YFT / SEJE SUPPORTING
PARTNER:
Corruption is a major impediment to economic development and social justice. The economy is based on agriculture and tourism, both of which are cyclical (particularly as the country is drought prone). Kenya is relatively poor but there are reasons to be optimistic about its future, and indeed one senses when traveling there that the country is on the verge of a major economic transformation (as is the case with a number of other African countries) much like the economic changes recently achieved in India. Some specific information on Kenya includes:
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Our project is located in Siaya District which is part of Nyanza province. The district is north of Lake Victoria in a relatively remote part of Kenya. The nearest city is Kisumu, located on Lake Victoria. It takes nearly 2 hours over poor road conditions to travel to the region. For satellite images of this area, please visit our Seje Village - Satellite Maps page. Although located on the equator, Siaya's climate is somewhat moderated by virtue of its elevation which is approximately 4,000 ft. above sea level. The region is predominately dry, with two rainy seasons that occur in the Spring and Fall. During drought years, such as the last two years, the local economy and health suffers since local agriculture is the primary source of nutrition and income. Within Kenya, Siaya district is below average in terms of income, health, and education statistics. Health is a major problem in that the region is a major malaria zone. AIDS is quite prevalent with infection rates estimated to be greater than 15%. Health is also impacted by malnutrition, dehydration, contamination (especially water), disease, and lack of access to doctors and medical drugs. The Luo tribe is the predominant tribe in Siaya. Luo is also the name of their tribal language. The district is predominately Christian with Catholics, Anglicans, and evangelical denominations present. Theological underpinnings are not strong and often the Christian message is infused with traditional beliefs. The practice in witchcraft and black magic also exists. Women tend to spend most of their days walking long distances to get water or to work in the fields. Farm fields tend to be rather small (perhaps a couple of acres) and are inefficiently farmed using hand tools. A large percentage of men have left the community (leaving their families behind to work the fields) to find jobs in towns or cities as few jobs exist locally. With men mostly absent, this creates several challenges, namely that it places excessive workload on the women; the children are not brought up with paternal influence. Strengthening the local economy and the local church can do much to re-establish the physical and spiritual health of this district, and indeed, much of Africa. But this must be done carefully, considering the local requirements and cultural implications. Specific data on Siaya district is sparse, and where provided, is often contradictory with other sources. Thus, the following information should be viewed with this consideration:
It should be stated that notwithstanding
the challenges addressed in this paper, Kenya is truly
a country of opportunity. The land is amazing and the people
are great. So, yes, there are problems but contrasting
that is a nation that you cannot help but fall in love
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Seje is a cluster of 5 villages with an rough population estimate of 5,000. The name refers to both the area and the people who occupy it, as Seje is a sub-clan within the Luo tribe. Our project will initially focus on two villages on the eastern part of Seje that form a cohesive area. These villages are called: Ndori and Ulamba. The population of the two villages is estimated to be approximately 1,500 in an approximate area of 5 km2. To find the location on the map, the GPS coordinates are: 0.000N, 34.197E. We have just had the villages do a census and will be compiling the data to provide a more precise view of the population. Neither village has electricity or a medical clinic. Seje is predominately Christian. Although the populace believes in God, only a small percentage actively attend church or can be considered saved. This is attributed to several factors, including lack of pastoral training, lack of resources, poor understanding of the gospel, and a general lack of hope amongst the poorer people in the community. Plus there are people involved in more traditional religions such as witch doctors or those practicing black magic. Seje is on a ridge roughly 150 feet above the Yala river valley and the ground is typically dry and rocky. Presently people may spend hours walking or cycling several kilometres each way to draw water from the river - which unfortunately lacks in cleanliness. We are presently investigating the feasibility of digging wells but the geological characteristics of the region indicate a risk that suitable well water may not be available. If and when a well is drilled, it will be managed by the community and the water will be sold for roughly one cent per 20L container. This is slightly less than what a container sells in the area and will be sufficient to sustain the well over time by supporting a manager and building reserve funding. The weather pattern is two rainy seasons - the heavier seasons occurring in the Spring and a lesser one in the Fall. Winter and Summer are hot and very dry. Combined with the ground conditions, this makes agriculture a challenge. When using traditional farming techniques. Thus the fields involve a lot of work by hand and do not generate high yields. The primary crops are maize and cassava (a shrubby plant with nutritious leaves and roots that grows well in hot dry regions). Fruits and cash crops are also grown in the area. Farm animals are also an important part of the village comprising cattle, goats, and the omnipresent free-range chicken. Most people live in housing compounds comprised of 2-6 huts, depending on the size of the extended family. The huts are built of mud walls with either grass or metal roofs - the latter is preferred if they can afford it. The mud walls are composed of cow dung and mud and thus bring a risk of parasites to the occupants. The area was once heavily treed but many of them have been cut down over the past half century. Still, the landscape is beautiful and the view that the villages have over the Yala valley is spectacular. Furthermore, the people are warm and welcoming and genuinely appreciate visitors from Canada.
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Kenya is located in sub-Saharan Africa, along the equator.
The country is a democratic republic with a generally
open economy. Kenya was a British colony from which
it gained
independence in 1963, It has several tribal languages.
Swahili is the official language whilst English is
generally spoken
by those with secondary education.
'You Feed Them'
is a ministry of Trinity
Bible Church of Ottawa