Kenya Reflections and Musings

Reflecting back on our second trip to Kenya, we find ourselves often conflicted with the myriad of challenges and issues Kenya faces as a country, and especially her people, her lands and her prolific wildlife. We were much better prepared for this visit than the first one eight years ago.  We had studied some of the British Colonial history as well as current government issues today in a free Kenyan state that is just 50 years out from under British rule.  We had studied major wildlife poaching issues which we thought were under control when we visited before.  Today, the tragic story of elephant poaching brings us to tears.  

There are many conflicts today with the extreme poverty, in the countryside as well as the largest city of Nairobi.  Many NGO and religious organizations have poured countless dollars and man-hours into trying to " fix" what they think needs fixing, but the needs are still there in such great numbers. Too many still lack clean drinking water and face food security on a daily basis.  

I had an interesting conversation with two women from Calgary who were with another travel company, but we always ran into each other at various lodges and finally at the Amsterdam airport.  They, too, were conflicted over their visit to a Maasai village where women still seem to take a back seat to all rights and privileges.  Yet many efforts to assist women only lead to frustrations on the part of the helpers.  My friends said they would feel much better if women, and young women especially,  felt like they had a choice--to stay with the traditional, tribal ways which will always subjugate women, or to gain an education so they can make some choices.  Education is supposedly free now in Kenya, but there are still uniforms, supplies and other fees which keep many from taking advantage of educational opportunities.  Boarding schools for young women are a start, but still woefully inadequate and inaccessible for many.

My Calgary friends and I couldn't continue indefinitely with our deep discussion of the many issues facing Kenyan women as we were tired and lapsing into blank stares as we tried to make sense of our quandaries.  I feel certain that all of us will continue to mull these issues and ponder ways we might assist.

As in most philanthropy, donors are advised to stay connected with non- profits they give to and giving to Kenyan causes is no different. Our guide, Aaron, has  formed a foundation which supports a school feeding program in a Naivasha school.  Food costs have gone up as well as has the enrollment, and he supports only as far as the money from donors stretches.  Through the foundation, he also supports individual students at $1,000 a year, again, only as far as the money stretches.  We are still in family discussion regarding which to support.