted us to die like rats do after taking poison. It was at this point that an aunt took me. That’s her sister. Having lost face, Mum left, never to be seen again. I remained at my relative’s. I joined a local primary school and coupled as a herd’s boy. Despite my irregular visits to school, I can hardly remember missing among the top five. It was because of this that they became insecure – it is said that here that if you stay with a child full of problems, he/she takes blessings from your children. They believed this because their own children were not performing well in spite of having all the literature. They had to act and fast enough to salvage the situation; I was thrown out of the home.
I landed at my paternal uncle’s who was equally hostile but compelled to accommodate by the fact that he was the only son in the home and was the one charged with the responsibility of taking care of my mother plus her luggage – me. In fact he’s the one to blame for my mother’s waywardness. Here, they were too poor to own a cow but this did not mean no working for me, many are the times I went to tend crops while my cousins ‘ate books’ but this did not deter me from showing them dust at school.
In standard eight’s KCSE; I missed by only nine points to scoop all the eighty four points. But another boy who got 72 pts got 555/700 against my 545/700; he had more marks than me while I beat him with points. Up to now we haven’t agreed who was really number one. We had two number ones, so we agreed. I thank God for this situation for it is the one that landed me at ACCES. When he went to seek a scholarship, this other boy -Edwin, whom I owe a lot, had trouble telling Nora exactly what his position was. So he had to talk about one leading in points and the other in marks. Nora asked if I had managed to go to secondary school – because only one student from a rich background at my primary school had managed to, and the next thing is, we were at the gate the following day at 6am – having ridden on one bike for 20Km. At the gate, we had to cheat our way in because the gate keepers had been instructed to let in only college students. The next thing I remember is going to Shikunga High School by myself to ask for a chance to school there, - I had been called to a provincial school but no one was willing to take me there.
One year after other students of my class had joined secondary; I also did the same after acquiring some skills as a barber. (I have one year experience.) At this point I had acquired some autonomy and therefore I moved to another relative who seemed more understanding - during the holidays this is where I could go. They only gave me a place to sleep and for the other stuff I depended on the little money I saved from my pocket money – this was partly because of the wayward notion that Mzungus give lots of money to people. These problems did not discourage me from performing well but rather they motivated me.
I qualified to join university. My friend – Edwin fell out with ACCES and is now languishing in the village, I thank God I made it this far.
At this point people started appreciating me and pretended to be friends, but when grandpa was dying, he partitioned a piece of land for me, uncle was not ready to see me posses it. He decided to go against grandpa’s dying wish for his selfish interest. This was like an eye opener to me. I have tried on several occasions to locate my father but all my efforts have been thwarted by his reluctance to see me. As I say now, I’ve never set eyes on him. After staying in darkness with regards to my mom’s whereabouts for all this time, I recently learnt that she’s actually here - in Nairobi.
I managed to locate her and she’s not doing well. She is sick. She is living in some slum here called Kibera where she has found solace in illicit brews. I forgave her when I found her and am trying to help her and I forgot all to do with my father.
Right now, am staying by myself, - during the holiday I rent a room in Kakamega where I stay doing some odd jobs. Am really focused on my future and am planning well for it.
Hudson
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH KENYA A FEW COMMENTS.
Luhya (the tribe Hudson belongs to) children belong to the father which is why his paternal uncle was forced to take him in.
I first met Hudson when he came to the ACCES office with Edwin Endoshi looking for help to go to high school. Both boys had been out of school for a year because of lack of fees. ACCES did not take high school students at the time so Nora Harrison sponsored the two through the Unitarian Church.
I remember well when Hudson received his marks from the KCSE exams which determine if you will go on to University as a government sponsored student or have to find your way privately. Hudson had the required grade B but he lacked one mark! He was devastated.
Fortunately the universities lowered the requirement and he was admitted to Environmental Sciences. Throughout his term at Kenyatta University he has been sponsored by the Wilsons though KEEF.
Hudson and my mother have a special bond – I gave him one of my late father’s watches when he was in high school and he wrote a lovely letter to my Mom to thank her. He never misses an opportunity to ask about the health of “granny”. She in turn sends him sox and other necessary items!
It is getting close to the time that fees will be needed for students in High School. The Kenya school year starts in January.If you have not already sent your donation please try to do so soon as we like to be frugal and send only one money transfer. Cheques should be made payable to KEEF and sent to Margaret KlesnerSuite 9042135 Argyle AvenueWest Vancouver, B.C. V7V 1A5
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Marie
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