Fire rages down the manager’s house

By Soila Munyaka

A manager’s house was burned to the ground in the early morning of 3^rd of August, at the MRTC, in Isinya.

The fire, which started at 2:00am, is said to have started after an exercise to smoke out a swarm of bees on Tuesday evening, leaving a piece of burning wood unattended which later ignited the fire.

No injuries were reported although none of the few items in the house could be salvaged from the house. The County’s firefighters arrived at the scene at around 5:00am and there was nothing much they could do.

Ronny Briggs, the manager at the MRTC was set to move to the house on Saturday 6^th after completion of renovation process. That has unfortunately changed because a new house will have to be constructed a fresh.

Tap! Tap! Tap! What is that on the roof?

By Soila Munyaka

There has been a prolonged shortage of water in Isinya, and this problem is going to be around for a long time, since the only source is from some few shallow wells and private boreholes.

This has forced the residents to dig deep into their pockets so as to access this very fundamental and scarce commodity; and with the inflation rates hitting the ceilings, it can only get harder.

The underground tank at St. Patrick's church compound

Following the announcement by the weather man about the coming of El-Niño rains, in late last year, the ACK St. Patrick’s church constructed an underground tank with a capacity of 205 cm³ for harvesting rain water, which to many was a looming disaster at the time. 

The water from the tank will be used in an income generating activity of organic farming using greenhouse technology. 

In future, similar underground tanks shall be constructed to harvest rain water from all the buildings in the compound; as a long-term plan. This will create job opportunities for the youth as this can be a water purification and bottling enterprise.

Most water sources in Isinya provide hard water, and so the water collected from the seasonal precipitation will provide the much precious soft water; with just a little purification, there will be pure drinking water available to the community. As the saying goes, water is life.

ALIN Partners With the Church

By Soila Munyaka

Following a partnership between ALIN and the ACK Diocese of Kajiado, in mid last year, Isinya Maarifa Centre has since been moved to St. Patrick’s church compound.

 

Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. Gaddiel Lenini cuts a ribbon to the containers that house the library and the computer room

More people are going to benefit since it is more accessible compared to its former premises at the MRTC. The church is also planning to establish an all-round Educational Centre, and this move is quite convenient.

 

Computer room

The services that were being offered for free at the Maarifa Centre are now being offered at a low fee. They include library and internet services, and also computer services including training.

The library

The future is quite bright for the residents of Isinya, with formation of linkages to create a fully-fledged information Centre. Plans are underway to bring more partners on board, who include the Kenya Library Services, Practical Action and some Government Ministries; to provide the necessary information materials for the community.

All these activities seek to have an empowered community of Isinya and beyond, because information is power.

Christians usher in the Lent season

By Soila Munyaka

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of the Lenten season, which is the 40-day period of fasting, introspection, confession and penance for many Christians.

It is one of the most popular, important and holy days in the liturgical calendar. It signals the approach of Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Ash from palm branches

During this season, Christians are expected to shun from sin, skip meals and also fast from hobbies like social media, football and other forms of entertainment. They are also expected to appreciate people in their lives, help the disadvantaged in the society, and visit the sick among many other good deeds.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of blessing ashes made from palm branches blessed on the previous year’s Palm Sunday, and placing them on foreheads of participants.

During the service

The day is observed by Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians and Roman

Catholics.

Best wishes to Christians throughout the world during this holy season.

Finally El Nino!

By Felix Ogweny

When the media started reporting about this type of rain being a blessing and a curse, most people thought it was propaganda and for sure we had started blaming the government for misplaced priority as large budgetary allocation was done for the meteorological department.

The long rains are finally here with us and going by the look of things, they could be here for a long time. 

Isinya is characterized by black cotton type of soil. Meaning, it is the worst in terms of drainage because with little down pour, there is complete surface run off and with slight sunrise all the water vaporizes and so it goes back to its ‘dry’ nature. The vegetation around this town is made of short (leaf-less) acacia trees, a typical representation of a dry area. The only river (Isinya River), is seasonal and so residences of this town usually have shortage of water more so during dry spells.

Onset of this rain has seen the river flow and the vegetation get green once again showing signs of rejuvenated life. Soon there will be abundance of green leafy vegetables in the local markets around this town and water shortage will be a thing of the past (temporarily). This will in turn boost agribusiness around this place and it’s environs.

Some of the negative effects that the community will have to put up with are for instance the poorly managed roads that are now impassable; especially in the interior part of the area, as well as poor sewerage systems. Power outages are commonplace in this vicinity, during the rainy season. For electricity-dependent businesses this is the time to count loses as they trickle. All construction works that had not been completed will have to wait a little bit longer because when it rains, it becomes practically impossible for the construction to continue due to poor drainage.

If El Nino is anything to go by, this small town will travel along way in its mixed misery and blessings for as long as the heavy down pour continues.

St. Faith carries the day during diocese of Kajiado choir festival

By Soila Munyaka

A total of 17 choirs within the diocese of Kajiado took to the stage to perform during this year’s Anglican Church choir festival, held at the Emanuel Cathedral in Kajiado; on Saturday 22^nd .

                   

The adjudicators were from the ministry of education. The categories performed included set-piece, band, own-choice (published accredited), own-composition, sacred folk song and own-choice (men).

The set-piece is normally performed by all participating choirs. This year, it was a song; Nina inua macho yangu, composed by Nicholas Omondi. A four-part song, ternary, with Giriama rhythm; sang on key G major.

St. Patrick's ready to perform a folk song, Hamba ku Yesu

Speaking during the event, the bishop, Rt. Rev. Gadiel Lenini, applauded the efforts of everyone, especially the clergy, for supporting their respective choirs therefore making the day a success.

“Music is a good art of worship, and it’s very important in spreading the gospel. This is absolutely wonderful…” said the bishop.

With the festival being more of a fellowship, the best of all had to be crowned. A fierce competition was experienced between the three music giants of the diocese: St. Faith and St. Michaels, both from Ongata Rongai and Christ the King, from Kitengela. Following closely was Holy Trinity, Emanuel Cathedral and St. Patrick’s.

In the overall performance, the top three were: St. Faith, St. Michaels and Christ the King; in that order.

This year’s event was a notch higher with more choirs participating and competition being stiff, compared to previous years. In the coming year, the festival is set to be bigger and better, something to look forward to.

Parents on the spot!

By Soila Munyaka

Schools have closed for the August holiday and news especially about high school students have been in the media for the wrong reasons; leading to many asking how rotten our society has become and who is to blame for that.

Trending at the moment is a story about a group of secondary school students misbehaving in a matatu while traveling home from school. Still on the same, a video clip of a naked 14 year old girl being searched by police, has gone viral, bringing immense shame and regret to her family.

“A lot has changed and parents are failing in their responsibilities. Nowadays there is no collective upbringing of children like in our times where children could be corrected by any adult…” Mr. Timothy Muriuki, a teacher by profession.

In a school closing meeting with parents, a teacher gave an account of how a parent quarreled her in front of a class filled with pupils. Afterwards it became utterly impossible for the teacher to even guide or correct the child while others became rude.

Often when children hurt each other while playing, the issue mostly escalates as their parents clash after taking it personally. As parents tend to protect their children its necessary that they consider the bigger picture especially on how these children carry themselves while away.