Claremorris meets Kitui, Kenya

Latest entry - 9th June 2010

Greetings from Kitui. Its’s been a little while since the last e-mail but transition has been a bit difficult this time. I am now independent living and that has meant buying and putting my own things in the house but thankfully the worst is over and my Kenyan friends have been simply wonderful,, could’nt do it without them.
My transport only resolved itself late last week so that was another draw –back but this week I started on the projects. I have met with all the people in charge and all is well and all of us are looking forward to working together.

During the week I visited the prison in Kitui, they have a work shop there and I needed a few bits of furniture so had a taste of prison life in Kitui. All the prisoners wear the stripped prison clothes and really I felt I really belonged to a completely different world . In the workshop area the prisoners were sitting on the ground being spoken to by the warden. Of course all eyes were on the mzungu (white one) but not a muscle twitch or body movement occurred, it was take it all in while vision was directly ahead. Had a nice chat with the welfare officer and discovered that they have a very good counselling service within the service and that much effort and commitment is put into assisting people come to terms with the sentence that has been passed on them. I also gather that it is pretty easy to get oneself in jail here!!!! Better behave!!!!
The day of a prisoner starts at 6am with breakfast/ chai. Then to the educational/ development area that has been decided upon for the person, it could be gardening , carpentry, animal husbandry, general maintainance and so on. Lunch is at 1pm then back to work till 4 pm where prisoners have free time to attend to personal hygiene, visitors (depending) on their status. Supper and then lock up. I was n’t bold enough on this visit to ask if I could see the cells but in time that may be possible. I did however discuss the issue with the welfare officer!!! I addeded to the coffers of the prison the large sum of 3,500/= approx. €38 for 3 hard wood African style stools/small tables which really give a nice Kenyan style to the house.
There is a big chain supermarket in the town of Kitui where most essentials are available but this has really impacted on the earning capacity of the locals so I prefer to go to the market and the street vendors. Of course one is subject to a price hike and that’s where the bargaining starts and one has to be tough with them!!! There is a real buzz in the area of furniture making and lots of business is done there not to mention the numbers that will crowd around to see what ‘s going on. It’s a strange feeling at first but one gets used to it and it’s ok if the western level of patience is high but when otherwise one feel like saying “what are all of you looking at? Go mind your own business”!!!!
Anyway that’s enough about the domestic side of my life. Project wise I have met with Management and staff of the school in Tulia.
Findings: Pupil numbers this year are 98.
Priorities for expenditure:
1.Furnishing of Multi –purpose room
2.Refurbishment of a specialist room for Beauty & Hair-care.
3.Salary Provision for teacher of English & Maths
4.Student materials
5.Supply of English & Maths text books
6.Purchase of Maize for storage.
7.Contingency fund for school and exam fees.

Progress:
New teacher is doing a good job and students are very receptive to the new subjects. I will undertake Curriculum and teaching methodology and develop it into school policy so that there will be continuity and accountability at all times.
New room is in use and will really be multi -purpose when furnished with table and chairs.
It is proposed that the Beauty & Hair–Care Course be a stand- alone. This means refurbishment of an existing building. I have investigated and feel that the cost of refurbishment will be manageable on our budget. A lot of forward planning has to take place in order to make this possible so many planning meeting ahead.
Maize is plentiful and cheap at the moment and predictions are that it will become a challenge because farmers planted too many beans and now the soil isn’t available to plant corn, this is a problem here all the time-----no forward planning, just fire brigade stuff!!! Enough to drive one mad if you let it.

Muthal Home Care Programme .
Met and had planning meeting with Social Worker.
Meeting with Kamene , head of the family we are supporting, on Wed next. There are a lot of challenges ahead of us, things are not too good there. Fingers crossed.
Acting as mentor to group of students in the programme . this will possibly start in a few weeks time. Organisation is pole pole,/ slowly, slowly. It’s more like 2 speeds slow and stop!!!


KDC
Meeting director next week!! Had enough on my plate till now!!! It will be interesting project and also a challenging one. Anyway let’s see.

Internet causing a lot of problems for me. If it isn’t a power cut then its network problem. I really don’t know how they do business seriously. They just take it in their stride, so what for me a difficulty and really I don’t want to loose my work ethic and become Kenyan in that mind set, I’m lazy enough at times
Weather is ok, had a bit of rain over the last few days.

That’s it for now. Hopefully there will be internet available soon.

This is the latest audio update from Janet on Sunday 7th March

 

Wednesday 3rd March

Life has been hectic here trying to get documents etc in order and also we have had the rains so travel and communication systems were at a standstill. All of this was and still a huge test for my patience. As a result of all of this I just haven't been able to get to the schools but I have made contacts and by the looks of things I will be unable to get 1st part of the project completed during this visit. The idea is well received so there will be no problem when I return.

Thursday 25 th February


Yesterday sorted and distributed toys, games and books to the therapy section of Home Care programme.
Worked with Cecelia, counsellor, on various methods of therapy that would be of benifit to our groups.
By the time all that was completed it was time for a Tusker or 2.

Emailing , phone calls re importation of jeep and consignment of books, toys, computers and lots more which were donated by many people in the Claremorris area. The transportation of the container was paid for by the English shipping agent. Many thanks to him.

Met with Kamene, a lady of 25 who looks after two of her own children and five siblings. This was one of the families that I visited during my last visit here and their situation was just terrible, with support and encouragement she joined the Home Care Programme and is doing so well. Looking well, in good spirits, has got a job as housegirl and all the children are in school. She is unable to speak english and my ki-kamba is certainly insufficient but communication was no problem with our interpretur Cecelia.
We discussed and planned a Family Self-sustainment Programme for this family and through this there will be a lot of empowerment, ability to cope with day to day living, budgeting, family supporting one another etc.
Further to this we planned the yearly budget for this family and it came to a total of 130,000 ksh which is approx. €1,300.

Can we support this family to help them on their way in life?? Please let's try.

Further to that I met with some of the health programme committee of the hospital and pointed out the need for their support in securing salaries for the Home care staff of 3 which we as Claremorris people and friends have paid until July 2010, and effectivelly kept the programme from collapse at the start of this year.

By this time it was 4.30 and time to chill out, and my final piece of work is to e-mail you wonderful people with the safari of today.


Had a few interuptions with nice phone calls and a short visit from some Kenyan friends.
That's it for today , it's been a long, busy but brilliant.
Kwaheri goodbye till next time.

 

Wed. 24th Feb.


In the afternoon I visit the Home Care team and meet with Members of my out reach visits, this I'm really looking forward to, I understand that their self-esteem has improved so much, and of course not to mention their medical welfare,, since their introduction to the programme some weeks ago.

Greetings to you, habari.
Things are now getting busy here, glad I chilled out on arrival.

Tuesday, 23 Feb.


I had meetings with director of Muthale Hope Care on progress to date. The programme is facing many challenges, one being that the Gov. are withdrawing anti-retroviral (ARV's) for patients because they have no money, they are reporting that this is for a period of 2 week so effectivelly it could be for much longer. This has huge implications for the patients because it interupts the medical porocess and does therefore not allow them to progress to the next stage of treatment. What a terrible state of affairs, the number of calls that were received by the director during my meeting with her was very large , all concerning ways of trying to resolve this terrible situation for the patients.
Topics discussed at meeting were the allocation of whatever resources we have , structure of my daily involvement on my return.


2nd meeting was with Fr Joseph and principal of Tulia School. Agenda, School enrollments, and progress of courses.
Had time with the students and they are doing well.
Took photos of completed work on the building, and it was so wondrful to see the students staff enjoying their new facility. Tree planting was also very successful and each student is responsible for a tree which has her name beside it.!!!

Monday 22nd February

Greetings from Kitui. Arrived Nairobi Thursday night 10pm. Nice flight and my friends were at the airport to meet me. Travelled to Kitui Sat and now getting down to a bit of business.


Temps are 29 degrees during day and approx 23 at night.its a nice change.


Hope to get to Muthale this evening and visit school and hospital tomorrow.

 

WELCOME TO SAFARI IN KITUI DISTRICT


Karibu, Welcome to your first safari in the district of Kitui, eastern Kenya. Join with me, Janet Corbin Hinchion, a volunteer with Claremorris Community Radio, who is also a voluntary community development worker and project advisor in the districts of Tulia, Muthale and Kitui.

My Kenyan journey started many years ago when having completed my Leaving Cert I wished to do conservation work in Kenya and then study veterinary science in college. This was not to happen but back in 2008 I had the opportunity to pursue my conservation desire and headed off to Tsavo with an Earthwatch team. Before getting there I had a little stop to visit a Kenyan friend in the district of Kitui and the consequences of that visit brings both you and I on the safari of daily life with the people in eastern Kenya.


Life in the Kitui district is not all doom and gloom. They are a very friendly, happy and jolly Kamba tribe who laugh , dance and sing a lot and a pleasure to be with.They are always so grateful for any assistance and will always say “greet your people for me”.


On their behalf I Greet You /Habari Yako and also say Thank you/Asante Sana.

 

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