News
Sudanese National Identity cards shock bankers
South Sudanese cry foul in neighboring countries with Arabic writings on their national IDs.
Bankers who are Arabic illegible fail to recognize these IDs claiming they are invalid calling for passports which when not given let these people end up unpaid.
One is urged to call the sender to change receiver’s name for the name of someone they think has a valid ID.
Only banks with Arabic literate bankers surely can serve.
This has developed even into refusal of Safaricom's M-Pesa agents to pay their clients.
Coming to opening of bank accounts in these foreign countries, some banks rather prefer to use school IDs to open accounts for students where as others don’t entertain such.
Confiding in the fact that these are the original IDs, ends in a lie.
To them who won’t afford a passport and if afford it can’t renew it when it expires, it remains shocking.
Mount Kenya University celebrates South Sudan independence
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| Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba dancing with South Sudanese, MKU Thika campus |
The speech of Professor Stanley Waundo, the vice chancellor, MKU read by Prof. Chege states education should be the first priority. He pointed out words of South Sudan minister for information H.E Barnaba Marial Benjamin being wise and for development, today at MKU Thika campus where South Sudan students had gathered.
“We’ll face problems united to build new and prosperous nation,” Barnaba said.
In attendance was the director of Kenya anti-corruption commission (KACC), Prof. P.L.O Lumumba. Lumumba said Africa had been known for filth and dirt, poverty, slavery, poor health and corruption and these need educated generation to discard them.
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| Prof. Lumumba cuts the cake at the ceremony |
“We move in a jerked speed in the wrong direction,” Prof. Lumumba challenged wrongs Africans do.
He urged South Sudanese to make oil their mothers’ milk that it had been a curse in Africa rather than blessing.
KACC director calls for unity not tribalism in South Sudan because he said they must learn from the mistakes Kenya made during post election violence not copying them.
A woman is reported dead yesterday at group 10 D, Kakuma. She is said to have been in the house alone, her daughter in school when she was thirsty and called out for help to be given water.
It was only when Amanya Nelson, a standard eight candidate came that he heard her call and rushed into her house, gave her water, mobilized some men and carried her to the roadside. These people bought milk which she drank and shortly died before being rushed to the IRC main hospital.
According to this report from a reliable source, the woman had been drinking alcohol, hardly eating and sick. The community members claim all these led to her sudden death.
The daughter left aged ten years is a pupil in standard three with her elder sister in South Sudan. She knows not who relates to her in the group and the camp as a whole.
The neighbour, Nelson is now taking care of her in his home of bachelors.
The community leader Mr. Paul Amerkana said he would report this to LWF Child protection while speaking to Nelson Yesterday.
Scam terrifying refugees for money
The road to scarring and endangering the lives of refugees is blocked
In the photo below is Sarah Mumbi Leah, a scam who works for forever living. She is a distributor because she distributes forever living products or she must have been raised to be an assistant supervisor now. Forever living is a company which has offices all over Kenya even Lodwar and currently setting up a warehouse in the current Southern Sudan.
Sarah Mumbi Leah, forever living company distributor and a scam, who lives at Bananas in Nairobi
I came to know that scam when she added me on the facebook. I didn’t know I agreed to her friendship of course I would have recalled…….I didn’t. She advanced to asking my contacts which I gave her. She said she was betrayed by a boyfriend in a way she couldn’t explain better. She eagerly wanted me for a boyfriend. My dispute could be to know her and if she could be amiable which wasn’t achieved sooner.
“I’ll not let you down,” she promised.
When she promised to drop me a mail, I could get another mail with another name and photos of another figure not her stressing she loved me. I let go and specifically that evening I had to ask her if she was the one who wrote that damn message.
“Return those photos, please,” she yearned.
“Did you write it?”
“I say return those photos,” and it grew into a duel.
“Do you have a kid?”
Of course the woman who wrote said she had a beautiful kid so I had to know if her.
She had ignored what burned within her.
“No but I love to have a daughter.”
“Why not a son?”
“May be from you! What I know is that mine must be a daughter.”
Sarah developed such passion which I didn’t know was for money. She had also to lure some refugees into this trick through me which I should protect.
Amanya Nelson, a friend I used to live with was called one day by a certain girl called Mweny claiming to love him. To play my role I had to witness this so that the rest would not be suspicious for this matter.
I gave into Sarah’s request to meet her in Nairobi and attend training with her at the forever living offices in Nairobi. I packed, left Kakuma on ninth, February and arrived at Nairobi on tenth of the same month. On eleventh, I met Sarah who let me in with her friends and the training commenced. I was persuaded to work for forever living.
Surprisingly, to work with forever living, one has to pay money so recruitment is money to get money at the end of the month.
“If you fill the box by buying forever living products thus spending up to 37, 000 Kshs, you will become a manager,” Sarah told me. “Or an alternative could be buying products amounting to 6, 000 Kshs as you become a distributor. If you bring another person: your pay increases and the position too.”
Kimani came in as well who said took Sarah to forever living and he was taken by Anne.
“Try this, it works,” Kimani assured me. “You see she has brought you where she works. You will forget teaching and Journalism if you do it.”
This sounded real, even most of the forever living workers elaborated pointing out their previous occupations changed by forever living company.
Lectures evidenced forever living favors consumers.
“Even if you buy forever living products you will be paid,” said Sarah Scam.
That’s the reality they have as a company but they don’t know they have scams among them. It was said too that your sponsor has to give you money so that you can begin and refund later with interest.
“Even if you buy forever living products you will be paid,” said Sarah Scam.
That’s the reality they have as a company but they don’t know they have scams among them. It was said too that your sponsor has to give you money so that you can begin and refund later with interest.
At the end of this I gave Sarah exploit her presents she requested from me as a true friend. The following day I left for Nakuru then to Eldoret the next day.
Whenever I called her strong quest was, “When are you bringing money?”
I thought I would try and free the rest of the refugees who could be involved in this mess.
Suspicion
A week after sending 5, 700 Kshs via M-Pesa, Sarah began to behave funny. This money was sent to the number: 0723883734 on fourteenth February, 2011. She kept questioning me if I had some people to take to forever living to be under her to promote her position to offend them.
“They said I should succeed before calling them to forever living,” that was my lie for the first time in my life.
Later on, she told me her father was dead. I condoled. She had come to Kitale for burial and funeral so I had to meet her in Kitale or she had to meet me in Eldoret as she goes to Nairobi.
At this juncture, she said she was hanging in a friend’s home.
That made me feel the occasion she wrote on her facebook, “I want to be fucked.”
That made me feel the occasion she wrote on her facebook, “I want to be fucked.”
She said someone did it not her otherwise the statement is irresponsible.
She cut communication by exchanging her number with that of someone who said was her cousin. The man could speak Arabic to my surprise.
I asked her to return my money and that’s what this Kikuyu girl can’t tolerate.
“I shall send it when I want,” she said.
The man who was with the number said I should stop calling that number.
I contacted M-Pesa customer care to assist under Safaricom. The lady who was there said they can reverse the money in her account to mine. Later when I gave the details they requested, they told me they can’t do it.
Instead they sent me to police which always has to ask for money to carry out service in Kenya.
This suspicion remains.
Writing is impacting my life with negativity alongside positivity…..humanity puts me at risk specially protecting others.
Employment and driving license puzzles
Most of the Kenyan citizens resent refugees like second class humans.
In comparison with Sudan, it’s hard for a foreigner or a refugee to work in Kenya or get a well paying job.
Even if Sudan, particularly, Southern Sudan is the most corrupted nation, Kenyans are treated fairly.
Refugees can set up businesses in Refugee camps which looting still discourage all nights. You either die or give money you have worked for the whole of that time.
They head institutions and have businesses but here it’s ironical lest in refugee camps where Kenyans receive basic pays of 15, 000 Kshs and above. Refugees are paid 5, 000 Kshs or less. In South Sudan, Kenyans are paid much better than Southern Sudanese. No one even the government of Kenya can remedy this.
Oppression here and favoring there?
Furthermore, driving license was not given to refugees in Kenya. Most of the refugees returned to their respective countries or camps or even resettled knowing how to drive but with no driving licenses.
Now, it’s improving but international driving license is issued if one has a passport yet UN doesn’t give refugees passports, only travelling documents or mandates.
Refugees have participated in developing Turkana where Kakuma Refugee Camp is and Daadab Refugee Camp. They rent Kenyan houses and contribute to the development of various institutions including private schools and hospitals. They give adequate services and resources to Kenyans.
Why should they be dehumanized?
The thirst stricken Kapsoya
Kapsoya estate of Eldoret is thirst stricken. This began on Sunday and realized Yesterday, the tenth of April, 2011.
This is after water tanks were then dry.
Most of the families today went to homes lucky to have water to be assisted fetch water to cut thirst, cook and bathe children leave alone washing clothes.
The worst being toilets dry.
In contact with residents of this estate, they told me this had been there.
Water had never been provided sometimes back leaving them thirsty for at least two days.
None among them can tell why this happens.
Until now, most of the homes have taps dry. They are using water from those few homes not knowing where to bathe later.
Child lost found her parents last night
A child was discovered yesterday, the thirtieth, March 2011 being lost.
This girl child was playing with the children. To the surprise of many, she was walking to corner ndogo, Kapsoya and back to her playing site. As time passed, evening nearing, the child selected a certain girl child and followed her all the way crying.
Irritated this child was bothered to ask her where her parents were and found out that she could not even speak. She was a child relatively two years or less. Akoi whose children were playing there too came to their rescue when the child followed reported this. She took concern and went from one side of Kapsoya estate to the other in search of her parents to no avail.
This morning, she told me that many Kenyan women came up claiming having known the child’s mother but the child rejected them. With fear of the child being taken by a stranger, she took her to one of the women in corner ndogo whose husband is a policeman who advised she would be taken to chief’s camp today.
All the people who had seen the child went on passing the information from one family to the other to be heard luckily by her parents who were busy in search.
From one Sudanese home in Kapsoya to the other they could be directed to that home where the child was at night.
These parents appreciated these Sudanese. They had bathed the child and had been given food equaling the rest of children in that home. They were dancing as explained today and said that if their fellow Kenyans they would have asked for money. They shouted Sudanese names as they left with their child overjoyed.
New nation launched to neighbour East Africa
By Nyak Simon and Sabbath De Yecouba
Referendum in Kakuma was intermingled with frustrations. The movement into the center was an indication of the reality now achieved. Critics criticized that it's an offense to move into a polling station in Kenya. Last night, when the preliminary results were out, refugees from South Sudan rejoiced and even cried. Dancing, singing and marching were done too last night.
The speech of the President of Southern Sudan a few days after polling showed determination. He urged Southern Sudanese to pardon those who committed atrocities in the South. What to be an outcome was done putting concentration on secession votes.
Towards the thirtieth of January, 2011, it crystallized. Southern Sudanese put total hope in votes. In the wake of preliminary results, most of the centers scooped 99% votes of secession as announced by the media.
Reactions on the Facebook and calls were to alert Southerners to know the nation is achieved. East Africans keep saying that they have had a new neighbour.
Kakuma has had 99.8% vote for secession. 0.2 being for unity. There is a belief that influence at Rajaf Kakuma center has led to Ten(10) votes for unity. Three thousand, two hundred and seventy eight(3,278) votes for secession. The total number of voters in this center was three thousand, two hundred and eighty eight(3,288). Twenty two(22) registered voters were unmarked(did not specify either unity or secession). Four(4) were invalid(voted for both unity and secession). Fifty seven(57) voters did not turn up.
Clinic-2 had two(2) voters for unity. Two thousand, one hundred and thirty six(2, 136) voted for secession. The total number of voters in this center was two thousand, one hundred and thirty eight(2,138).
Two(2) were invalid and two(2) were unmarked. None failed to vote.
The total number of voters in Kakuma was five thousand, four hundred and twenty seven(5,427). This statistic is from chairman who worked closely with SSRC staffs at Clinic-2 and other staffs from Rajaf.
These are termed as minutes of laughter. Cultural dances are frequent in the camp by Southern Sudanese. Old men and women are inspired to advising and encouraging the youth which marched. One of the women said it's good to have achieved independence so that the orphans who have stayed here for long time will go back home in peace without encountering any problem. Not all are willing to go back home in reality.
The referendum results made several people visit this resented camp, Kakuma. It's high temperatures and dust can chase people.
Catherine Wambua-Soi, a journalist working with Aljazeera as a language producer, sacrificed her time in this faith to collect the views of refugees to learn that Southerners are absolutely delighted. She said the refugees should be treated cautiously as per her observation for many had no interest to go back home immediately. All Southern Sudanese in diaspora were given funds to celebrate the positive outcome of the referendum.
Meanwhile, some still raise voices, that the amount they were given is little. Celebrations for the new nation are due to begin in July after Abyei, Blue Nile and Kordofan have selected where to belong.
Southern Sudan, said to exclude those three groups above may be changed. Many suggestions are brought forth to rename the new nation. This may be decided upon later. Of course New Sudan had been the name used to refer to blacks in Sudan including those three groups.
Abyei, Blue Nile and Kordofan will vote in April for their rights whether to remain in the north or be with Southerners, in order for celebrations to be effected and Sudan will have two independent nations making an additional nation of Africa.
Nyak's a Journalist working in Kakuma and a former child soldier in the history of Southern Sudan.
Boy fought NCCK worker and went to school to find himself screened out
A school boy fought NCCK worker authorised by UNHCR, DRA and NCCK to demolish fences to allow enough passage for vehicles, Boda bodas and people in Kakuma. Mohammed, from Somali on Friday quarrelled and barked at the workers. Seemingly, no one answered him appropriately. "Talk to that person was their word. When I approached that person she referred me to another person," he said. "They ignored."
He accused these workers to formerly had destroyed their fence and came back to demolish their house partly. He clashed with one of the workers thus a weighty blow on his lip leaving it hurt.
Concerned persons separated them. In the morning he was in the school to hear he was screened out of standard eight and has to repeat class seven. The case is not completely solved by police. "My mother said the case would be taken to police," he said. "The case will be solved today and am here in problem again." The school administration stated the boy is weak. In the first mock he is said to have taken his guardian to complain for his marks he was denied like he thought. In the second mock he was closer to the cutting line of those who would be in Standard eight. The last, makes him good enough to return to standard seven having 228 out of 500 far from the average mark by 22 and 12 from the cutting mark. This is after he struggled to cheat and failed. "He wanted to go to the latrine with his paper of social studies. I stopped him, likewise to the headteacher," said their Mathematics teacher.
Sweating outside while I interviewed him, he had to decide either to go elsewhere and find school or repeat class seven to better perform and be in class eight next year. "I've a lot of problems. from this to another," he said nearly crying.
Names of the candidates who will sit for KCPE this year are with LWF education department already. "Today I'll go to the police and apologise so that there will be no more fighting. Fighting is bad," he said.
Confusedly he asked me if he could get someone to put his name in the list to bribe. I ignored and asked him to tell me more about the problem. He has gone home today to decide as the head teacher told him to repeat or go elsewhere.
I was in Somali market today. Many shops were destroyed and owners were busy repairing. Dhair and Dario whom I met working for a certain Somali woman said NCCK workers instructed the shopkeepers to reconstruct their shops so as to ensure the space is left. They sent the message and went elsewhere and continued their work.
Part of group Ten (10) D was destroyed especially the fence and houses of the unlucky which were along the previous road.
Inhabitants of this group were spending night patrolling fearing looters till they fenced. The road which passes near Bortown secondary now vacant was widened towards Zone six water booster. The exercise continues where it has not reached.
Transparent report about truths and failures of Kakuma News Reflector(Kanere)
Kakuma news reflector (Kanere), a refugee free press has for long not had publication. This is due to relaxation of Journalists who claim to be belittled by the editor. Their complain has reached height renouncing the work of kanere being to gild the pill unlike it's colourful goals and objectives which when you read, would feel to join. The strange face of the editor keeps them murmuring, which involves gossips and abnormal confidentiality applied even to the executive director. The executive director Mr. Jerome Sebwadaga, a Rwandan says he needs to be recognised not shamed.
To make things worse, he takes Kanere issues subsidiary. He has to work with IRC to secure his incentives. The rest of the Journalists who are tired of these misconceptions go saying they should not waste their time following what doesn't benefit them.
The vision of Kanere: In exercising a refugee free press, we speak in respect of human rights and the rule of law in order to create a more open society in refugee camps and to develop a platform for fair public debate on refugee affair;
has not been accomplished for likely seven months.
"No articles to be published," says the editor talking to the executive director.
The first step in the history of Kanere is the attending of literature conference in Nairobi last December funded by Professor Bird cupps. Professor Bird offered to give training to Kanere Journalists. Not most of the Journalists attended due to bias by the editor.
Kanere was formed in 2008 thus released its first publication in December, the same year. Bethany Ojalehto was the editor. Other contributors included Negash, an Ethiopian whom the executive director said didn't contribute anything to Kanere and had clash with the head of sub-office, Dr. Qassim in the race to get support from UNHCR.
Accusations massed that UNHCR blocked Kanere's registration with the Government of Kenya and had supported another organization called brotherhood and finally led to the down fall of Kanebu. These were the first things I was told the moment I joined Kanere. I knew Kanere as a newsletter which creates ample environment for refugees. My first work to Kanere was a poem,'Just like you felt' I wrote on my return to Kapoeta from Kakuma. With this I got welcome to Kakuma by Kanere to participate. Willingly in my work even if the face of the editor I saw first wasn't friendly was good to serve refugees. I could not go back to Sudan where I had escaped deadly encounters. My first poem was said to have been published but not with Kanere by Qaabata Boru, the editor elected after Bethany returned to America.
Three days before I was jailed because of Kanere to spend five days in prison, a friend, Dot, who participated in Kanere asked,"Why are you busy? What's Qaabata doing? I worked with him but the matter is that he's lazy. You're busy here, he's relaxing." I went ahead to see to it.
Boor crytalised and we pushed ahead. I kept advising the editor, to no success. Meetings held all Sundays were characterised by late coming and so forth, by the editor himself. The point however had been that Kanere has no funding for the Journalists. "Publishing is not the problem," the editor did say. We held two meetings with the head of sub-office, Dr. Qassim. In the first one, he complained about the work of Negash who was kicked out of Kanere and releasing of unnecessary news by Kanere.
During the meeting nobody agreed to the fact that Kanere would be collecting information around the camp which would earn it support by UNHCR. Kanere wanted to be independent. The next meeting had a decision to let Kanere devise a mechanism of collaboration. Not at all it was done. I was also looking for my refugee status determination which I was denied because of Kanere.
Various complains I raised to be registered ended up earning me advice to stop being with Kanere. Several NGOs including DRA-camp manager, LWF and JRS wanted me to avoid bad company. I couldn't secure good job for this matter.
Proposals and projects came in, the editor was reluctant to write. I kept advising that we would find good mechanism of collaborating. I suggested that if Kanere would be supported under UNHCR, we would change unnecessary contents of Kanere constitution, it fell on deaf ears. Qaabata is the editor and was the chairman of brotherhood I don't know if was transformed into Kanere.
By the time Jackie Strecker of Refugee Research Network visited Kanere, I was no longer reporting for Kanere. Ignorance was heighty for me and had to keep away. I had given nearly thirty poems to Kanere which the editor said were published. "I have thirty poems published in Addisababa," he said. May be including mine. Kanere has only two; 'The stove of scandals' and 'Gagged.' These increased my disappointment having been duped. My target of not being cheated like cheated before remained. I was welcomed for internet session. Jackie urged Journalists to apply and work with Refugee Research Network (RRN).
Later Jackie left money for each one of the Journalists to access internet commenting or responding. It was a month after which she wrote back to Qaabata asking why Journalists could not respond. He told her the internet was down the whole month. He(Qaabata) called a meeting later. He said to the Journalists,"Take this money, give thanks to Jackie and tell her internetsticked to go wrong with Qaabata's wrongs. Kanere T-shirts are given to his friends and darling. Nearly everyone who visited Kanere was duped, I may say, by Qaabata.
Journalists who had, are and will participate in Kanere are suspended by his being brusque or brash. This fellow since he came to Kakuma failed eligibility thus has no ration card to prove him a refugee. This too is brought by Kanere. Journalists doubt that Qaabata benefits from Kanere. This was half said by Negash,"Kanere had had problem of Journalists' pay only not publication."
I have been much concerned about his plight to avoid Kanere and be registered a refugee. Myself, I was registered a refugee after apologising to the camp manager to not work for Kanere again. Mainly; when a friend threw me out of the house to spend night outside compound-1. Qaabata's words were,"Remove a little money for these security to help you. My house was burnt and they did nothing. You cannot expect much." Are they friendly? I have several good friends not this!
Aims of Kanere and Qaabata towards me crystalised.
Kanere constitution was to be signed too. Journalists were forced to sign. Qaabata himself got me browsing and said,"Can you sign now. Am late going to work, sign." I gave my ink after telling him I can't work for Refugee Research Network and Kanere. Journalists too said several Oromo guys were collected to sign the constitution to make good number. I can't entertain rubbish tales but tell rights. It's like we are competing for something I don't know too. We don't have a single field to compete.
Grudges and wickedness don't make people writers. Leaders are born not made. The director does say he needs being recognised. Well, I cannot be told what's happening within Kanere. "I didn't hear about that money," said Jerome when he heard about Jackie's gift. After my return form Nairobi, Qaabata apologised to Journalists that he didn't select me to attend the conference but Professor Bird. Any ways I am writing this transparent report to let the world know I am not for misdeeds otherwise I know gossips are written about me already. "Journalists are not qualified," is an excuse daily. "There will be grant next year," is hope for Journalists. When that year comes, next year, and next year, the next year....!
Elizabeth who works with JRS, gave a link Qaabata himself told me about for Journalists to apply and it's now with him. Even the director knew from me not him. Surely, Kanere is good enough to be a newsletter. This fellow needs such corrections. He needs to stop Kanere. Every month he goes to Nairobi, he resigned from teaching last time and he has no ration card to be called a refugee which cannot let him achieve anything all brought by Kanere he says doesn't benefit him. Kanere should either be left or suitable work is began to link it with UNHCR because being against UNHCR is not helpful if refugee rights are to be protected in Kakuma. None will be manipulated if I have learned. I don't think it's hard to make ten reports in Seven months-and there it is: no publication
Widening of roads to facilitate connection of electricity in refugee communities
Exercise to create room for connection of electricity in Kakuma:
Department for Refugee Affairs (DRA) known as camp manager's office reinforced resizing of roads in Kakuma. I set my eyes on this last December when Shops and Hotels in Ethiopian community were resized to allow adequate space for vehicles, bicycles, motor bikes and the people. This road was widened through to the former Nuer Community now multicultural. It extended to Somali, Burundi and Rwanda communities behind Ngundeng Primary School, now vacated, to create another road alongside Mogadishu Primary School and deep into Burundi and Rwanda communities. "In our community, only fences were destroyed," said Tito, a Child Development Worker (CDW) at UNHCR field post one, who handles even issues of shelter and protection because he said they work hand in hand with UNHCR and NCCK. Tito stressed it is to let police and GSU access the community and Boda boda taxis, bicycles and motor bikes.
In Equatoria-Sudanese community, houses were demolished leading to overreacting of refugees against National Council of the Churches of Kenya (NCCK) workers. Security was said to have calmed down that situation by Equatoria Security, Dario. These refugees currently await their houses in neighbouring homes or with relatives and friends. They must face the fate that Kakuma one they lived in that longer will not be their living place. "Some will be resettled either in Hongkong or Kakuma three and four," advanced Tito who is knowledgeable about this.
It's not the first time. In December, 2009, a related exercise was effected in groups 78 and 67 of Oromo and part of Nuer community. These refugees lost their buildings and were finally resettled in Hongkong, zone two and former group 45 now included in Hongkong. Their complains were about their businesses in Zone five they were shifted from, lack of good market, lack of latrines and throwing of stones at night by people not known to them. Lack of handsets too could not let them call for ambulance to take patients to the hospital at night. It fell under insecurity which as time passed, they adapted to and became like other refugees. Somali new arrivals from Daadab faced the same challenges so it's what to do with new areas. Luggage were carried by a lorry given by NCCK through UNHCR in their normal collaboration. This is sensed to be the same for this matter.
The first effect came because of lone places after repatriation of Southern Sudanese. However, the camp population and settlement is increasing nowadays. This is due to influx of Sudanese-Darfurians and other Tribes who faced challenges back home and Nationalities-Rwandans, Ugandans, Somali, Ethiopians, Burundians, Congolese and Eritreans.
All parts of the camp are becoming enjoyable.
Speaking with Energie De Portugale (EDP), I got it clear that connection has began in Kakuma three and four and each an every refugee house will be having switches through out the night. Some focal teachers call it Energy Development of Portugal (EDP). This is done by a big solar panel. "There will be reduced sexual advances," Said Mr. Odilon, the current EDP acting projact director. "Most of these are done in the dark, so when there be light, they will be shy doing it. There will be no hiding place."
Individual refugee houses will be having switches to receive light to reduce waste of money to buy paraffin for lambs.
EDP and provision of light in the camp:
Energie De Portugale (EDP) is said to have been formed in July, 2010. It's target goal is to reduce chances of drop out school girls through distribution of solar lanterns charged with their own solar panels. As such, EDP worked hand in hand with UNHCR, LWF and Filmaid International. This program began in Kakuma Refugee Secondary School where a big solar panel was connected to boost the school switches.
Individual student was to have their own lantern to read at home after paying a refundable fee of two hundred Kenyan Shillings. Twenty shillings too was to be paid to the office for the maintenance of spoiled lanterns.
The target group being girls, they too received in Primary Schools from classes four to eight with the same procedures above. Candidates of last year at Bhar el Naam girls' primary school said they liked it so much. Most of school girls couldn't perform well initially due to domestic work. Others were totally denied education by parents and relatives.
Anena who was a candidate last year revealed, she is an orphan missing both parents. She however, said her foster mother kept discouraging her learning. "My foster mother on seeing me reading says, even if you read you will still fail," said Anena. "On hearing this I feel like leaving that home going to the forest." She is a Ugandan.
Diing, Anena's former classmate said forced marriage too cannot let most of them learn. The rest of boy schools later received.
These lanterns are not given to individuals with their solar panels for security purpose. If that solar is lost it will not be found again thus a right of EDP to keep them secure. EDP trained focal teachers in each and every school. Each school camp wide has two focal teachers knowledgeable about the care of solar lanterns. Mr. Odilon who was a focal teacher in Kakuma Refugee Secondary School became the project director when George, the former project director went back to portugal. Each and every school should fill the first solar panels table to get the next table.
"Distribution is done by UNHCR, LWF and FILMAID," said Odilon. "This program has reached the host community. We have given five hundred lanterns to Pokotom and Lopuarin primary schools and big solar panel too should be provided so individual class will have a switch. Pokotom with three hundred and Lopuarin with two hundred. Big solar panels are in Kakuma town lighting bulbs at night along the road.
Hongkong has poles and the work will reach there soon.
Enrolment is great. "176 girls were enrolled from forms one to four," Said Odilon.
"It's too early, let enrolment of next year be seen so we call you and compare."
Even if all EDP goals and objectives are not achieved, the director boasted that the last performance of girls was due to introduction of solar lanterns.
Anjelina Jolie girls Boarding Primary School topped the column of refugee schools with a mean score of 258 and Bhar el naam girls Day Primary School not far from third or forth positions. This proofs that ahead of time performance will be higher if light will also be in houses.
Drawback brought by poverty which lets some learners fail to get lanterns of their own will be gone.
EDP as a program is continuing.
Congestion within refugee comminities couldn't let GSU and Police filter into refugee communities at night to chase escaping thieves.
UNHCR and the Government of Kenya having traced the cause forsee a secured Kakuma with this EDP light.
Woman's head speared in a move to secure dowry
Cultures are becoming torturing.
Last night, the twenty sixth of January I had robbed a sleep only to be awoken by a gun shot. My heart bumped thinking it was the normal stuff of Kakuma: looting.
Minutes passed and I received a phone call to attest it was an attack in group nine in line with Fashoda Primary School opposite Rajaf Police Station.
As I welcomed these gentlemen into the school, they told me that a day after, their colleaque eloped with a lady and when told to return her they refused. They told me they spent the whole day in the lagga to make it to Nimule Primary School in the evening to hear what would happen.
At Eleven O'clock at night, these people (lady's relatives) after warning severally broke into the group breaking the gate.
Men who used to be in the group all escaped some through an opening under the fence.
With this wrath if not scaring to get dowry, women who were found were beaten. One unlucky woman whom I learned came recently from Sudan got a spear in her head.
Noise rose forcing the police to shoot into the air as the gentlemen said.
This intervention by the police led to sneaking of these unidentified people even if they were suspected to be the lady's relatives who marched all the way from Hongkong to zone six at that time of the night.
Especialists from Dinka criticise it's unfair to torture women in the culture. Well, that marriage can be said to be unofficial and unacceptacle to elope with a lady.
This issue of undesirable behaviours is ill mannered.
Torture can't be an implication of any culture.
Fine enough to torture men but women can't be touched. It's great violation.
In areas like Kakuma where insecurity looms, you may chase a person and risk misfortune on the way.
Elsewhere too.
Lotuho of Sudanese Equatoria have similar torture if the man fails to marry or pay dowry.
The rest may have even if I haven't learnt about theirs as well.
Things like scarification among Nuer to initiate boys to join age set are frustrating. If not done to a Nuer boy until he becomes a toothless old man, he still can be called a boy even by boys and can't be angered.
Lotuho, let a boy run for three hours or more without resting or drinking water. This boy can be accompanied by many people who when tired rest and another person who is energetic joins in chasing the boy with canes incase he stops, tired. This is a step to join age set.
These are dying down but still practiced in villages. Varying cultures are changing but some areas can't, totally. Some who are civilised cannot entertain these. When it comes to their marriages where they need parents, there are rites performed which force them to go back to these cultures.
African cultures are different. Issues of beating of people and paying of dowry are laughing matters to other nationalities of Africa.
To Muslims dowry is paid to the bride.
That's not what am up to. Your culture is essential where it doesn't limit rights of other people.
Dinka of Sudan think that if a lady is not accompanied, no dowry or less will be paid or the husband thinks the lady has no people to accompany her.
It's good to pay dowry to those who practise it to compensate for parental care.
To those who don't pay dowry there is a valid reason not to be disputed for it remains helpful.
As am talking to you, men from the group are arrested and the girl is found. The step ahead is marriage if it will be acceptable all after all is done wrong. It needs care.
If police had fumed to shoot not into the air but on target confusedly, you can imagine what regret it could bring.