LAIKIPIA DISTRICT AND RAWANDA

Our experiences in Kenya and surrounding Africa are soon coming to an end.  This has by far been one of the most moving journeys of my life.  I have witnessed acute poverty that makes our poor in Canada look like princes and princesses.  I have seen corruption beyond comprehension.  I have seen hope and resilience in the people that puts me in awe.  I have talked with people who have experienced war first hand and lost almost all.  Here are some short excerpts of their stories;

Elizabeth was born in Uganda and fled during the latest upheavals in 1998.  Her mother and father were executed, her husband was also killed.  Elizabeth has children that live in Uganda/Kenyan boarder around Soroti area.  They are cared for by surviving family.  Elizabeth works as our house maid, speaks very limited English.  Upon translation via a friend Jeff, we discovered Elizabeth's butchered story.  Elizabeth sends some of her earnings home to Uganda to support her family.  She told me (as she cried) that she is very much going to miss us when we go back to Canada.  She said that we were the first people she has ever met, let alone worked for that treated her with dignity and respect.  She said that our home is like her home away from home.  Her strength of spirit and ability to survive amazes me and my family.  It was and is an honor to have known Elizabeth.  I will miss her.

Jacob is trained in computers and works with AMPATH.  He comes from a family of 10.  All ten of the children have University degrees.  Jacob's mother Helen is a teacher.  The family has land in a remote area up by Turbo.  Helen and her husband, while working their land also run a small private school on their farm land for the local children who do not have the opportunity to make the long journey to the next nearest government school.  Helen and her co-workers teach about 100 local children out of a shanty.  Half of the children are orphaned because their parents have died of AIDS and other diseases, while the other half have parents who can scarcely afford the minimal tuition.

 This is a picture of where the children go to school.

Lori and I have agreed to work towards fundraising and building a school proper.  Helen and her husband have donated five acres of their land as a new site for the planned school.

 This is the bathroom for the 100 children....

With Jacob's help and his families dedication we hope that people we solicate in Canada will support this project.

If we achieve our capital and operational fundraising goals I will return to Kenya in about a year or so and help in construction.

  This is a photo of the outside of the existing school structure.  The building is in severe disrepair and affected me greatly.  What affected me even more were some of the children hanging around who are in dire need of help.

This family is one of hope, perseverance and strength in Kenya.  I personally would be honored to spend my time and donate my experience to this task.

Jeff is an amazing young man about 30 years old.  Jeff's father was 'framed' when Jeff was about two years old.  His father spent about six years in prison for a crime he did not commit.  Jeff, his mother and siblings lived in acute poverty in a small village.  Jeff would walk seven hours to town every day (when he was six years old!) to sell items at the local market, then walk home the same evening to bring any money made to his mother.  Jeff went to school and told a story of how the headmaster took his tuition money, did not give him a receipt and when Jeff showed up for school was not admitted.  Jeff informed his mother, was allowed to attend but was severely beaten by the headmaster each and every day he attended.  Jeff persevered, continued at another school, lived in an IDP camp for some time with his family (the one outside of Nairobi).  Jeff was always at the top two of his class!!!  He eventually spent a short time in the military then went on to University on scholarship obtaining his psychology degree.  Jeff is married with two children aged seven and nine.  Lori and I hope to sponsor Jeff to come to Canada to attend University so he can obtain his PhD.

So those are just a few of the profiles of people we have met that move Kenya forward.  There are many more stories to share and so little time before we leave.  I know for myself, Africa has left me humbled, sad, hopeful and when I leave a piece of me will stay here.

If you are interested in some books to read about our area here in Africa I might suggest the following as they will give you a feel of how difficult and how layered things are.

CANADA IN SUDAN;  WAR WITHOUT BOARDERS.
FIRST KILL YOUR FAMILY;  CHILD SOLDIERS OF UGANDA AND L.R.A.
DANCING IN THE GLORY OF MONSTERS;  THE COLLAPSE OF THE CONGO AND THE GREAT WAR OF AFRICA.
SHAKE HANDS WITH THE DEVIL.
DEAD AID;  WHY AID IS NOT WORKING AND HOW THERE IS A BETTER WAY.
THE SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICAN OIL;  OPPRESSION, CORRUPTION AND WAR FOR CONTROL OF AFRICA'S NATURAL RESOURCES.
ANOTHER MAN'S WAR;  THE TRUE STORY OF ONE MAN'S BATTLE TO SAVE CHILDREN IN SUDAN.
MONETARY AND FINANCIAL INTEGRATION IN WEST AFRICA..
CORRUPTION IN AFRICA;  THE KENYAN EXPERIENCE
FACING A PANDEMIC;  THE AFRICAN CHURCH AND THE CRISIS OF AIDS.
THE POLITICS OF AID;  AFRICAN STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH DONORS.
IT'S OUR TURN TO EAT.

We will be going to Bantu Lodge in Laikipia District at the foot of Mount Kenya to see the Black Rhino's.  I will then be flying to Rwanda on my own to see the Memorial Museum and some other sites.  After that it will be packing up and heading home to Canada.

Love most of you.  Try to be kind to one another.

Massai Mara National Reserve

In the South West in Kenya we travelled to the Maasai Mara National Park.  This was and will most likely be one of our best safari (travel) adventures.  We stayed in a tented camp and toured for two days searching for the "Big Five."  We also had the privilidge to be invited into a Maasai village for a tour.  Below are some pictures of our experience.

We traveled in a rental Matatu organized by our neighbor Tony.  Tony had friends in from the U.K. and from India.  There was a total of ten of us on the trip.  The roads were some bad, some very bad and some good (that is they were paved tarmak)

Some of the scenery enroute.

First night this was our camp site.  There was a small problem at the "better" site so we were bumped to this one.  It was still fine.

This is how the hot water is heated for the outdoor showers.  At first I thought it a still for moon shine!

Dead water buffalo

A nice creek by our camp.

Luciana and Alex were down by the creek having some fun.  Luciana is just fifteen and Alex just nine.  I (we) all believe someone had a first awakening or crush as it may be!

Lucianna was good to him and played along.

Americans stuck really badly in a water hole.  They had an afternoon flight out and apparently they made it!  That was good as we were in the middle of nowhere.

Tony on the right and Alex (Sr.) from U.K. on the left.  Nice people and had great fun.

 

I liked this pic as it provided a nice silhouette.

Baby.

The wilderbeast in the background.  We missed the migration as it should be coming in about three more weeks.  What happens is that these ones come first and call back on their cell phones to tell the rest of the herd that the grass is good and the aligators are sleeping!

Fresh kill by Lioness.  Note how the skin is peeled back.

Happy with her kill and a full tummie, this is a soon to be Mommy!

She was beautiful.

Hyena waiting his turn, but Mommy to be still hovering around her kill.

We were very fortunate to come across two Cheetahs.  Both had just fed and strolled to lay under a shade tree.  Lori was emotional and got weepy...

Full, fed and free...

We travelled some more and stopped by the river to see the Hippos.  That big mass behind us are not rocks!

Tony's wife Ruth in center with Rocky on the left.  Rocky and I became good friends on this trip.  Rocky is Ruth's brother and he works in Uganda.

Another rock outcropping...

This was the whole crew with back row left Tony, then Lori, our Maasi guide, Ken from India, then front row left Ruth, behind her Clara then Alex (Sr) both from UK, then Alex (Jr.) with his new girlfriend Lucianna.

Rocky already giving a "forceful" hug to Alex so Alex knows to be kind to Rocky's daughter!

Three tons of love, but beware these are very dangerous animals.

This is one of the many areas where the Wilderbeast cross to get to food.

The predators wait for their food to come.

And they keep on waiting....

Alex by an Elephant skull.

Close up of canines.

Hot chick...hey, that's my wife there fella...

This is the kill zone when the water buffalo cross.

Alex and his girlfriend.

We had a flat tire that was quickly repaired.  Unfortunately the flat caused the tire rod to break later on in our journery.  We did finally make it back to base camp.

Alex was look out while we changed tire.  No shit, there are lions out here and you do not want to play around.

Our Maasai guide was worried for our safety.

Scenery is grand.

Impala

Seargent Gazelle

Water Buffalo

Bad weather, but almost home and the wheel on the van is still holding!

Alex and Mommy in our tent.

Evening dinner at the camp.  Food was good and the company was fun.

Alex is looking across the table at his girlfriend.  It is now confirmed.

This guy was a poser.

We were very fortunate to get up close and personal.

Mother with her new baby.

I do not remember the name of these guys but they were kind of a cross between a turkey and a partridge in Manitoba land.

Zebra showing us there tail.

Tails up, be careful the night is coming.

We arrived at our guides Maasai village and did a tour.  The men in the tribe had killed a lion about two weeks prior and most of us took turns trying on the Lion's Mane hat.  Most likely the lion was old and was abandoned by the females (big surprize) and killed a cow during day time.

The children are healthy and happy living a Nilotic life.

The cows are kept inside a large compound at night so lions and other predators are kept away.  All the homes are inside the fenced in compound.  The homes are build solely of a inside skeletal structure covered with cow dropping/dung gathered from the inside of the compound.  The dung is also utilized for fuel.

This is the entrance to one of the homes.  They are about 14 x 14 feet with two rooms.  The first room where the entrance is is where the new born cattle are kept for safety during the night.

These are the sleeping quarters for the family.  The Maasai are usually not inside the homes except to sleep, cook or during bad weather.

Unless you live herre it is somewhat difficult to understand, but these folks are very happy and healthy in their way of living.  The Maasai are a proud people that once controlled about half of Kenya.  They have always been opposed to slavery but did conquer many other tribes throughout history.  By the 1880's the British took away two thirds of their land and through treaties in 1904 and 1911 the Maasai warrior tribe has been pressed into Southern Kenya and some small pockets elsewhere. 

Happy Kids

Mommy with some of the women of the village.

Rocky and his daughter on the sleep home back to camp.  Another good day.

High Fives all around.

Good bye for now.  Love most of you, try to be kind to one another.