Items by BabaMzungu

A Mzungu who loves Kenya

Twiga Children's Home

  • Twiga Centre

    Posted: December 19, 2010, 2:36 am by BabaMzungu
    People ask what the children do when they visit Twiga Children's Centre. Here's the answer.

    With music, so make sure your speakers are on!

  • Home Alone

    Posted: December 19, 2010, 2:33 am by BabaMzungu
    The Kenya that tourists don't see ... maybe don't want to see.But it is there, regardless!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/rich_media/kenya_slideshow_feature.shtml

Kenyan Community Initiative Support

  • Update

    Posted: December 18, 2010, 11:22 pm by BabaMzungu
    As you will have read in the previous post, on 7 July 2010, David and Vincent were involved in a serious road traffic accident. Vincent suffered serious injuries to both legs and David sustained injuries to both wrists and shoulders.
    To date, Vincent's legs are healing but he still has to attend hospital.
    David returned to the UK, where he is undergoing treatment for a broken wrist, involving a bone graft and a screw. The injury to the shoulder has yet to be dealt with. treatment is due in early January 2011.
    Until at least one of them is fit, any new activity with K-CSI is suspended.
    This does not mean that donations will not be collected for any of the ongoing or future projects.

    Merry Christmas to all.Krismasi Njema

  • Registration of KCSI

    Posted: August 14, 2010, 12:28 pm by BabaMzungu
    Vincent and David were involved in a serious road accident on 7th July. This means that all work at KCSI, including the registration as an NGO, has been suspended for the time being, until Vincent is fit enough to work again.

A Mzungu who loves Kenya

  • Spelling It Out In Black and White

    Posted: August 7, 2010, 3:35 am by BabaMzungu
    As far as I know, none of the children at Twiga have ever been abused, mentally, phyically or sexually - certainly not while I have been there. I have never abused any child, mentally, phyically or sexually, either in Kenya or the UK. Why did the police arrest me? Because someone in the "community" made accusations that I was a spy, had connections with the CIA, had an illegal firearm, was

  • Briton Arrested in Kenya

    Posted: August 4, 2010, 1:35 pm by BabaMzungu
    I have just read the report by Robert Nyasato in the Standard, published on 19/7/2010. I was arrested on 18 July on a range of allegations including firearms offences, bomb-making, espionage, child exploitation and yes, child abuse. After investigation by the police including a Detective Superintendent and Chief Inspector, no charges were brought as there was no evidence to support them. As

  • A Trip To Kajiado

    Posted: July 13, 2010, 11:06 pm by BabaMzungu
    Wednesday 7 July 2010 We had to take Esther, the girl we re-homed from Maasailand to Kisii, to court in Kajiado to give evidence in the case against her former employer for employment of a minor. As the trip is almost 400 km and there is no direct transport, we hired a car. We left Kisii at about 6am and made good time to Narok, where we stopped for breakfast. We sailed through Nairobi,

  • Power ... or the Lack of

    Posted: July 6, 2010, 1:10 am by BabaMzungu
    It is difficult to blog when the power keeps cutting off, or the Internet connection fails ... or both. This visit seems to have been blighted with more than the usual number of power cuts and in the last two days, we have had no power at all during  the day. On both days, the power came on at about 6pm, but yesterday, it went off again within 30 minutes and it took an age for the standby

Kenyan Community Initiative Support

  • Name Change

    Posted: June 30, 2010, 6:03 pm by BabaMzungu
    During the process of registering KCIS as a Kenyan NGO, we were "asked" to change our name to Kenyan Community Support Initiative [KCSI], which we have done although the logos and other image banners etc. will have to wait a while.

    So are we now the Kenyan CSI?

A Mzungu who loves Kenya

  • Things That Go Bite In the Night ... and other observations

    Posted: June 27, 2010, 12:59 am by BabaMzungu
     Before my arrival, the rains were particularly hard and the bridge across the little river that separates the house from the road was washed away, apart from the two trunks that everything was attached to. So we have to use the alternative path, the path to the road is less steep, but it is a long trip to get to the road. Still, at least we can get to the road. I am quite proud of myself, I

Kenyan Community Initiative Support

  • Twiga Rules Cricket

    Posted: June 24, 2010, 11:08 pm by BabaMzungu
    A cricket set was delivered to Twiga last weekend and the boys fell on it like a swarm of locusts, despite the fact that they had never seen the game before.

    The basic rules were explained ... and ignored to a large extent and a new set of rules were made up as the "game" progressed.

    • Firstly, there are as many bowlers as there are balls (in this case, three). The bowler who gets the batsman out becomes the batsman. 
    • There are only two ways to get out, bowling or catching. If the batsman is caught out, the catcher becomes the batsman.
    • Although there me be three bowlers, rarely are all three balls bowled at the same time, although this sometimes happens.
    • The game ends when all three balls are lost down the pit latrine (which is out of bounds to all children) or a heavy downpour stops play.

    That just about covers it. More rules will be added as necessary and when new balls have been acquired.

    Surprisingly (or perhaps not) one of the best batsmen is Simon, our deaf child. His hand-eye coordination is very good and he can hit a ball as good as any of the older boys.

    When the boys gave up and retreated to a game of Connect Four, the girls had a go and they weren't bad either.

    So it was not exactly what you would expect to see at Lords, or even on the village green, but the kids had a lot of fun, which is all that matters.

A Mzungu who loves Kenya

  • Back in Kenya

    Posted: June 23, 2010, 3:32 pm by BabaMzungu
    The journey was thankfully very uneventful, although Vincent and I managed to miss each other at the airport terminal, maybe because I was desperate to get out to my "private corner" to have a cigarette. It had been too long since my last one. We soon met up and had a bite to eat before haggling with various taxi drivers and touts to get a good deal for the city centre. Having sorted out a bit

  • Rhino Charge etc

    Posted: June 12, 2010, 11:38 pm by BabaMzungu
    A photo gallery of the latest Rhino Charge, as well as the Hog Charge and Quattro Charge have been posted on the Rhino Ark website. 2010 Rhino Charge 2010 Hog Charge 2009 Quattro Charge

  • Rhino Charge 2010

    Posted: June 8, 2010, 4:00 am by BabaMzungu
    The results for the latest Kenyan Rhino Charge have been posted on their website, which can be accessed at http://www.rhinocharge.co.ke/event-info-a-raffle/results.html A record 72.5 million shillings was raised at the event. Details at http://www.rhinoark.org/RC2010/rc2010.htm

Kenyan Community Initiative Support

  • More Donations

    Posted: June 8, 2010, 3:54 am by BabaMzungu
    I have today collected a load of clothes to fit a 12-13 year-old boy and also a bag of young teenage girls clothes. On top of this we have received a bag full of Bratz dolls and accessories.

    Thanks a lot Linda. They will be very much appreciated.

  • Update on: 3 year-old seriously ill

    Posted: June 8, 2010, 3:50 am by BabaMzungu
    The youngest child at Twiga, who is HIV+ was diagnosed with malaria. This combination could have been fatal but we managed to find the hospital fees and she is now now responding to treatment.

  • Meet Simon ...

    Posted: June 5, 2010, 11:29 pm by BabaMzungu
    Meet Simon ...

A Mzungu who loves Kenya

  • Meet Simon ...

    Posted: June 5, 2010, 11:24 pm by BabaMzungu
    Meet Simon ...

  • Do what with this can of beer?!!?

    Posted: June 3, 2010, 1:54 pm by BabaMzungu
    On a bushcraft/rural cooking website, I read not so long ago, that a whole chicken can be cooked in a clay oven with an open can of beer inserted into it ... er ... rear opening, and being a chef of little talent but great aspirations, I thought I would give it a go. Now, my kitchen in the UK is not a bush kitchen. It has an electric fan oven, not a clay oven, but I thought that would do. I

Kenyan Community Initiative Support

A Mzungu who loves Kenya

Kenyan Community Initiative Support

  • A Day in the Life ...

    Posted: June 1, 2010, 5:13 pm by BabaMzungu
    of some Twiga Children

  • 3 year-old seriously ill

    Posted: May 28, 2010, 3:24 pm by BabaMzungu
    Twiga Children's Centre

    We have a 3 year-old, HIV+ child on our register. We have just received a report from Kenya that the child is seriously ill and needs medical attention.

    This is a preliminary report and we are awaiting further details.

    No treatment can be administered until we have the money to pay for it. Presently, we do not have any funds available.
    If there is some kind person out there who would like to help this child by helping to pay for her treatment, please contact us.

    More details will be posted as soon as we have them.

A Mzungu who loves Kenya

  • Panic in the Garden

    Posted: May 22, 2010, 9:42 pm by BabaMzungu
    I have just been called into the garden by Nyanya Mzungu who, apparently, had caught a snake! More curious than worried, I ambled into the garden to find her with a flowerpot and inside was ... a slow worm, not a snake at all. I would guess that it is the same one that the dog caught last year as it had obviously lost its tail at some time. A creature of habit!

  • Rhino Charge 2010, Kenya

    Posted: May 18, 2010, 1:11 pm by BabaMzungu
    Just received this email, thought it could be useful For the people intending to do attend the Rhino Charge - see notice from the organizers :GARMIN/ TRACKS4AFRICA- SPECTATOR'S MAPRhino Charge, Garmin and Tracks4Africa have collaborated in producing a Spectator's Map which will give spectators all the information they need to navigate to and around the Rhino Charge this year.Because the details

  • Malaria and the Senses

    Posted: May 18, 2010, 12:52 pm by BabaMzungu
    This blog is categorised as "Curiosity in a field I know nothing about" As my regular readers will know, we have a deaf child at the Twiga Centre, Simon, who is around 8 years old. As a baby of about 5 months, he contracted malaria and as a result [?] became deaf. Consequently, he has never learned to talk. While I am wasting away in the UK, I am looking for ways that we may be able to help

  • It's All Over ...

    Posted: May 17, 2010, 1:05 pm by BabaMzungu
    Well, it is 10 days since the UK elections which did not produce an overall winner, and it is a few days now that we have been presented with a coalition government. David Cameron and Nick Clegg have cobbled together a government from their two parties and are getting down to the business of running the country. But now, as there is no Labour government for the press to snipe at, they are trying

Kenyan Community Initiative Support

  • Brothers Donate Board Games

    Posted: May 10, 2010, 2:17 pm by BabaMzungu
    In Wash Common, near Newbury, two brothers, 9 & 13, have cleared out their rooms and donated several board games and educational games to KCIS, to be forwarded to the Twiga Children's Centre.

    Thank you, boys. I know that your games will give more pleasure than you can imagine.

A Mzungu who loves Kenya

  • The End of Democracy As We Know It?

    Posted: May 6, 2010, 8:30 pm by BabaMzungu
    Lifted unashamedly from Witterings from Witney This post may be considered presumptious and egotistical, but it is one that I feel has to be written, so with those caveats - here goes:I am of an age that some still have to reach and having reached that age I hope that in those years I have acquired a wisdom that those younger than me still have to attain. In my life I have seen many changes, some

  • I've got a GPS!

    Posted: May 6, 2010, 5:19 pm by BabaMzungu
    I acquired a satnav or GPS at Christmas. I wanted a particular make, apparently the only make that is compatible with a South African digital map organisation, T4A, which is steadily mapping the whole of Africa, but this make is more expensive than the others, so I was forced to get the base model – no matter. So I happily played around with it, pressing the various touch-screen buttons, and

  • Bucket List - Things To Do Before I Die - expanded

    Posted: April 29, 2010, 1:10 pm by BabaMzungu
    Taken from a previous post and expanded Earlier, I wrote that my proposed overland driving trip to Kenya was one of the things I want to do before I die, and I could not think of anything else that falls into this category. But now I have thought of something else I would really like to do. I would love to see the Rio Carnival. So, having started, I am going to try to make a list of ten things

  • Freecycle & Freegle

    Posted: April 23, 2010, 7:50 pm by BabaMzungu
    What a wonderful scheme Freecycle is! For those who have not seen it, it is a way of getting rid of stuff you no longer want, but which still has life left in it, so someone else might like to use it - anything from furniture to odds & sods. I use it regularly to get things for the kids at the Twiga Children's Centre in Kisii, Kenya. The last time I was  there, all the kids wanted to listen to

  • Blogging Scarce

    Posted: April 22, 2010, 1:00 am by BabaMzungu
    Blogging could be a little scarce for a while for several reasons: Real life is getting in the way of my e-life, demanding that I get off my ... er ... seat and get out of the house; My DSL router is a bit flaky, and I lose connection more than I find it Nothing much has happened. The volcanic dust hasn't affected me as I'm not going anywhere in the near future, the election campaign passes me

  • Before And After

    Posted: April 14, 2010, 11:40 pm by BabaMzungu
    BEFORE (as I bought it) AFTER (as it is today) Looks a bit better now, doesn't it? (And it's legal)

  • Kisii, What Is There For The Tourist?

    Posted: April 14, 2010, 7:11 pm by BabaMzungu
    As my regular reader will know, my second home is in Kisii, in the Western Highlands of Kenya. It is a provincial town of some 70,000 souls, bustling, vibrant, perhaps a little chaotic, busy, colourful. I know what I think of the place - I love it, and I feel that it should be brought to the attention of other visitors to Kenya, but why? What is in and around Kisii to attract tourists?

  • A Popular Kenyan Song - Malaika

    Posted: April 13, 2010, 11:26 pm by BabaMzungu
    Malaika, nakupenda Malaika.             Angel, I love you Angel. Malaika, nakupenda Malaika. Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio,         What should I do, your lover? Nashindwa na mali sina, we,               I don't have any money                                                           (LITERALLY:  I'm defeated by wealth, I don't have any.) Ningekuoa Malaika.                           I would

  • A Popular Kenyan Song - Malaika

    Posted: April 13, 2010, 11:26 pm by BabaMzungu
    Malaika, nakupenda Malaika.             Angel, I love you Angel. Malaika, nakupenda Malaika. Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio,         What should I do, your lover? Nashindwa na mali sina, we,               I don't have any money                                                           (LITERALLY:  I'm defeated by wealth, I don't have any.) Ningekuoa Malaika.                           I would

  • UK Election? What for?

    Posted: April 13, 2010, 4:29 pm by BabaMzungu
    What are we voting for on May 6th? Why do we need a Government at all? Below is a list (not exhaustive) of the responsibilities our last Government signed away to the European Union. We were promised by our last Government that we would be allowed a vote as to whether we should sign away all these, but we didn't get it.Competition Trade Asylum and Immigration Foreign Affairs Industrial Policy

  • Our National Debt - In Real Time

    Posted: April 12, 2010, 1:50 am by BabaMzungu
    Below is our national debt and it is increasing at a frightening rate!

  • Labour's Manifesto Pledges Not Subject to Legitimate Expectation

    Posted: April 12, 2010, 8:41 pm by BabaMzungu
    Labour has released their manifesto, outlining what they intend to do should they win the upcoming election - or not. Speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister at Brighton County Court, Miss Cecelia Ivimy, Gordon Brown's legal representative, said that "manifesto pledges are not subject to legitimate expectation."Oh well ...

  • My (Old) New Car

    Posted: April 8, 2010, 5:14 pm by BabaMzungu
    OK, so I've had it a couple of days now, driving around the village to see what it goes like, and I have to say that it is a nippy little machine. It is also reasonably comfortable and so far, has not let me down. But ... but (there is always a 'but'), today, I found a major fault with it. I went to do the weekly food shopping at our local superstore (which for my Kenyan readers, makes Nakumatt

  • My New Old, or maybe, Old New Car

    Posted: April 6, 2010, 8:26 pm by BabaMzungu
    It's a bit strange. I am used to driving automatic transmission Isuzu Troopers, Nissan Terranos, Pajeros, Transits and Mazda Bongos, so getting into a manual transmission Subaru Justy is odd. I can't see over the car in front and the door mirrors are so small that I can't even see them! I'll get used to it, I'm sure. I will have to. This is my new mode of transport. It needs a bit of fixing. It

  • New Elderly Care Programme Offers Hope**

    Posted: April 6, 2010, 5:16 pm by BabaMzungu
    **Unashamedly pinched from Dick Puddlecote who pinched it from somewhere else The Government has refused proper health care to many elderly citizens due to their advancing years. It is a worrying problem for many but help is at hand. Join the new free care plan today. If you are 60 years or older, you can apply. All new members will receive a gun and four bullets. You are allowed to shoot one

  • Election Posters

    Posted: April 3, 2010, 11:26 pm by BabaMzungu
    The election still hasn't been announced, but the posters are appearing all over the place, especially the Internet ... This is an unofficial poster - but I like it. I have been saying this for a long time. This is the official Labour Government's poster ... and this is a Tory spoof on the above. Another unofficial poster Would going back to the 80s be such a bad thing? What do I remember of

  • Plans Afoot ... or Just Dreams?

    Posted: April 3, 2010, 5:04 pm by BabaMzungu
    What am I going to do when I next get out to Kenya? What dreams and plans are buzzing through my head? With difficulty, I have to sort all that I want to do into an order of importance, so I suppose the top of the list (and potentially the most expensive) project is to complete and improve (or improve and complete?) the anaerobic digester so that we have a storage tank of methane that can be

Kenyan Community Initiative Support

  • Esther - a further update.

    Posted: April 2, 2010, 3:51 pm by BabaMzungu
    Esther, the girl who was "rescued" (see previous posts) from an orphanage miles away from her homeland is now in Kisii.

    She has settled in and is attending school, where she is doing well.

    It is so nice to have a success story to report on.

A Mzungu who loves Kenya

  • Election Fever

    Posted: April 2, 2010, 3:43 pm by BabaMzungu
    We in the UK are due a General Election sometime before the end of June, and it seems that the pundits are backing 6th May for the date when the great British unwashed choose a new Government (or not). However, reading the various political blogs, as I do, you would think that the campaign is already under way. The bloggers that I follow (from the three major parties and a few from the smaller

  • A Message From Gordon Brown, MP

    Posted: March 29, 2010, 2:21 pm by BabaMzungu
    A Message From Gordon Brown, MP

  • Treatment for HIV Being Missed?

    Posted: March 29, 2010, 1:21 pm by BabaMzungu
    From the BBC website The opportunity to save tens of thousands of HIV patients with a simple, cheap, drug treatment is being missed, say researchers.According to this article on the BBC website, administering a certain antibiotic would significantly reduce the death toll in the early stages of the disease, possibly halving the mortality rate. This treatment is endorsed by the WHO, but people are

  • To the People of Haiti, I apologise

    Posted: March 23, 2010, 10:48 pm by BabaMzungu
    Shortly after the earthquake in Haiti, Gordon Brown announced that he had "purchased all of the UK’s available corrugated iron sheets to provide shelters for victims of the Haiti earthquake". So far, so good. UK doing what it can for the people of Haiti, wouldn't you say? The move would provide ‘2,000 homeless families in Haiti with hurricane proof shelter’. Still so far, so good, yes? OK,

  • Air Fares

    Posted: March 23, 2010, 8:53 pm by BabaMzungu
    Just been through the websites for the 3 airlines that serve Nairobi, Virgin, Kenya Airways and BA. Prices are sky high! So I guess I won't be going out to Kenya for a while, especially after the heavy month we have had; £100 hospital fees for one little girl who had malaria and pneumonia and the cost of getting a Gusii girl relocated from Maasailand back to Kisii. Oh well, it seems I can do

  • Who'd Have Thought It?

    Posted: March 23, 2010, 1:36 pm by BabaMzungu
    On the local radio station this morning - "Rain will be light, but it will be wet." Who would have thought it?

  • The Sound Of Silence

    Posted: March 19, 2010, 12:58 pm by BabaMzungu
    Simon is about eight years old. He is a stocky, healthy-looking child with an open face and ready smile, but he is deaf. I don’t know quite how deaf he is. If I clap my hands loudly enough, he will sometimes hear it (or sense the air pressure?), and if I make a loud, high-pitched sound with a reed, he will hear that. In fact, he gets quite excited when he hears it, which leads me to believe that

  • Free What ... ?

    Posted: March 18, 2010, 1:39 am by BabaMzungu
    Having put the few thimbles full of diesel that I can still afford into the car, I went to pay. As I paid, the cashier said, "Do you want free sausage rolls?" My ears pricked up. "Free" is my favourite four-letter, F-word. I followed his pointing finger to a basket with the ticket stating, "Sausage Rolls - 3 for £1.00" I was disappointed, but I remembered a discussion on the local BBC radio

  • Waste, Graft and Corruption

    Posted: March 16, 2010, 10:10 pm by BabaMzungu
    I have read various accusations and counter-accusations regarding the efforts of Band Aid to raise money to alleviate the Ethiopian drought, and how that money was diverted (or not) to buy arms. I read that NGOs and other organisations are going around the Third World sinking boreholes in villages to give them easy access to clean water, but make little or no provision for maintaining the

  • How Old Do You Feel?

    Posted: March 15, 2010, 2:58 pm by BabaMzungu
    I have been bombarded with literature (adverts) from SAGA. For those who don't know, SAGA is a company that offers a host of services for over-fifties, such as car insurance, holidays, etc. It is not necessarily the cheapest or best, but it is tailored for the over fifties - so I was annoyed, very annoyed, until I realised that I was over fifty. Now, I am approaching the age when I will be

  • Things I Will Say To My Mum Today ...

    Posted: March 15, 2010, 12:23 pm by BabaMzungu
    Taking a leaf out of the Millennium Housewife's book (or blog) Good morning, Mum It's Monday Do you want toast or Museli? Marmalade or honey? It's Monday You asked for honey. I am sure you did. It's still Monday Yes, you take all the pills after breakfast. Yes, all at the same time. Look at the top of the paper, it's Monday MONDAY! I am not shouting. Put your hearing aids in. Both of them Well

  • What Joined Up Thinking Can Do In Kenya

    Posted: March 14, 2010, 10:18 pm by BabaMzungu
    The idea was to put an electrified fence around the Aberdares Conservation Area. Why? To stop wildlife marauding onto farm land outside the fence To protect the farming communities and their crops that border the fence. To curb illegal log extraction. To promote harmony between wildlife and local farmers. To prevent illegal entry into the Conservation Area. So why is the Aberdares so important?

Kenyan Community Initiative Support

  • Update on Esther

    Posted: March 12, 2010, 12:13 pm by BabaMzungu
    It looks as if the young Gusii girl lodged at an orphanage in Kajiado will be moving back to her homeland.

    We have had an offer of sponsorship from a family in the USA which will cover her daily needs and schooling.

    This is indeed good news and we are very happy of the outcome. The authorities at Kajiado have been informed, so we are hoping that Esther will be repatriated very soon.

    Update on the Update: Esther will be taking the bus on Monday morning to be returned to her homeland of Kisii. By all accounts, she is very excited!

    Update 15/3/2010: Esther has arrived in Kisii and is settling in well.

  • Let's Make It Clear ...

    Posted: March 10, 2010, 1:18 pm by BabaMzungu
    In our last post, we made an appeal for a girl, Esther, who is stuck miles from her homeland after being abused by her employer.

    Now, there seems to be some confusion about the meaning of the word abused.

    Let me make it clear. I am English and I write in GB English. The word abuse means "maltreatment: cruel or inhumane treatment". This could mean sexual abuse but not exclusively so. There are many types of abuse, sexual, physical, mental ...
    I used the word abuse to mean mistreatment. The girl in question had been beaten by her employer and no mention has been made about her having been sexually abused. If she had and I wanted to publish the fact, I would have said that "she had been sexually abused by her employer". Obviously, if she had been sexually abused, I would not have published her name and photograph, any more than I would if the child were HIV positive.
    Apparently, abuse has a different meaning in Kenya. This is not surprising. Lots of "English" words take on a new meaning in other English-speaking countries. We often say that the UK and USA are two countries divided by a common language.
    So, repeat after me: when reading a blog, or news article, one should remember that it may not have been written in your country, in your version of the language. And you should not jump to conclusions.

A Mzungu who loves Kenya

  • Abused Kisii Girl Needs Urgent Sponsorship

    Posted: March 9, 2010, 2:16 pm by BabaMzungu
    Originally posted on KCIS blog The Twiga Children's Centre has  today been informed that if Esther (13), a Gusii girl who is lodged at an orphanage in Kajiado is not taken in by Twiga Children's Centre very soon, she will be taken back to her parents. This is not good news. Esther's parents sent her out to work as a house girl, where she suffered beatings and other cruelty in the hands of her

Kenyan Community Initiative Support

  • Abused Kisii Girl Needs Urgent Sponsorship

    Posted: March 9, 2010, 1:51 pm by BabaMzungu


    We have today been informed that if Esther (13), a Gusii girl who is lodged at an orphanage in Kajiado is not taken in by Twiga Children's Centre very soon, she will be taken back to her parents.
    This is not good news. Esther's parents sent her out to work as a house girl, where she suffered beatings and other cruelty in the hands of her employer. This will happen again if we do not offer Esther accommodation.

    We need a sponsor who can help this girl to lead a normal life, attend school and regain the right to be a child.
    3,000 Kenyan shillings (about UK£26.00 or US$40.00) a month will ensure that Esther is placed with a caring family, is fed, clothed and attends school.
    Please, is there someone who will help us to rescue this girl from a life of abuse by donating 3,000/- a month?
    You can donate through PayPal, or you can contact Vincent at the Twiga Centre in Kisii.
    Previous Post:
    Twiga Children's Centre has been contacted by an orphanage in Kajiado, asking if we can take one of their children, a girl called Esther.
    Esther (13) was transferred to the Kajiado Children's Home from another orphanage, but she is of the Gusii tribe and there is no one in Kajiado who speaks the Abagusii language, and she does not speak the Maasai language. Naturally, Esther is very unhappy and wants to return to her traditional homeland of Kisii.
    We would be happy to help and to make this child happy, but we really are stretched financially.
    If anyone reading this can help by sponsoring Esther so that she can return to her people, please do not hesitate to contact us at Twiga Children's Centre through our website.

  • The Hut has a New Stoop

    Posted: March 9, 2010, 12:54 pm by BabaMzungu
    As well as acquiring a new well, the hut has been given a new stoop. It is too small to be called a patio. It is just the area under the roof overhang that has been concreted and painted. But it makes a big difference.

    This area is much used when the kids get too hot, or when a shower passes over, this is where they take refuge.

    The goats quite like it as well!

  • Water!

    Posted: March 9, 2010, 12:45 pm by BabaMzungu
    When I was last at the Twiga Centre in Kisii, Vincent proudly showed me a big hole in the ground that he proudly announced would be our borehole.

    Well, apart from it looking like a well rather than a borehole, it was very deep - and very dry!

    But I was informed this week that it now has water in it - and that it has cost KCIS KSh 6,000.

    Ah! I didn't know we were paying for it and I haven't budgeted for it.

    And there will be added expense in sealing off the top to prevent the water from being contaminated by things (leaves, small animals, children) falling into it. Then there is the expense of installing a pump, either manual or motorised. Presently, there is a bucket on a length of rope.

    So, the Twiga Centre has its own water supply, or it will have when someone gives us the funds to pay the well-digger.

Twiga Children's Home

  • Twiga Children - Elvin Mabeya

    Posted: March 6, 2010, 7:25 pm by BabaMzungu

    Korokwa Elvin Nyanchoka MabeyaPlease help contribute on a monthly basis toward the lives of these "deserving" children. Through concerned individuals like yourself doors can be openned to these children that otherwise may not. Four people committing to a monthly donation of $25.00 per month will provide housing, education, clothing, food and misc. and sundry needs for one child.

  • Twiga Children - Brian

    Posted: March 6, 2010, 7:20 pm by BabaMzungu
    I am Brian Mabeya. I am 10 years old. I live with my mother and brothers and sisters.
    I go to Twiga Centre. Sometimes my sister come too.
    We play games and I have a lot of friends that I play with.
    We grow vegetables at Twiga.
    We are given food and tea.
    They have made a swing. I like the swing, it is good fun.Please help contribute on a monthly basis toward the lives of these "deserving" children. Through concerned individuals like yourself doors can be openned to these children that otherwise may not. Four people committing to a monthly donation of $25.00 per month will provide housing, education, clothing, food and misc. and sundry needs for one child.

  • Twiga Children - Rispher

    Posted: March 6, 2010, 5:51 pm by BabaMzungu
    My name is Rispher Mabeya. I am 13 years old. I live with my mother and my brothers and sisters.
    I have a disability. My arm is paralysed and I suffer fits [epilepsy], and I need medicine to help stop them.
    I go to school now, but I missed a lot of school because I have been ill.
    I go to Twiga with my little brother and little sister, Brian and Elvin. The other two play and I watch. Sometimes they make games that I can play.Please help contribute on a monthly basis toward the lives of these "deserving" children. Through concerned individuals like yourself doors can be openned to these children that otherwise may not. Four people committing to a monthly donation of $25.00 per month will provide housing, education, clothing, food and misc. and sundry needs for one child.

  • Twiga Children - Dennis

    Posted: March 3, 2010, 10:47 pm by BabaMzungu
    I am Dennis. My brother is Edwin. I am 11 years. I live with my brother in a hut near to my sister.

    She cannot look after us because she has to work and she has two children.

    I like to go to Twiga because we can play games and we can meet our friends. Sometimes, we get food and tea. Sometimes one of the Twiga people brings a bag of sweets. I like sweets.

    I want to live at Twiga when they build the bedrooms.Please help contribute on a monthly basis toward the lives of these "deserving" children. Through concerned individuals like yourself doors can be openned to these children that otherwise may not. Four people committing to a monthly donation of $25.00 per month will provide housing, education, clothing, food and misc. and sundry needs for one child.

  • Twiga Children - Edwin

    Posted: March 3, 2010, 10:43 pm by BabaMzungu
    My name is Edwin. I am 14 years old. I have a little brother called Dennis, who is 12 years.

    We live together in a small hut. Our older sister lives in another hut in the same compound, but she has her own two children to look after, so we have to look after ourselves.

    We both go to the Twiga Children's Centre at weekends. We can play there and we meet our friends. They have built a swing and it is fun. I like the swing. So does Dennis.

    Twiga said that they plan to build bedrooms at the centre and asked if we would like to live there instead of in our hut. We both said yes.Please help contribute on a monthly basis toward the lives of these "deserving" children. Through concerned individuals like yourself doors can be openned to these children that otherwise may not. Four people committing to a monthly donation of $25.00 per month will provide housing, education, clothing, food and misc. and sundry needs for one child.

  • Twiga Children - Nyachuba

    Posted: March 3, 2010, 10:36 pm by BabaMzungu
    My name is Nyachuba. I am the younger sister of Aloys. I am 11 years old. Aloys and I live in a hut in Kisii area.

    We are looked after by the people at Twiga Children's Centre. We cannot live at the centre because they do not have bedrooms there, but they want to build some and then we will be able to live there.

    I like to play on the swing at Twiga. It is fun. I also like to play running games and snakes and ladders. My friend, Dorothy goes to Twiga as well, and we have fun together.Please help contribute on a monthly basis toward the lives of these "deserving" children. Through concerned individuals like yourself doors can be openned to these children that otherwise may not. Four people committing to a monthly donation of $25.00 per month will provide housing, education, clothing, food and misc. and sundry needs for one child.

  • Twiga Children - Aloys

    Posted: March 3, 2010, 10:32 pm by BabaMzungu
    My name is Aloys. I am 13 years old. I have a younger sister called Nyachuba, who is 11 years old.

    The two of us live alone in a mud-built hut about 4 km outside of Kisii town.

    I have a cow, which I milk. The milk we do not use, I sell so that I buy food. We cook, clean the house, wash our clothes, and I have a small patch where I grow a few vegetables.

    We both go to school. We manage to do our homework and we both get good results.

    At weekends we go to the Twiga Children's Centre where we meet our friends and cousins. There are games and a swing there, so we can enjoy ourselves.

    One day when we were at Twiga, we were asked if we would prefer to live there or at home. We both said we wanted to move into Twiga.

    The people at Twiga keep an eye on us and I know that if I cannot afford food, or one of us is sick, we will be looked after by them. But we would like Twiga to build an orphanage so that we can both move in, where food will be cooked for us, where our clothes will be washed for us, so that we can spend more time to learn things, and even to play.Please help contribute on a monthly basis toward the lives of these "deserving" children. Through concerned individuals like yourself doors can be openned to these children that otherwise may not. Four people committing to a monthly donation of $25.00 per month will provide housing, education, clothing, food and misc. and sundry needs for one child.

A Mzungu who loves Kenya

  • What is £1 Worth?

    Posted: March 2, 2010, 8:43 pm by BabaMzungu
    I have just checked the UK pound against the Kenyan Shilling, as I do from time to time. Today I checked it because I read that in Zimbabwe, you could trade UK pounds against the Z$. So I checked the pound against the shilling and found that it has dropped about 5/-. OR, put another way, the pound has lost between 4% and 5% against the Kenyan Shilling! So, we are losing out against the US$,

  • Never A Good Time

    Posted: March 2, 2010, 8:19 pm by BabaMzungu
    Why is it that when I am under the desk with my head stuck inside an errant computer, the phone rings? And why is it, when I answer it, it is either a cold sales call, or someone wanting a chat? And why is it that the person wanting a chat does not understand when you answer rather abruptly? And is it me, or am I the only person who prefers to receive work-related calls during working hours (I

Twiga Children's Home

  • A Gusii in Maasailand

    Posted: February 28, 2010, 4:38 pm by BabaMzungu
    We have been contacted by an orphanage in Kajiado, asking if we can take one of their children, a girl called Esther.

    Esther was transferred to the Kajiado Children's Home from another orphanage, but she is of the Gusii tribe and there is no one in Kajiado who speaks the Abagusii language, and she does not speak the Maasai language. Naturally, Esther is very unhappy and wants to return to her traditional homeland of Kisii.

    We would be happy to help and to make this child happy, but we really are stretched financially.

    If anyone reading this can help by sponsoring Esther so that she can return to her people, please do not hesitate to contact us at Twiga Children's Centre through our website.

    Thank  you.

Kenyan Community Initiative Support

  • A Gusii in Maasailand

    Posted: February 28, 2010, 2:08 pm by BabaMzungu
    Twiga Children's Centre has been contacted by an orphanage in Kajiado, asking if we can take one of their children, a girl called Esther.

    Esther (13) was transferred to the Kajiado Children's Home from another orphanage, but she is of the Gusii tribe and there is no one in Kajiado who speaks the Abagusii language, and she does not speak the Maasai language. Naturally, Esther is very unhappy and wants to return to her traditional homeland of Kisii.

    We would be happy to help and to make this child happy, but we really are stretched financially.

    If anyone reading this can help by sponsoring Esther so that she can return to her people, please do not hesitate to contact us at Twiga Children's Centre through our website.

A Mzungu who loves Kenya

  • Cattle Feed

    Posted: February 28, 2010, 11:43 am by BabaMzungu
    This article was sent to me: Studies have shown that the nutrients in water hyacinth are available to ruminants. In Southeast Asia some nonruminant animals are fed rations containing water hyacinth. In China pig farmers boil chopped water hyacinth with vegetable waste, rice bran, copra cake and salt to make a suitable feed. In Malaysia fresh water hyacinth is cooked with rice bran and

  • Feed the Cattle

    Posted: February 28, 2010, 11:30 am by BabaMzungu
    I was reading a back issue of the Standard the other day, where it was describing how cattle in the Isiolo region were dying because there was no cattle feed. Regular readers know that Baba Mzungu, with Kenyan community Initiative Support has met up with Salim Shaban of the African Christian Organnization Network, who are researching ways of using harvested water hyacinth taken from Lake

  • Change the Name!

    Posted: February 20, 2010, 7:03 pm by BabaMzungu
    A friend of mine in Kisii would like to buy up a recently closed business close to her home. But she needs to borrow the money to get started. I think that a change of name would be the first step - but that's just me. What do you think? Does Shabby have a different meaning in Kenya?

  • Kenyan Birds of a Feather

    Posted: February 19, 2010, 4:08 pm by BabaMzungu
    A selection of photos of birds I saw in Kisii in November/December 2009

Twiga Children's Home

  • Swing High, Swing Low ...

    Posted: February 18, 2010, 11:58 pm by BabaMzungu
    The Swing

    The upright is erected

    Then the crossbar is positioned

    Marking up

    Here we go ...

    Testing for strength (or acting like a big kid)

    Brian [minor], being light, gets to test the swing

    Dennis puts it through its paces

    From his expression, I guess it passed the test!

    Edwin was next to go ...

    and also approved of the new acquisition

    Aloys, for all his swagger, was very careful

    He doesn't look happy, does he?

    Oh, now he does.

    Nyachuba is the first girl to have a go.

    ... followed by Catherine, one of our new girls

    Then it was  time to try tandem.

    Catherine gives her little sister, Ivy a ride

    Brian, of course, just had to use it as a climbing frame.

    ... while Christine uses the swing

    Cliff and Brian


    Steve gets a go - eventually

    Dreaming

  • HIV/AIDS

    Posted: February 13, 2010, 4:51 pm by BabaMzungu
    In our latest intake of children, we have accepted a little girl who was born HIV positive. Her mother, who is still living is also HIV positive and is being treated with anti-retro-viral drugs.

    But the little girl isn't. She is being treated with a special diet.

    Now, we know very little about HIV/AIDS, other than it has killed the parents of most of our Twiga children.

    Two years ago, we lost a 3-year-old girl to AIDS and we don't want to lose another.

    Presently, this little girl appears to be perfectly healthy, although it is difficult to judge as she is also very shy.

    • Can anyone advise us as to whether dietary treatment is normal for a 2 to 3-year old child?
    • Should she be on ARVs at such a young age?
    • Is there anything else we can do?
    Your help in this matter would be very much appreciated.

Kenyan Community Initiative Support

A Mzungu who loves Kenya

Kenyan Community Initiative Support

  • Twiga Children's Centre Register

    Posted: February 11, 2010, 4:14 pm by BabaMzungu
    No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child. -Abraham Lincoln
    • All these children have lost one or both parents, or have been abandoned.
    • All these children need the support of Twiga Children's Centre for something - food, clothing, school fees, uniform or books

    Aloys & Nyachuba - living aloneEdwin & Dennis - living aloneEric, Nelson & Henry - living with sick motherRisper, Brian and Elvin - living with motherBefone, Cliff and Samwel - living with grandparentsMorfat, Boniface and Shaida - living with sick mother Lilian and Vincent - living with grandparentsDominic, Mary, Osando, Getembe and Kemuma - living with grandparentsNyang'au and Edwin - living with mother Josephat - living at Twiga CCBenta - living at Twiga CCDivina - living with motherBrian - living with motherDorothy - living with motherDavis & Vanessa - living with mother

Twiga Children's Home

  • Website Updated

    Posted: February 10, 2010, 2:15 am by BabaMzungu
    The Twiga Children's Centre website has been improved to include a register of our current children.

    We support all these children in one way or another. You can help.

    £1 a day (or $1.50) helps us to help a child.

    No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child. -Abraham Lincoln
    Stand tall and help a child today.

A Mzungu who loves Kenya

  • Bucket List - Things To Do Before I Die

    Posted: February 6, 2010, 1:08 pm by BabaMzungu
    Earlier, I wrote that my proposed overland driving trip to Kenya was one of the things I want to do before I die, and I could not think of anything else that falls into this category. But now I have thought of something else I would really like to do. I would love to see the Rio Carnival. So, having started, I am going to try to make a list of ten things to go on my bucket list: Drive from the

  • Gentle Drive to Kenya

    Posted: February 5, 2010, 1:12 am by BabaMzungu
    This blog is getting taken over by my dream/hope or whatever it will eventually turn out to be, so I have decided that all further posts relating to it will be on this new blog.

  • Even More musings - Gentle Drive to Kenya

    Posted: February 5, 2010, 11:40 pm by BabaMzungu
    Dreaming of (or maybe secretly planning) a 'gentle' drive from home in the UK, through Europe, Asia, and some of Africa to home in Kenya, a total of about 6,500 miles. When I ... sorry, if I ever get my project going, I will be driving through the whole of Europe, through Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and finally Kenya. But then what? I will be in Kenya with a car I cannot sell, 

  • Gentle Drive to Kenya - the Vehicle

    Posted: February 4, 2010, 11:58 pm by BabaMzungu
    Dreaming of (or maybe secretly planning) a 'gentle' drive from home in the UK, through Europe, Asia, and some of Africa to home in Kenya, a total of about 6,500 miles. I have been thinking a lot, talking to lots of people, and reading accounts of others who have done the same trip, one way or the other. One thing I have found is a suitable vehicle, a 1996 Isuzu Bighorn Irmscher (a grey import

  • Only in Kenya

    Posted: February 4, 2010, 12:44 pm by BabaMzungu
    Update: Following on from a comment to this blog, there are a lot of Kenyans living abroad in Europe, USA and even Japan. You must have seen things in your host country  that strikes you as funny, peculiar or even downright mad - things that would fall into the "Only In ..." category. So, let's hear about them. -oOo- Oh! How many blogs have I read with this title? Most are humorous, one or two

  • Education - different stokes for different genders?

    Posted: February 2, 2010, 3:47 pm by BabaMzungu
    I have just been listening to the  headmaster of Eton College on the radio, explaining the differences between boys and girls, when it comes to education. Girls will sit down and apply themselves to work, whereas boys' minds will wander, they are restless and cannot sit still for too long. There is a good  reason for this, an inbred reason, which will apply even more in developing countries.

  • Gentle Drive to Kenya - Middle East to Kenya

    Posted: January 31, 2010, 8:50 pm by BabaMzungu
    Dreaming of (or maybe secretly planning) a 'gentle' drive from home in the UK, through Europe, Asia, and some of Africa to home in Kenya, a total of about 6,500 miles.Since my last blog (not that long ago) in the subject of a fantasy[?] overland trip to Kisii from the UK, I couldn't find a way to get from Syria or Jordan to the west bank of the Suez or Red Sea. But now, I've found it! So, the

  • Kid Swap

    Posted: January 29, 2010, 2:41 pm by BabaMzungu
    In the aftermath of the case of the boys from Edlington, who beat and tortured two other boys, a youngster, Ben (13) from Cheshire, wrote to the Daily Mail, suggesting that these youth offenders need to be taught self-respect, regard for others, respect for authority and a sense of responsibility for their actions.He continued that he attends a school with good facilities and considers himself

  • Farming in kenya

    Posted: January 28, 2010, 1:37 am by BabaMzungu
    I watched a very interesting programme this evening on BBC2, Jimmy’s Global Harvest. I hadn’t seen the previous episodes and this was the last one, and it focused on Kenya. First stop was in Luanda where he visited two shambas growing maize. The first showed a poor crop which did not provide enough food to feed the farmer’s family. The second, smaller farm was not only growing enough to feed his

  • Gentle Drive to kenya - Confused!

    Posted: January 27, 2010, 4:16 pm by BabaMzungu
    Dreaming of (or maybe secretly planning) a 'gentle' drive from home in the UK, through Europe, Asia, and some of Africa to home in Kenya, a total of about 6,500 miles.I have been getting advice from all over to the effect that parts of and Ethiopia are safe/unsafe, certain areas should be avoided and that the best route is through the Sahara, etc. Now I am so confused about where I can go, where

Twiga Children's Home

  • Goals for 2010

    Posted: January 26, 2010, 4:10 pm by BabaMzungu
    A new year, so we need to set goals.
    Having had a major re-think last year, we decided that we will continue to give support to our children, keeping them within a family unit wherever possible, whether that be a single parent, grandparents of older siblings.
    However, we have three, maybe four families where the children would benefit from residential care. To this end, we have redrawn our plans for building a residential unit at Twiga.

    This will comprise two small dormitories, with four sets of bunks in each. The existing hut, which has three rooms will  be converted to that the smaller front room will become the kitchen/office, the small back room will be sleeping quarters for the 24/7 carer and that large room will be the dining/study/leisure area.
    We will also need to construct washing facilities and a toilet block - a deep-pit has already been dug for the latrine.
    The kitchen already has a 3-ring tabletop gas cooker, which will burn methane from an anaerobic digester that was constructed on site by KCIS last year. 
    Local, traditional building materials will be used to keep costs down, but we will still need to acquire poles, cement, roofing sheets, window and door frames, as well as furniture and equipment, such as a generator (or we could be connected to the electricity grid, if we can get a regular income).
    -oOo-
    In conjunction with KCIS, we have extended our vegetable plot at the Twiga centre, where we are now growing peas and beans as well as kale. We are also trying to grow sugar cane. This is a good source of natural sugar and its due to its fibrous nature, it also keeps the children's teeth clean while they are chewing it.
    -oOo-
    Last year, we constructed a swing. This has proved to be very popular, so we will be looking at constructing other playground equipment this year - a see-saw, and maybe a climbing frame. 
    Well, for the moment, that is it, although i am sure that other projects will appear as the year progresses.

A Mzungu who loves Kenya

  • Gentle Drive to Kenya - First Brick Wall

    Posted: January 25, 2010, 12:32 am by BabaMzungu
    Dreaming of (or maybe secretly planning) a 'gentle' drive from home in the UK, through Europe, Asia, and some of Africa to home in Kenya, a total of about 6,500 miles. I asked for advice, ideas and comments on my proposed route, I have been told that parts of it are very dangerous. A stretch of a particular road is mined and in other areas, fundamentalists will take a pop at anything that moves -

  • A Gentle Drive to Kenya - 1st Leg

    Posted: January 25, 2010, 2:19 am by BabaMzungu
    Dreaming (or maybe secretly planning) of a gentle drive from home in the UK, through Europe, Asia, and some of Africa to home in Kenya, a total of about 6,500 miles. This is the first leg of the journey, from the UK to the Turkish/Syrian border as dictated by GoogleEarth (2687 miles) Unfortunately, GoogleEarth refuses to plan my route between the Syrian and Kenyan borders.

  • More Musings

    Posted: January 24, 2010, 1:05 am by BabaMzungu
    Dreaming (or maybe secretly planning) of a gentle drive from home in the UK, through Europe, Asia, and some of Africa to home in Kenya, a total of about 6,500 miles. Within my self-imposed budget of £3,000, I have so found the following diesel, automatic vehicles: Isuzu Bighorn (Trooper). 3.1 litre, very strong car, needs new tyres; Mitsubishi Pajero LWB, 2.8 litre, fine except it has not

  • Musings on A Gentle Drive to Kenya

    Posted: January 24, 2010, 8:22 pm by BabaMzungu
    Dreaming (or maybe secretly planning) of a gentle drive from home in the UK, through Europe, Asia, and some of Africa to home in Kenya, a total of about 6,500 miles.I wonder how much the insurance will be? After all, it is not your regular stroll down a country lane, is it? From what I can gather, the route from Calais to Ankara is dual carriageway, apart from a stretch in Bulgaria. But once

  • Bucket Dreams

    Posted: January 24, 2010, 2:59 pm by BabaMzungu
    I was talking to a friend yesterday about my fantasy/project/dream to drive from my home in the UK to my "home" in Kenya. He thought I was mad, and he is probably not too far from the truth. Then he said it was one of my "bucket list". My face must have shown my confusion so he explained that it is one of the things i want to do before I kick the bucket (wherever did that phrase come from?).

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

The end of the fish cakes

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