Together we Stand, Divided we fall!

Each and every morning, as we walk along the streets of Nairobi, one hardly misses to come across a street child either walking around or seated on the verandas begging for money.

We never bother to have a look at them or even to greet them. We either drop in a few coins on the palm of their hands or shrug them off whenever they try to make few steps behind us.

Those who have been lucky in life for not having experienced street life, tend to think that these children are different from others who are leading lavish styles in their parental homes. No not at all, if given a chance to basic things in life, in terms of education, healthcare, food and better living conditions, they outshine those from well off families.

Undugu Society of Kenya has always taken the initiative of making street living and working children better. The private sector has done a lot to help minimize children in the streets but government should put more effort in funding such organisation and also set up such more rescuing centres so as also help these children.

They are our children all they need is just to be empowered.

WHERE WILL THEY GO?

The government has taken a measure of destruction and demolition of houses almost everywhere in Nairobi. Recently we saw how a slum known Mitumba in South C near the Wilson Airport was destroyed within few hours of the fateful morning.

Martin Ndung'u

I personally took an obligation to visit the site and l did not like what l saw? Can you imagine the people living there including young children where they will go?

Martin Ndung'u

Oh God please help the government of Kenya to understand its people. How the things happens below the government without having any notice.

 

It is the government who should be blamed for the demonization. Those people who their houses were demolished, the government should compensate them or locate them to another area.

 

PRECIUOS BUT HAMFUL

Over the past years the government and the nongovernmental organisation have trying hard to eradicate the dumpsite in Dandora but all are in vain. Have  you ever asked  yourself why? Well all l can say is that as much as they are trying they hear first the view both the community leaving there and the people who are earning  their living and also the city council of Nairobi.

The dumpsite has both the advantage and disadvantage, as for the advantage it has changed the lives of many youth in the surrounding areas by creating jobs such as sorting out the recycle ones and the non recycle ones thus making the easier for the recycling industry.

As for the disadvantage it a health hazard for the people working and living around it this include: cancer, lung related diseases, skin diseases cause by harmful chemicals, countless deaths leave alone the rapes and atrocity committed to little boys not forgetting theft and robberies while hiding in the dumpsite.

As for l would like the government to minimize the dumpsite so as the people don’t lose their livelihood and to reduce the dumping of dangerous and flammable chemical and if possible stop the chemical producing industry from dumping.

 All the rest like insecurity will decrease.

PORTRAITS OF TEARS

In NAIROBI, Kenya February 18 2011 At least two people were burnt to death and nearly 3,000 families displaced after a massive fire broke out at Nairobi’s Mukuru slum.

There have been twenty two incidents of fire within Nairobi in one month now. More than fifty other people suffered burns or suffered injuries as they fled from the fire that spread fast through the densely populated slum.

Police and fire-fighters who responded to distress calls from the residents described the fire as “one of the worst to occur in Nairobi in recent times.”

Emergency crews from the City Council of Nairobi who went to put out the fire that started at 10am were unable to venture into the slum due to lack of access roads, eliciting fury from the dwellers who resorted to stoning the fire personnel and their vehicles before police intervened.

The fire started at Fuata Nyayo village, and quickly spread through to a village bordering known as Commercial that borders Enterprise Road before it extended to Mariguini.

The government should start up slum upgrading projects this will ensure that fire will reduce in slums. The government should also set up firefighting equipment in slum areas.

THE UNTOLD STORY

Recently I watched the local TV news and what I saw was not pleasing as thousands of residence living in Turkana die due to hunger strike. They are living as they are in another world not in Kenya since things there are completely different. The residences there are not the only one who is affected by the hunger but also their animals too.

They lack water as this area is dried up and the only water they get is from those people who came to sell for them after every ten days. They have to use the water wisely which is twenty litres per family.

They lack other facilities like healthy centres, schools, means of transport, and poor infrastructures among others. Since they live a nomadic life due to search for pastures for their animals.Children do not go to schools they have to look after the animals and if they afford to go the schools they have no class rooms they learn under the trees.

They lack teachers and stationeries. Another major problem is healthy centres where by when one is ill you have to work mile of kilometres to look for one and if you are lucky you will be treated since they lack medicine and other equipments.

The government is doing nothing about these issues. The government should provide them with foods, cloths and shelter. Instead they government should build up schools so that these children can be educated as they are the leaders of tomorrow.

The Big Question still remains where is the Government?

POVERTY IS KILLING KIDS

Many of these stories are about poverty, illness, neglect and violence. However, there are also the beautiful and rare stories of hope.

These Street Stories tell the tale of Undugu Society of Kenya and the remarkable children and youths that prove it really is possible to give street kids a chance at a better life.

Names and specific details have been changed to respect the children privacy.

Undugu Society of Kenya do not only rescue this children from streets and take them to be rehabilitated but also give them future in terms of providing them with life skills Training and Education.

The public has got negative stereotype about this children when they see them roaming about in the streets begging and sniffing glue.

For me I just see them as someone who needs to be empowered and also give them a room to improve their living condition.

They are our children and they are not in the streets by chance but by reasons. Some come from well family, others are poor, some just g to streets so as to have the freedom they need and others come because of peer pleasure or family conflicts.

They are our children let us help them, love them and also empower them for a bright future since they are the leaders of tomorrow.

THE CRIME OF DRUGS IN THE SOCIETY

I once, had a great friend called, ”Uche,” We were there for each other, not only in times of joy, but also helped one another for all the ups and downs we came across in our daily life.

We were in a group of ten boys, and mostly discussed issues in regard to our schoolwork rather than the outside world. We neither went for clubbing nor were any of us on drugs.

It didn’t take long before  when I discovered all that was not okay with my friends. As usual, we always had a meeting on each and every Saturday to discuss our school grades and social life. One Saturday, I decided to go to the meeting spot early than usual. When I got there what I saw was unbelievable! Stephanie and some of our group members were engaged in shameful activities.

They were playing loud music till none of them heard the door being opened. Uche was busy smoking Bhang (marijuana) while the others were chewing Khat (miraa). Several bottles of whiskey had been placed on the table and they were dancing and laughing on top of their voices. Immediately, they noticed my presence, they were shocked, for I came to know the naked truth they had always tried to hide away from me.

They pleaded asking me not to tell anyone what had happened and I agreed half halfheartedly.  I could not run away from them, but the same time, they were not ready to call it quits the world of drugs.

Two to three months later, my dear friend, ”Uche,” became a drug addict and got addicted.

It did not take long, when I received the bad shocking news that Uche had been admitted to the hospital, as a result of taking an overdose as he injected himself. He was as lucky as a king, for he survived, despite of the ruthless act he had committed.

Undugu Society of Kenya  www.undugukenya.org has played a major role in the fight against drugs and it a challenge to the government to help in the fight against this vice as it would save lives of the many Children and Youths who are drugs addict and they have a bright future as they are the leaders of tomorrow.

LUCKY OMEGA WAS THE LUCKY ONE

 Lucky Omega was born in Mbale at a place called Vihiga District on 6^th May 1995, In Western Province in Kenya. He is the 1^st born in his family.

 In his case they were supposed to be three children but the first two died before he was born. So this means that he was the last born and the lucky one. His parents died when he was five years old and he cannot tell what happened.

This event made her grandmother to take care of him. They travelled up to Nairobi to start a new life. Her grandmother took him to school. She was responsible for his education in paying school fees and buying school uniform.

They lived for almost ten years together, before she died on 19^th November 2008. He was only one year was remaining for him to hold his first certificate of Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. (K.C.P.E). after her death, that was the time when he realized that she was not her really mother.

He was so sad to hear the bad news. In this situation he was forced to withdrawal his life again and start a fresh life in cooperation with her Aunt.

He is a Digital Storytelling Project Participant and he believes that by sharing his stories to the rest of the world will enable him to come close to many people from different communities.

 He also believes that he will be able to Advocate for important issues affecting him and his community at large.

WITHOUT ANY ASSISTANCE, SLUM DWELLERS

A poor slum dweller man was shot dead by a  police officer yesterday at 1.00p.m. The police officer who shot him was arrested and taken to police custody at Kabete police station.

The man was protesting due to the demolition of their houses which were demolished by the city council since the houses were built along side the road. Many people were left homeless and jobless. Their properties were destroyed and some burned.

The government should not just look at them and do nothing. If the government fails to give them some where else where one can make a living because their business premises are already demolished.

Most of them will have no hope for their future and they will turn to be thugs and criminals in the society.

The government should have first look for them a land before demolishing their houses. I therefore ask the government where do you want them go. They are all Kenyans.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? CHANG’AA THE AFTERMATH

They say an idol mind is a devils workshop as many youth and motivated Kenyans are still dying every time and then due to consumption of the local illicit brews which include; Changaa, Busaa, kumi kumi (ten ten).

Recently ten men die in Shauri Moyo area here in Nairobi due to the consumption of the illicit brew which is  the cheapest brew but some were luck to escape the death as they were hospitalize as the saying goes ‘No man is island ’meaning no man can leave alone.

photo by Antony kamau

Those who are luck to be alive today said that they have quitted drinking the illicit brew and they want to start a new life and they are ready to quit drugs. Some have gone back to their rural areas to start a new life with their family members.

Even if you put off the light we shall continue to drink said James Kariuki to a woman seller who was selling the changaa to him. He became blind completely after drinking the illicit brew which was poisoned.

Photo by Martin Ndung'u

 

Mr. Joseph Kaguthi the National Agency for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) boss said that the government is aware of the presence and dangers posed by beverages of the illicit brews but it is doing nothing about it.

In slums, villages and even in urban areas people are still selling this dangerous illicit brew to the people living in those areas putting their lives in danger.

Photo by MartinNdung'u

If the government fails to address these issues of illicit brew many young and old people will continue dying and also suffering from various loss e.g. loss of sight, (blindness) deaths. I’m urging the government to take action to this people who sell these illicit brews and face justice as soon as possible because we will lose our young leaders of tomorrow.

United we stand! Divided  We Fall.