Gratefulness

Being part of the Horn of Africa crisis assessment has reminded me how I ought to be thankful. Drought in the Horn of Africa, coupled with conflict in Somalia, has affected over 13 million people. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network, FEWSNET, reported that this year was among the driest since 1950. The Horn of Africa encompasses Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Kenya. It’s one of the most food insecure regions in the world, characterized by frequent droughts and conflict. However, there have been parts of Kenya that have not experienced food scarcity. My home town is one of them.

Nyeri town is situated about 150 km (93 miles) north of Kenya's capital Nairobi, in the fertile Central Highlands, lying between the eastern base of the Aberdare (Nyandarua) Ranges and the western slopes of Mount Kenya. Temperatures range between 12°-28°C (53°-82°F). Rainfall average per annum is ~1100mm.

Nyeri is an agricultural town and food is always in plenty. When I look around, I can’t help but be grateful. Lush green fields, forests, rolling hills….

I am grateful for my town, that not many families are starving.  I do not take that for granted.

I will continue to pray for those affected by drought and do what I can to help.

Visit to Adama Village

Our next needs assessment was in Adama, one of the villages in Madogo division, Tana River district. There are 80-100 households in the area. The village is about 40 km (1 hour drive on rugged roads) from Garissa town.
When we got there, we talked to the village chief who introduced us to the villagers and explained the purpose of our visit. The people were very welcoming and were excited to have us there. Since I speak Swahili, I was the liaison between my American friends and the villagers. I translated back and forth and sometimes attempted translating Somali but this prompted lots of laughter. It wasn’t really mean; it was actually amusing—even to me.

Mostly it was the men who articulated the village needs. The women looked afraid, almost timid. I talked to the village chief and explained that since women take care of the children, they are likely to know their needs better. The chief then encouraged the women to speak up. They hesitated but after some time, one of them raised her hand and said. “Watoto hawajapewa chanjo” (Our children have not been immunized). Encouraged by her bravery, the other women began to share their views. In the end it was a successful meeting and I felt that there was genuine participation by community members.

Our organization did not want to treat the people as victims, rather as people with rights, abilities and skills. Treating recipients of aid as victims strips them of their dignity.  Corbett & Fikkert (2009) argue that this dynamic confirms that agencies are superior and that recipients are inferior. Denying affected people genuine participation fails to recognize their capacities and contradicts the Biblical view that God has bestowed different gifts and abilities in all. I do not claim that we are perfect, but I think this is a good start.

Stuck in the middle of nowhere

One of the areas that we conducted the HoA crisis assessment was Modagashe, a small town which is about 140 km from Garissa. On our way there, we saw lots of guinea fowls, camels, giraffes, gazelles and zebras. Of course, my American friends were mesmerized and took lots of pictures.

                                          

Although it had rained heavily the previous night—the first rain in three years, our land cruiser did fine. However, on our way back, it began raining again. The road is not paved and before long, we found ourselves stuck in deep mire.

We did everything we could. We dug around the tires and placed wood bits by the tires. We even tried to winch it out by tying a steel cable to a tree but it broke. So there we were in the middle of nowhere, no cell phone coverage.  One of my American friends said: ‘I bet there’s no Triple A here huh?’ We all laughed and I said: ‘This is Africa my friend.’

The sun was beginning to retreat and dusk was fast approaching. We had heard of a kidnapping of two Spanish doctors in Dadaab earlier that day. Dadaab was about 60km from where we were but we felt like sitting ducks.
We kept pushing the vehicle and adding bits of wood around the tires. Meanwhile I told my American friends of lions who were probably lurking behind the shadows waiting for the night to set in. I told them of leopards, the strong African cats who prefer to hunt at night. Those stories were motivation enough to push harder and finally we got out. Phew!

The way back was full of uncertainties. It was still raining hard and the roads were becoming worse. The vehicle was moving at a snail pace. Earlier that day when we were enjoying the ride and admiring giraffes, I had told my colleague how happy I was to be back in Africa and in the field. I had felt so good to be breathing fresh air and be in the wild. But now I wasn’t so sure. My clothes were all muddy, my feet were wet and I was very hungry and cold and far away from home. I started missing life in the US Although I did not enjoy winter at all). I started doubting whether I coming back home was the right decision.

A colleague interrupted my thoughts. “I know what you are thinking. You wish you had never left.” I nodded. She had been in the UK for years but had decided to come back to Kenya. She explained that she had had the same doubts but with time, she had gotten used to working in Kenya among the needy and was now content. I know I love my country. I know I am passionate about working among the needy. I know I enjoy working in places where others are afraid to go. But I am yet to find that inner peace that says. Relax; you are in the right place. In the meantime however, I will continue to try and enjoy being at home. For though I get stuck in miry clay in the middle of nowhere, Kenya is my country and my love.

Horn of Africa Crisis Assessment

I have been home for more than three months now. It has been great spending time with family and friends. However, am back to work and doing what I love most—working in Africa.  I am now a Development Specialist with Safe Harbor International (SHI), a relief and development organization. SHI is interested in responding to the Horn of Africa (HoA) Crisis.

The Horn of Africa encompasses Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Kenya. It is one of the most food insecure regions in the world, characterized by frequent droughts and conflict. Drought in the Horn of Africa coupled with conflict in Somalia has placed over 13 million people in need of immediate assistance. Most of those currently affected are Somali refugees who have resettled in Dadaab camps and Garissa (NE Kenya) as well as areas along the border of Ethiopia.

We have been conducting a needs assessment in the Greater Garissa district, one of the hard hit areas in Kenya. The purpose of the Horn of Africa crisis assessment is to evaluate how SHI can best respond to the crisis.

We traveled from Garissa to Nairobi by road. The journey is usually about seven hours but it took us about nine because one of our land cruisers got a flat tire—twice in the middle of nowhere. Of course my American friends were scared. I assured them that we were more that 100 miles from the Kenya-Somali border and chances of any attack was 0.01%.










As the men were changing the tire, I walked to the nearest shelter and started chatting with the owners. According to them, rain has not fallen for a long time. All their animals have died and they have no other source of food. The now rely on handouts.

After we resumed our journey, I kept thinking about that family. I thought sometimes I take things for granted. I take for granted that there is food on the table at least 3 times a day. I take for granted that I have a good roof over my head. I take for granted that I have running water in my apartment.
I am reminded that I need to be thankful--always.