Late Jan - Kenya - Primary Elections

Kenya is due to have Presidential elections 4^th March 2013 and this week they had the primaries where the parties each ask the people to select candidates to stand for them. After the last elections (refer to my 12 December 2012 Post) there were warnings for volunteers from various agencies to take care and avoid polling stations etc. Now, the polytechnic where I work was a polling station and so was the Children’s home where I live!! Anyway, Kandara is a peaceful place and had no trouble during the last elections.

So Dorcas the Polytechnic Manager and I decided to attend the Poly (closed for polling) so we could market the institution. We had 700 people coming from the local area to vote so it was an opportunity not to be missed. Luckily for us but not for the people wanting to vote, there was a huge delay in getting the voting boxes and papers to the site. They were due at 6am, we arrived at 9 and there was a large queue of people of all ages patiently waiting.

We had given the polling clerks access to a classroom but we opened up the rest of the school and got benches and chairs out for the older ones to rest. Dorcas and I then did regular double acts with me attempting my Kikuyu (local tribal language) that I have about 10 words of and have not quite got the accent right yet – but always get a laugh!! I am a little better at Kiswahilli. We were telling the crowd about the poly, our plans for the future, how we have changed, the computer course etc, etc. This broke up the monotony of waiting. Eventually the decision was made to extend the voting period for another day. The boxes and papers returned the following day.

The following day people turned out again in huge numbers, patiently queued and placed their votes. Over the two days I met some great people and had some fantastic and informative chats with a diverse range of people. My understanding of Kenyan politics and the process was significantly improved, a great couple of days.

Given the concerns and history, it was fantastic that everyone was so patient and cheerful through this whole process. Despite having their work and valuable income generating time disrupted for 2 days, Kenyans took their voting rights and politics very seriously and would not miss the opportunity to have their say. This is such a contrast to my experience in the UK where politics is pretty dull, there is significant ambivalence and apathy towards the whole process and voter turnout is woefully low.

So my over-riding feeling after the two days was a huge respect and admiration for Kenyans. Politics is taken very seriously. It is a shame that much of the reporting (especially internationally) was about the “delays and chaos” and not about how well the people accepted the delays and coped with the searing heat to ensure they cast their valuable vote. I can’t help thinking that in the UK a large proportion would have gone to work and said “forget it!”. There are many things I see and experience in Kenya that are so much better than in the west. It is a shame that only the bad and negative things get reported. 

13 January - Kandara Children’s Home Visit

On the way back from Mount Kenya, Marc, Veronica and Anstice dropped by the children’s home. They came with balloons, footballs, etc so we had a great time and they brightened up a quiet Sunday no end for the kids. They just love visitors and the attention they get as you can see from the photos.

Marc has contacts who install biogas systems and also energy efficient stoves so felt he could help the home. With luck in a couple of months the home will have both courtesy of Marc and Veronica’s tenacity and generosity.   

Terrasia - one of the best smiles in Kandara!

 Marc and Newton - Terrasia's Twin Brother

Jan 2013 - Back to Kenya

Back in Kandara the following day I passed through the Arch of Kandara Children’s Home and then “SIIIIMMMOOOONNNNNN!!!!” and a stampede of smiling, running kids were coming down the hill. I dropped my bags and caught one and threw him round, then another and many more hugs and huge smiles in welcome. I will miss this place when my term is up!! I expect, as seems to be the case, once you have spent any time at Kandara Children’s Home, you are forever emotionally tied in and will always have it in your thoughts.  Sorry my camera was in my bag.

Christmas 2012 - Back to the UK

England – So I left Kenya and 30 degrees plus sunshine and landed in England at 6am to a balmy 5 degrees! I was lucky, the week before it had been - 5 during the day!). It was good to be back for a couple of weeks and catch up with friends and family. I had been away for the previous 2 Christmas’s. 2010 I worked in La Plagne in the French Alps for a ski season, so I was there for Christmas and in 2011 I had been in Kenya sharing Christmas and new year with volunteers here in Kenya (refer to earlier blog posts for 2011 Christmas and New Year).

I spent the first 3 days in Roehampton at my sister’s (Ruth) new pub – The Kings Head, a Young’s pub that has just been fully refurbished. It is a great place and if anyone drops by please mention you know me or my blog and you may get a free pint!! Ruth always enjoys it when random people who have encountered me drop by for a pint! http://www.kingsheadsw15.co.uk/.

My friends Eddie and Allys threw a party one night for all the Kenya volunteers who were in the UK. Eddie is a great cook and around 10 of us got together for fine food, a little wine and lots of catching up.

Then I travelled to my Parents for Christmas, before heading to North of England to see friends and to the Lake District http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/ for some walking.

 I was in the Yorkshire Dales http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/ town of Settle for New Year and then meandered back to London before flying home to Kenya. To those who made the trip special a big thanks for a warm welcome, your patience when listening to my tales of Kenya and your fine food. You know who you are……

Whilst at home, 3 kind donors had provided me with laptops to give to the Polytechnic and assist with setting up an ICT/Computer course. This gave me the amusing scenario at airport security. In my hand baggage I had 4 laptops, 2 cameras, a kindle, etc. Passing through you have to remove all laptops and electrical equipment!!!

I put my bag on the counter and got the first tray. Removed a laptop and pushed it on. Then another tray and another laptop, and another, 4 in all including mine, followed by a camera. 7 trays including my bag and shoes, etc. clogging up the conveyor! Great banter with thankfully cheerful and helpful security people who probably enjoyed something different from the norm. I was a little worried about my reception at Kenyan security and how to explain my bag full of technology but luckily there was no query at the other end and I passed through in no time.

If anyone else has an old laptop gathering dust in a cupboard, please consider donating it to our Polytechnic. Get in touch and we can get it delivered to my Parents in Huntingdon, UK and then I will co-ordinate with them to arrange delivery once we have a few. With planned multiple classes each laptop will benefit 20-30 people a year. With the average family being 6, if each trainee then gets a job and valuable income through the skills learnt then, 180 people could directly benefit each year from the donation of the laptop that is cluttering up your cupboard. If you are interested, or know someone or a business that may be able to assist, please the contact link to this blog or e-mail me direct simon.dixon67@gmail.com.   

1st December - Goat for Dinner!

Following receipt of cash from a donor Kandara Children’s home purchased a goat. There was a request earlier for me to go and pick it up on my little 125 motorbike with Joseph the grounds man.  That would have meant Joseph the goat and me on the bike. I declined! It may have been fun but there are strict rules on bike usage from VSO. More importantly however it was raining on and off and the thought of riding 5km in wet very slippery clay mud was enough to result in me declining to help.

Whilst I have been to a number of feasts and ceremonies, I have so far managed to arrive after the slitting of the goats throat. I have on a number of occasions been offered the honour of performing the act!! So far I have declined as I am a bit soft and struggle to inflict pain on a living animal (happy to eat them just do not want to do the gory bit!). Anyway I decided this time to watch the act and see whether I felt I could do the deed next time.

So the kids gathered in and around the pen and 3 of the older boys tied the back legs of the goat. The legs were then hoisted in the air so the goat was suspended with its head towards a pan on the floor. One of the boys then started sawing away at its neck with a carving knife. Much squealing from the goat and cheering from the kids and the goat stopped twitching. The blood was drained away and the butchering started. 

To western people this may seem inhumane and barbaric but it is daily life here in Kenya. There are not many fridges etc so meat it killed at the time of needing it for cooking. At least it is fresh. All ages watch and in time begin to be allowed to partake with chickens first, then as they get older they move onto larger fare. That way by the time the boys have to fend for themselves they are well versed in slaughtering and butchering.

Having witnessed the slaughter I am not sure I could do it so I may stick to the eating bit!