The teachers are threatening to strike tomorrow (Monday) One group (secondary) signed an agreement with the government but the other group says they are not a legitimate union and cannot take part in negotiations. There are threats of firings, pay stoppages and a long term disruption of the school system. I don’t know where this will leave my computer distribution, the Rotary project in one school community and the Virtues training I had planned.
On Saturday we interviewed about 50 boys for six or seven KEEF scholarships. All had very high marks in the recent exams and had maintained high positions in their class throughout elementary school. It is very hard to do the selection. I thought a couple of them I spoke to would burst into tears. One young boy had repeated a grade in elementary because he had nursed his ailing mother who later died. He teared up and tried hard to be brave. I’m glad to say he is one of our selections. Others told stories of having no family whatsoever and working in fields and for the school to stay in class. If you are interested in the scholarship organization check out www.kenyaeducation.org
School fees have gone up because of the costs of fuel and food. The maize fiasco continues. The government has abandoned the cheap maize scheme and the missing 100,000 bags are being investigated. We have small hope of an answer. One company that ceased business in August received 80,000 bags in December. It is believed they are now sold to Sudan.
Newspaper articles continue their scathing tone. Ten million people face starvation and the President has declared a national emergency (at last) and appealed for donor aid. At the same time a high level group of politicians are traveling to Washington for the inauguration of Obama although they will not be invited to any functions except at the Kenyan embassy and will watch the proceedings on TV. We are reassured that they will promote tourism while in the US.
The good news is that they are repairing the road in front of Fomat, obviously shamed into it. (I posted pictures of the signs erected a few days ago) The bad news is there is absolutley no parking left and the gas station where the long distance buses pick up and where we moved the computer school is a mad house.
Our son, Matthew has a birthday today. Lots of love, big M. Miss you!
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