The rural communities do not equitably share the national cake since it takes a long time before the government goodies trickle down to the rural areas. Many times, a little of national resources trickle to the rural poor. This explains the reason why the presence of NGOs and other donor agencies in marginalised areas is so important.
Rural residents need only empowerment in order to move out the vicious circle of poverty. Projects relating to youth/women entrepreneurship, microfarming, and tree planting can be implemented to help the poor people.
Poverty can cease to be a bedfellow if there are multifaceted approaches to involve the poor in their economic development. No one single individual currently regarded as poor was born to be poor.
I welcome your input and comments.
Christopher Mutisya
Chairperson, Mombuni Youth for Change. " I am not only asking the youth and the people of Mombuni to believe in my ability to spearhead change, i am also asking them to believe in their ability to overcome abject poverty, step by step."
Empty large tracts of unproductive land
With the rains expected in October 2009, Mombuni Youth for Change will aggressively plant 20,000 trees between October and Jan 2010 within the village. This will mitigate the harsh drought conditions in future.
Dry streams and parched land
Imagine this: This stream dried up many years ago. There is an opportunity to enlarge this stream, construct dykes and gabions in order to conserve water and change the sorrounding environment.
Dry Vegetation
Vegetation dried up long time ago (2.5 years) and only euphobia remains for the survival of goats only. However, the situation is getting worse each day as goats die. The most drought-resistant of all domestic animals, the donkey, is dying in large numbers.
Desolate farms
After the rains failed in the last 3 year, neither grass nor human food has grown in these farms. Any support towards the re-emergence of traditional crop growing like millet, sorghum, cassava, and sweet potatoes will drastically reduce food insecurity.
The Ravages of prolonged drought
What is the hope for this community when the entire vegetation dries up and domestic animals die? The hope is in the young people, Mombuni Youth for Change who have refused to give up. We will plant more trees in one year than it has been done in 20 years. In 5 years, people from all walks of life will come to see a better village...a beacon of triumph.
Deep gulleys in one of the streams
These gulleys have expanded upstream. A small dam can created within the gulleys. Otherwise, they pose an environmental hazard.
Mombuni Primary School
The school is characterised by dusty classrooms which pose a health challenge for most of the schoolgoing kids. The school only needs water to make the compound green and grow vegetables to improve the nutrition status of the pupils.
Earth roads and walking paths
These dusty walking and earth pathways are the routes used by our little kids to school
Traditional Beehives
There is a big opportunity to create an income generating activity through beekeeping for honey. Traditional hives can be replaced with modern top bar hives due to the harsh drought conditions.
Mombuni Primary School-Garden
The school has abandoned this garden due to lack of water. At the background is a dry water tap for the last 15 years
Mombuni Primary School- Kitchen
The primary school has been preparing its meals, if any, in this structure. The situation is desperate.
Dry streams in the village
The dry streams explain the current chronic drought facing the community
Empty cattle pen
Domestic animals have died due to lack of water and pasture
Kathekambusya stream
This stream used to have water upto 1992. It has since dried up due to repeated years of severe drought.
Dry farms in Mombuni Village
The rains have failed for 3 years now, no human food, no animal pasture
Typical homesteads
Poor families are the majority in the village. They depend on relief food for survival
Primary School pupils
These pupils are going home for school levies. There is little hope at home to get anything.
Saving the village and the planet
The 7th Millenium Development goal is the Sustainability of environment. There is no way we will destroy the ecosystem without destroying our lives. Mombuni village will certainly achieve this goal.
Animal pasture campaign this October!
With our domestic animals dying in numbers every day, we will mitigate future losses by planting more animal pasture in October.
Tree Nursery
This picture will act as our inspiration as we prepare our very own tree nursery before October. The seedlings should be ready for planting by the time the rains fall.
Water Melon Growing
The poverty alleviator! This crop is drought-resistant as proven in other regions in Kenya. We are currently educating the community on how to grow the crop come the short rains. This will redeem the community from the chains of poverty.
Bee Keeping
The youth in the village will be trained on bee keeping as an income generating activity. The use of top bar hives will be adopted to actualize this objective. Currently, no single bee keeping activity.
Sisal Farming
This plant can do well in dry areas like our village. Our community has never considered it as a cash crop. Baskets, ropes, furniture, and mats are products of sisal. Now we know better. Our community will suffer no more. Come October, the sisal planting program will be on. It is an awesome opportunity for income generation.
Poultry Farming
With over 80% of 200 families in the village living below the poverty line, the youth community social workers will educate the community on poultry keeping to increase their income levels.
Tree planting on the way!
The tree planting program is starting in October this year. We will target to plant at least 100,000 trees per year.
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