Majengo residents bewildered with environmental degradation.

By Collins Lwangu Shahonya

The slum of Isinya typically referred to as Majengo, threatens to pose as a health hazard for the many that stay in it. From a far distant, one can paint a picture of houses built with corrugated iron sheets close to each other and neatly constructed residential flats.

But to a close scrutiny, you realize all is not well. Both biodegradable and non-biodegradable pollutants have been carelessly disposed in large quantities exceeding the natural capacity of the environment to assimilate them.

Majengo area in Isinya

Negligence and “throw away” attitude has beset people in this vicinity. Human waste has been released and dumped along the roads and footpaths connecting to the slum - an indication that environmental friendly facilities have not been factored in to counter environmental pollution.

Paper bags, used diapers and menstrual pads have also been carelessly dumped. A foul smell has dazed the air in this vicinity. A few meters away from Sheillan Khatienje’s house, the “great monster” lies; not secured and full to brim, spilling and running down to the road, perhaps due to the lots of rain being received in the area.

The sewage is characterized with lots of crows, vultures and flies assimilated in this dirty habitat. This poise to not only have a major detriment to the health of the people in this area, but also as a black spot where people with ill motives can harm others and throw them inside the “bubbling” sewage, never to be found again.

A cross sectional view of the sewage in Majengo-Isinya

Residents here cry foul and point a finger to the county government for not heeding to their call on the state of dirty environment they are lavishing in. Sheillan Khatienje, 37, a mother of seven and a resident of this area for the past nine years describes Majengo as “the neglected half of Isinya town”

“Nimeishi hapa Majengo kwa muda wa miaka tisa sasa na sioni mabadiliko. Tumeteta hii sewage itolewe hapa lakini hakuna vitendo” (I have stayed here in Majengo for nine years and I have not seen change. We have complained that the sewage be constructed at another place but there has been no action)

The County government should expedite an action plan on the state of environmental degradation in Majengo area and build an environmentally friendly sewer far away from homesteads, and incorporate the people in this area to realize and understand the importance of environmental sanity. 

In the spirit of togetherness

By Simon Saitoti

In many parts of the country the drought season persists and the clamor for rain outrages mostly among the pastoralists communities. Many animals die while others are forced to move from one place to another in search of pasture and water. In Isinya area pastoralists are doing their very best to enable their animals survive past this season.

Many have been forced to dig deeper into their pockets to buy hay and other feeds. Others prefer to move with their animals to places where water and pasture are available.

In such a time of the season, the spirit of togetherness, timeless love and unity is common among the Maasai community. In case of an incident, one needs not ask for a helping hand as people in the area live as brothers and sisters and the word ‘stranger’ seems unknown to them.

One marvels in the sight of a sleek Mercedes pulling over by the roadside and two men smartly dressed unhesitatingly helps out a group of boys lift up a cow hungered and fell in a ditch by the roadside.

“Cows preserve our heritage and culture thus despite class or relationship one should always be willing to offer help if need be,” Said one of the smartly dressed men.

“This should not be necessarily in the issue of animals; it should entail our daily coexistence with each other,” Added the man.

Such love and togetherness among people in Isinya would foresee them reach a milestone of one people, one dream and vision.

Maasai Rural Training Centre Farm benefits Isinya Residents

By Sophia Suleiman and Monica Soila

Maasai Rural Training Centre farm was started in 1990 as a demonstration and training plot by the ministry of agriculture to educate farmers in Isinya, Kajiado County.

Kales planted at the farm

The two (2) acre farm has since developed into a large-scale horticultural producer. The farm is currently producing various products like bananas, mangoes, oranges, kales, spinach, capsicum, French beans and tomatoes.

The farm has dug a borehole which is used as the main source of water as Kajiado County is a semi-arid area with prolonged dry spells. Drip irrigation is used to reduce water wastage.

“The farm gets seeds and seedlings from Kakuzi, Kenya seeds company, Amiran, roadside nurseries and even as far as Canada,” said Mutiso Mutwiwa, a worker at the farm.

Apart from the fruits that have variable season within the year, vegetables are grown throughout. The farm’s main market is Isinya town even though it is currently struggling to supply the ever growing market in Isinya.

Oranges planted at the farm

Some of the challenges facing the farm include lack of enough workers, as there are only two workers at the farm. There is also water rationing which has adversely affected farming activities.

The management of the farm has been instrumental in mobilizing those living around Isinya to venture into farming as a means of supplementing their family income.

“We have been at the forefront of encouraging Isinya residents to venture into farming. This has posed stiff competition for the farm but we believe it is for the good of Kajiado County as a whole as we can be able to be produce enough food for the county,” said Mutiso.

A lot needs to be done inorder to address these challenges.The issues of lack of enough workers and enough water are the most vital and fundamental.The fact that other farms practicing the same are mushrooming in the area, sends a clear indication of what lies ahead in terms of quantity and service delivery for the farm.

The formation of Isinya Town

By Levis Selian, Kelvin Salaton and Tom Lantei 

Picture of Isinya town

The name Isinya was derived from a Maasai word `Osinyai’ meaning sand. This was because Isinya River had a lot of sand and road constructors would come and harvest sand there. The town is said to have started in the 1970s by the locals with the aim of doing business.

The town started with one shop. The town grew day by day as time went by, after some years all the locals grew a mentality of meeting in the place and exchanging there goods either by money or through butter trade.

Sign post of Isinya river

The place eventually turned to be the main market for the locals. People came from far to sell their livestocks, Maasai beads and tools like irgoreta which was mainly done by women.

“Among the first business started here was a slaughter house. Livestocks used to be slaughtered and transported to Asiripa which is currently called Athi River. It was the most common known centre   by the Maasai people,” said Daniel Kirotie, 86, a local resident.

As time went by most people visited the area and started settling and also starting various businesses there. Many found it difficult to pronounce the name ‘Osinyai’ hence ending up pronouncing it as Isinya. The name Isinya stuck up to date.

Isinya Citizen Voices takes off

By Bob Aston 

Free Citizen Journalism training has just been concluded at Isinya Maarifa Centre under the sponsorship of Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN). The exercise that begun on 25^th November 2013 drew over thirteen aspiring Citizen Journalists from Kajiado County.

Participants being taken through the services provided by ALIN

Citizen Journalism training was launched by ALIN in 2011.This initiative was aimed at promoting community Journalism by training young people in basic journalism skills such as News Writing, creative writing, Feature writing, interviewing, photojournalism, online journalism and Media Laws and Ethics.

“The training has given me basic Journalism skills which I will apply from January when I join University to study Journalism. I will ensure that I write a lot of articles to improve on my writing skills,” said Levis Selian.

The training is in line with ALIN’s strategic plan, known as ALIN 3 which sees ALIN becoming more directly involved in engaging the end users of its information in order to ensure that the information delivered through its Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania-based Maarifa Centres help end users to improve their livelihoods.

Participants writing their stories

The training has been anchored on ALIN’s core business of using ICT’s to improve the livelihoods of arid lands communities through the use of modern information and communication technologies.

“I look forward to enlightening the community on issues and events happening in Kajiado County,” said Kelvin Salaton.

The major motive behind ALIN’s approach in this kind of initiative was to create a responsible localized means of civic expression and social action amongst the communities, through the voices of their own reporters.

“I will sensitize farmers through my articles on modern farming techniques,” said Ruth Kikanga.

The training will enable the reporters to be able to look at news from different angles and in addition give them a deeper understanding of what is going on in the outside world.

Participants during the training session

Isinya Citizen Voices will be an advocacy and lobby blog that allows members of Isinya and the larger Kajiado County to voice the concerns that would otherwise be ignored by mainstream media. It will attempt to boost development and livelihoods of the residents by highlighting issues affecting the community.

ALIN has already formed a blog dubbed ‘Isinya Citizen Voices’ which gives the local communities a platform where they can share their own stories. It will also give them an opportunity to be part of a global community of men and women who are passionate about development news.

ALIN has so far conducted Citizen Journalism training in all its seven Maarifa Centres in Kenya.