Marich Pass and Emmaloba

This past weekend we took some time off to visit one of our favourite places–Marich Pass in the semi arid West Pokot. We try to go once every year to a Field Research Station hacked out of the bush by a British geography professor, David Roden, and his Eritrean wife. Last year, of course we were not able to make our usual pilgrimage. When we started to make arrangements to fit in around the university students who come in groups, we learned to our dismay that David was killed in a road accident with a matatu (public minibus) last March. His wife, Hidat dissolved in tears in my arms when we arrived but is bravely carrying on David’s amazing work. Students are coming this week from Norway and her son is going to help her run things. She has built a beautiful memorial to him in a lovely peaceful garden with a 360 view of the surrounding mountains which he loved so much. There is a web site if you want to know more and google Marich Pass.
Two young German medical students were staying for a few days and another young German couple arrived shorlty after us. On Saturday morning we all crammed into our vehicle and went to the Pokot market which was as colourful and interesting as ever. The women in their big beaded collars selling gourds of fomented milk would not allow any pictures, but I have one shot from a former visit.





Emmaloba’s books arrived last week. This is one part of the Rotary grant from Victoria Rotary Club. I shall go out again on Wednesday when the uniforms will have arrived for the 60 children chosen. The school did well and portioned out the work to ten tailors, thus spreading some employment in the community. They will receive a lump sum for the feeding and planting programme and have decided to try to spread it to all children, asking a small contribution from those who can pay. I am happy they will take this initiative.