Safe in Kenya

We arrived in Nairobi last Monday and in Kakamega Thursday. Just had a bit of a glitch with the internet connection, but now set up with a small network. Means we can work anywhere in the house (great for Rod’s I Pad.)

Had a few meetings in Nairobi and caught up with old friends.

We did Nairobi-Kisumu in 5 1/2 hours. The road is great now with one small section near Kericho that is still under construction. Ben, our driver, was upset because his station wagon, which he meant to use (so much luggage) went for a fill up & they put in diesel instead of petrol. So the whole engine has to be dismantled & flushed out. We used his sedan which actually was fine with just the two of us.

The vehicle was waiting for us and is great. Air conditioning, working seat belts and very comfortable. We were in Kakamega by 3.30. Lots of people calling us and stopping us on the street. Had supper at the Sports Club with Richard & Bibiana and a quick tour around Nakumatt (supermarket) to set up groceries. We have water, the power is on, the fridge is working!

The apartment is fine (dusty of course) We were so busy before we left, that I didn’t really leave everything as tidy as I would like. Going to do some ruthless chucking out of old stuff and try to reorganise a bit.

Bibiana, who is a town councillor & volunteer children's officer, is a member of our Advisory Committee. She has some great things going with some women’s groups, so I’ll let Alex (our trainer) & Tanya (who will be here as an agent later) know there is something ready for them to work with.

The small apartment on the compound is finished. I’ll take a look today or tomorrow and take some pictures. They just need to tile the floors, so we can start thinking about furniture, curtains etc.

The next 2-3 days I want to keep clear for unpacking & organising. Then we will start planning with Richard etc.

Leaving for Kenya

We thank everyone for their faithful encouragement and support, especially those who were able to make it to the AGM at the end of August. We have completed our first year as a registered charity and have seen the work expand. Our web site has been updated with thanks to Matthew Crossley and you can now meet the Tembo Board and our faithful Kenyan Advisory Committee by clicking the ‘about us’ tab at www.tembokenya.org
We are especially excited about the prospect of two Canadian agents who hope to work with us for a few months:
• Nancy Carson, our VP, hopes to be with us to work on Read for the Top, student selection and Teacher Seminars
• Tanya Harmon is a great fund raiser and will be donating to job training and Business Education. She will work with our trainer, Alex Omino
We are hoping to welcome supporters on a tour in February 2012 to meet the communities in which we work and to see the projects. To find out more, click the ‘join us’ tab on the web site.
Here is an overview of what we will be working on for the next six months:
October: Concluding the Rotary grant for Emmaloba community: Groups for several enterprises were set up and we will purchase computers for the primary school Contracting for five protected springs with a Rotary District grant Setting up heats and finals for Read for the Top in Kerongo Secondary School Dedication of Virtues training centre in memory of John Kavelin (co-founder) Pace of Grace workshops
November: Seminar on community response to domestic violence for clergy
Purchase of books for Read for the Top in Isecheno Primary School Interviews for job training with Advisory Committee Planning and communication for Teacher Seminars December: Mark collection and renewal of student contracts.
January: Selection of new scholarship students form Isecheno Primary
We hope to welcome back Mary and Jim Higbee and Sue Dauer who did such a wonderful job of teacher seminars in January 2011.
Payment of school fees for all our sponsored students
February: Tour of communities and projects
Dedication of springs Reports for grants
Agents will return to Canada in March 2012
Please note that you can now donate directly from our web site by using Paypal or Canada Helps buttons on the ‘Donations’ page. You can also contribute to funds by purchasing ‘Nice Time’ an e-book of letters and pictures from 2001 for $9 through the web site.

latest news from the Daily Nation

Kenyan MPs have raided money set aside for relief operations and other national emergencies to settle their tax arrears. The public kitty will also compensate MPs for the income they will lose once they start paying full income taxes.
The details are in the fine print of alterations to this year’s Budget by the Budget Committee of the House. The manoeuvre is meant to give the impression that MPs are finally willing to pay their taxes while disguising the fact they will be subsidised for loss of income.
The money will come from a reallocation of funds from the National Contingency Fund to the budget of the National Assembly.


Meanwhile in the Hague:
The International Criminal Court prosecutors accused three of the Ocampo Six of being behind a network that executed killings and displacement of people during post-election violence.
Chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo says the network ensured the occurrence of violence that rocked Turbo, the greater Eldoret area (Kiambaa, Kyamumbi, Huruma, Kimumu and Langas), Kapsabet town, and Nandi Hills.
The prosecutor submitted that Eldoret North MP William Ruto, suspended minister Henry Kosgey and Kass FM radio presenter Joshua arap Sang raised funds for buying weapons, paying perpetrators and promising rewards “for every PNU supporter killed or property destroyed”.
Mr Kosgey is said to have paid Sh1,500 for everyone who attended planning meetings for attacks in Kapsabet town and Nandi Hills.