For any information regarding Mombuni Youth for Change, we can be reached through;
mombuniyouth@gmail.com
chris.mutisya@gmail.com
Cell Phone +254 723 933955
We will be glad to hear or read from you.
Thank you.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Let us Conserve the Environment
Dear Hon Prime Minister
The Green Belt Movement (GBM) commends your hard work in environmental conservation, particularly of forested mountains.The GBM seeks your support on several issues touching on the environment and sustainable development.
First, environmental education should be a universal, compulsory subject at all levels. For many years, the GBM has advocated for its introduction as an examinable subject to no avail.Such education and training would give wananchi, majority of who depend on agriculture and tourism, an appreciation, awareness and positive attitude towards the environment and equip them with skills and best practices towards its management.
Second, vanishing wetlands are a major environmental concern. In Nairobi alone, we have lost more than ten key wetlands to real estate developers. This has been despite protests, court injunctions and even interventions by your ministers. Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha are drying up due to lack of environmental management plans.
National menace
Third, flimsy plastic bags continue to be a national menace. A Government intervention seeking to ban them was reversed. These plastics pose a serious danger to public health, domestic animals and are non bio-degradable.
Fourth, rain water harvesting is essential to address water scarcity. This can be done from roof catchments, run off and appropriate agricultural practices like terracing and cut off drains. There is need to have a policy that requires property owners to incorporate water harvesting in their building plans.
Fifth, clearing of vegetation on road reserves is a long established practice within the Roads ministry. It facilitates soil erosion and subsequent land degradation and results in siltation in dams and destruction of the coral reef and other marine life.
It also goes against the principle of conserving biodiversity and sequestering carbon emissions.
Through Kazi kwa Vijana, the youth should plant trees and vegetation along road reserves and harvest water along the highways and on farms. The GBM is willing to work with relevant ministries to ensure we do not destroy the environment as we engage young people in productive work.
Sixth, the five water towers — Mau Forest complex, Aberdare Ranges, Mt Kenya, Cherengani Hills, Mt Elgon — and other forest blocs are vital to the country. Their destruction due to human settlements, grazing of domestic animals and the re-introduction of the Shamba System contribute to water shortages, change in rainfall patterns and reduced agricultural production.
Courting disaster
We are courting disaster if this trend continues. In the case of the Mau Forest complex, while appreciating that the Government set up a Task Force to investigate the issue of human settlements in the Mau, a final report should have been out by now.
The GBM is ready to assist in whichever way you consider appropriate. We would be happy to give a presentation at your convenience.
Prof Wangari Maathai,
2004 Nobel Laureate,
Goodwill Ambassador of the Congo Basin Forest System
The Green Belt Movement (GBM) commends your hard work in environmental conservation, particularly of forested mountains.The GBM seeks your support on several issues touching on the environment and sustainable development.
First, environmental education should be a universal, compulsory subject at all levels. For many years, the GBM has advocated for its introduction as an examinable subject to no avail.Such education and training would give wananchi, majority of who depend on agriculture and tourism, an appreciation, awareness and positive attitude towards the environment and equip them with skills and best practices towards its management.
Second, vanishing wetlands are a major environmental concern. In Nairobi alone, we have lost more than ten key wetlands to real estate developers. This has been despite protests, court injunctions and even interventions by your ministers. Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha are drying up due to lack of environmental management plans.
National menace
Third, flimsy plastic bags continue to be a national menace. A Government intervention seeking to ban them was reversed. These plastics pose a serious danger to public health, domestic animals and are non bio-degradable.
Fourth, rain water harvesting is essential to address water scarcity. This can be done from roof catchments, run off and appropriate agricultural practices like terracing and cut off drains. There is need to have a policy that requires property owners to incorporate water harvesting in their building plans.
Fifth, clearing of vegetation on road reserves is a long established practice within the Roads ministry. It facilitates soil erosion and subsequent land degradation and results in siltation in dams and destruction of the coral reef and other marine life.
It also goes against the principle of conserving biodiversity and sequestering carbon emissions.
Through Kazi kwa Vijana, the youth should plant trees and vegetation along road reserves and harvest water along the highways and on farms. The GBM is willing to work with relevant ministries to ensure we do not destroy the environment as we engage young people in productive work.
Sixth, the five water towers — Mau Forest complex, Aberdare Ranges, Mt Kenya, Cherengani Hills, Mt Elgon — and other forest blocs are vital to the country. Their destruction due to human settlements, grazing of domestic animals and the re-introduction of the Shamba System contribute to water shortages, change in rainfall patterns and reduced agricultural production.
Courting disaster
We are courting disaster if this trend continues. In the case of the Mau Forest complex, while appreciating that the Government set up a Task Force to investigate the issue of human settlements in the Mau, a final report should have been out by now.
The GBM is ready to assist in whichever way you consider appropriate. We would be happy to give a presentation at your convenience.
Prof Wangari Maathai,
2004 Nobel Laureate,
Goodwill Ambassador of the Congo Basin Forest System
Friday, July 24, 2009
Walking the Environment Talk
Let us face the hard reality!
As the environmental conservation debate continues, we need to bring ourselves to the reality. We must stop talking the walk and urgently walk the talk on environmental issues. We must stop killing time because time will soon kill us. Yes, we must stop cutting down the arteries and veins that have kept us alive to this end. This is the moment to sit back and think of our actions towards our rivers, lakes, dams, forests, and wild animals.
Our own 2004 Nobel Prize Winner, Prof. Wangari Maathai, has stated consistently that nature is unforgiving. This cannot be further from the truth in light of what is happening in Kenya. Environmental destruction has caught up with us. We have grabbed wetlands and condemned our people to drought and famine. We have ruthlessly encroached Mau forest and destroyed it with sickening abandon. We have relentlessly cut down our indigenous trees as if we have another environment in waiting. Yet, we are doing little to restore the glory of our environment.
The impact of the wanton environmental destruction is now crystal clear. Our hydroelectric power stations are closing down. Water is now a real luxury in both urban and rural areas as water levels in dams and lakes subside and rivers dry up. The harsh reality of prolonged drought and famine is a familiar phenomenon in the country. People are eating baboons, donkeys, and dogs as noted in Pokot and Naivasha areas. This is what it has come down to. We either act or perish.
In agreement with the great Martin Luther King Jr., time is always right to do the right thing. We must stop cutting down trees with immediate effect and begin planting the right trees at a lightning pace. If 15 million Kenyans planted 10 trees each by the end of 2009, we will plant 150 million trees. The government should craft an ‘Annual Billion Tree Planting Program’ identical to what UNEP is doing. This calls for a new sense of urgency and responsibility from all and sundry.
Further, every Kenyan should support to the corporate bodies that have stood in solidarity to declare an end to the destruction of Mau forest. We all need to contribute whatever little we can towards the Mau reforestation campaign. The government should move fast and evict the illegal occupants of Mau forest for the sake of our lives. There should never be a debate in this matter. It is a do or die affair. This is our defining moment.
Compiled by,
Christopher Mutisya,
Chairperson,
Mombuni Youth for Change.
mombuniyouth@gmail.com
As the environmental conservation debate continues, we need to bring ourselves to the reality. We must stop talking the walk and urgently walk the talk on environmental issues. We must stop killing time because time will soon kill us. Yes, we must stop cutting down the arteries and veins that have kept us alive to this end. This is the moment to sit back and think of our actions towards our rivers, lakes, dams, forests, and wild animals.
Our own 2004 Nobel Prize Winner, Prof. Wangari Maathai, has stated consistently that nature is unforgiving. This cannot be further from the truth in light of what is happening in Kenya. Environmental destruction has caught up with us. We have grabbed wetlands and condemned our people to drought and famine. We have ruthlessly encroached Mau forest and destroyed it with sickening abandon. We have relentlessly cut down our indigenous trees as if we have another environment in waiting. Yet, we are doing little to restore the glory of our environment.
The impact of the wanton environmental destruction is now crystal clear. Our hydroelectric power stations are closing down. Water is now a real luxury in both urban and rural areas as water levels in dams and lakes subside and rivers dry up. The harsh reality of prolonged drought and famine is a familiar phenomenon in the country. People are eating baboons, donkeys, and dogs as noted in Pokot and Naivasha areas. This is what it has come down to. We either act or perish.
In agreement with the great Martin Luther King Jr., time is always right to do the right thing. We must stop cutting down trees with immediate effect and begin planting the right trees at a lightning pace. If 15 million Kenyans planted 10 trees each by the end of 2009, we will plant 150 million trees. The government should craft an ‘Annual Billion Tree Planting Program’ identical to what UNEP is doing. This calls for a new sense of urgency and responsibility from all and sundry.
Further, every Kenyan should support to the corporate bodies that have stood in solidarity to declare an end to the destruction of Mau forest. We all need to contribute whatever little we can towards the Mau reforestation campaign. The government should move fast and evict the illegal occupants of Mau forest for the sake of our lives. There should never be a debate in this matter. It is a do or die affair. This is our defining moment.
Compiled by,
Christopher Mutisya,
Chairperson,
Mombuni Youth for Change.
mombuniyouth@gmail.com
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Doing the Extreme Makeover in the village
To all well-wishers, sponsors, and donors,
We clearly understand that the only way to get ahead is to get started. We have started the extreme makeover process for our village. Young people have started digging terraces and contours for water harvesting. We have began preparing holes in preparation of tree planting during the short rains in October. We are holding capacity-building and mobilisation meetings on a fortnight basis.
However, in order to reclaim the village's lost glory, we must push forward at a faster pace. We will need more community work tools, more trees, intense environmental conservation training, more youth social workers, and more community organizers among other essentials.
For a start, we urgently need the working tools/implements as follows:-
We clearly understand that the only way to get ahead is to get started. We have started the extreme makeover process for our village. Young people have started digging terraces and contours for water harvesting. We have began preparing holes in preparation of tree planting during the short rains in October. We are holding capacity-building and mobilisation meetings on a fortnight basis.
However, in order to reclaim the village's lost glory, we must push forward at a faster pace. We will need more community work tools, more trees, intense environmental conservation training, more youth social workers, and more community organizers among other essentials.
For a start, we urgently need the working tools/implements as follows:-
- 15 Wheelbarrows .......... 67,500.00
- 20 Spades/Shovels ......... 8,000.00
- 10 Mattocks .................... 4,000.00
- 20 Digging hoes ................4,000.00
- 10 Fork Jembes .............. 3,500.00
Total in Kenya Shillings....87,000.00
Total in USD.........................1,130.00
These tools and implements will greatly increase our capacity and make our community social work a success. In fact, this is our most urgent need at the moment. With this support trees will be planted, earth roads repaired, and vegetable gardens brought up.
Please support us financially or in kind, to help us speed up the reconstruction of the village.
Feel free to ask for our details.
With gratitude,
Christopher Mutisya
Chairperson,
Mombuni Youth for Change.
Mombuni Village will be better!
It is now an open secret that the problems facing Mombuni village are real, many, and hurting the community. For a long time, nothing has been done. No one, neither the young nor the old stood up and declared war against poverty, disease, youth unemployment, illiteracy, and environmental destruction. Not even one man or woman stood up and rallied the people towards improving their very own lives.
Now, Mombuni Youth for Change has said it is enough of those years of hopelessness, poverty, hunger, and idle youth. We have refused the tendencies to be disappointed by the emptiness and dryness of our village. We refuse to listen and to believe the voices that tell us the situation is out of hand. We believe we can do something to alleviate hunger and environmental degradation. This is our moment.
For a long time, we have looked at the glass as half-empty. Now is the time to look at it as half-full. We cannot accept defeat even when all odds seem to be against us. We cannot lose hope even after going through 3 years of drought and famine. Somehow, we can sense a better tomorrow because we have made the most powerful step....getting started.
The youth have recognized the future of the people of Mombuni. They have started the search for that future and in the coming 3, 4, 5 years, we will secure and deliver the future to our people. We will plant a minimum of 100,000 trees annually. With our own hands, we will dig and maintain our earth roads. We will utilize our fertile but dry soils for serious agriculture because we can see the sinking of a borehole from a distance. We can feel it...somebody somewhere is listening to our cry and will soon respond. This is the length, width and depth of our faith.
With this faith, we have started digging terraces and contours in to harvest water to our farms come the short rains in October 2009. We are aggressively seeking for financial support to construct dykes and gabions in our already dry streams, because we expect to control soil erosion and conserve water come October. With this faith, we have began the process of educating our mothers and fathers, on the little and big things we need to do in order to get food on the table, achieve adequate nutritional status, increase income levels in each of the 200 families, and combat HIV/AIDS.
The era of indecision and inaction is over. We refuse to watch things happen in other countries. We refuse to wonder as ordinary people make their lives better, not bitter, through simple but extraordinary ways. We will make change happen in the village. The urgency of the moment inspires us to change the way things have been done in the village over the years.
The situation may be gloom but we promise you one thing: Freedom from hunger, disease, illiteracy, and poverty is coming tomorrow. We are determined to make a difference-a real difference.
Thank you all.
From the Chairperson's desk,
Christopher Mutisya.
Mombuni Youth for Change.
Now, Mombuni Youth for Change has said it is enough of those years of hopelessness, poverty, hunger, and idle youth. We have refused the tendencies to be disappointed by the emptiness and dryness of our village. We refuse to listen and to believe the voices that tell us the situation is out of hand. We believe we can do something to alleviate hunger and environmental degradation. This is our moment.
For a long time, we have looked at the glass as half-empty. Now is the time to look at it as half-full. We cannot accept defeat even when all odds seem to be against us. We cannot lose hope even after going through 3 years of drought and famine. Somehow, we can sense a better tomorrow because we have made the most powerful step....getting started.
The youth have recognized the future of the people of Mombuni. They have started the search for that future and in the coming 3, 4, 5 years, we will secure and deliver the future to our people. We will plant a minimum of 100,000 trees annually. With our own hands, we will dig and maintain our earth roads. We will utilize our fertile but dry soils for serious agriculture because we can see the sinking of a borehole from a distance. We can feel it...somebody somewhere is listening to our cry and will soon respond. This is the length, width and depth of our faith.
With this faith, we have started digging terraces and contours in to harvest water to our farms come the short rains in October 2009. We are aggressively seeking for financial support to construct dykes and gabions in our already dry streams, because we expect to control soil erosion and conserve water come October. With this faith, we have began the process of educating our mothers and fathers, on the little and big things we need to do in order to get food on the table, achieve adequate nutritional status, increase income levels in each of the 200 families, and combat HIV/AIDS.
The era of indecision and inaction is over. We refuse to watch things happen in other countries. We refuse to wonder as ordinary people make their lives better, not bitter, through simple but extraordinary ways. We will make change happen in the village. The urgency of the moment inspires us to change the way things have been done in the village over the years.
The situation may be gloom but we promise you one thing: Freedom from hunger, disease, illiteracy, and poverty is coming tomorrow. We are determined to make a difference-a real difference.
Thank you all.
From the Chairperson's desk,
Christopher Mutisya.
Mombuni Youth for Change.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Request for Community Support
To all well-wishers and potential donors,
Our community is at the thick of chronic drought which has made food hard to come by. The only river that we depend on for water is slowly drying up after insufficient rains in the last 3 years. There is hardly any pasture remaining for the domestic animals. Most of our animals are dying on a daily basis, including the proven drought-resistant animal, the donkey.
The donkey is useful in fetching water for most families in the community. The death of our donkeys brings forth a difficult situationhas since women to trek long distances to get water for their families.
We need food to feed the poor (80% of the village) between now and January 2010 assuming the short rains will be sufficient. Food and water are the priorities at the moment.
The escalation of the food problem has resulted to a serious need of bursaries among secondary school students from the village. This is in appreciation that education will finally alleviate poverty in the village.
In summary, we need support in the following areas:-
1. Food
2. Water
3. School bursaries
4. Farming seeds- To assist over 100 peasant farmers to plant in October this year during the short rains.
5. Tree seedlings- To avert further environmental degradation
We will appreciate your consideration and help in these issues.
With kind regards,
Christopher Mutisya.
Chairperson,
Mombuni Youth for Change.
Our community is at the thick of chronic drought which has made food hard to come by. The only river that we depend on for water is slowly drying up after insufficient rains in the last 3 years. There is hardly any pasture remaining for the domestic animals. Most of our animals are dying on a daily basis, including the proven drought-resistant animal, the donkey.
The donkey is useful in fetching water for most families in the community. The death of our donkeys brings forth a difficult situationhas since women to trek long distances to get water for their families.
We need food to feed the poor (80% of the village) between now and January 2010 assuming the short rains will be sufficient. Food and water are the priorities at the moment.
The escalation of the food problem has resulted to a serious need of bursaries among secondary school students from the village. This is in appreciation that education will finally alleviate poverty in the village.
In summary, we need support in the following areas:-
1. Food
2. Water
3. School bursaries
4. Farming seeds- To assist over 100 peasant farmers to plant in October this year during the short rains.
5. Tree seedlings- To avert further environmental degradation
We will appreciate your consideration and help in these issues.
With kind regards,
Christopher Mutisya.
Chairperson,
Mombuni Youth for Change.
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