Tag Archives: Kitui

by | July 3, 2012 · 1:28 pm

East Africa Crisis one year on – a message from the Bishop of Kitui

Our projects have helped to improve water supplies in Kitui

One year on from the launch of our East Africa Crisis appeal, Bishop Anthony Muheria of the Diocese of Kitui in Kenya writes:

Read more about our East Africa Crisis appeal>>

We have witnessed in these last five years the tremendous effects of drought in our region. This is not just the lack of sufficient rains for the crops, but even the lack of the basic necessity of clean drinking water for many of our people. We greatly appreciate the response of many of our partners, to address the emergency needs as well as to join us in addressing the long term solutions to scarcity of water, food shortages and related poverty issues.

To this end we wish to thank CAFOD, who have always been at our side in these difficult moments – specifically in the rainwater harvesting and livelihood programmes, which give a lease of life to many families who suffer a loss of livestock every season. The people are so grateful for the assistance, and on their behalf I extend this gratitude to all at CAFOD and all the benefactors. God bless you all!

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by | · 3:45 am

East Africa Crisis one year on: The road to salvation

Roadbuilders in Yungela, Kitui

Right now, someone, somewhere is talking about Kenyan roads. It’s a universal constant. Meet anyone who’s been to Kenya and it will be one of the first subjects you’ll talk about. “I’ll tell you about a road: it’s not a road, it’s a rock and if you try to drive over it, it’ll take you four weeks…to go one mile…with one vehicle…the world’s best 4×4.” “Ha! Call that a road? That’s like walking over a rubber-covered carpet draped over a freshly concreted drive. I’ll tell you about a road. It’s not a road, it’s an idea. It’s a gaping, concept and you can only cross it with jet propulsion, low gears and prayer” etc. Continue reading →

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by | April 16, 2012 · 4:54 pm

Kenya: a goat called CAFOD

John Kitheka was so grateful for the support he received during the drought that he named his goat CAFOD

Joseph Kabiru writes:

A trip to Kitui, one of the drought-stricken areas of eastern Kenya, just before Easter was a humbling experience for me; listening to tales of despair and hope from communities enduring the worst drought to hit this region in sixty years.

East Africa Crisis: how your money has helped>>

A drive from Nairobi to Muumoni – two hundred miles east of the Kenyan capital – is a journey through a land of contrasts. The weather in Nairobi, known as a ‘ place of cool waters’, changes in just under an hour’s drive to one of searing heat and dry shrubs.

Kitui was one of the several areas in Kenya where, through your generous support, we were able to assist communities affected by last year’s drought.

John Kitheka, a 64-year-old blind man, is a father of six children. He and his wife Josephine – who also has a disability on her right leg – were among those who benefitted from your generosity.

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by | February 20, 2012 · 10:49 am

Kenya: sharing lessons from the drought

Laura Purves, Humanitarian team trainee, writes:

An English(wo)man,  a Kenyan, and two Eritreans are sat in the back of a landcruiser.  No, this isn’t the start of a bad joke…but instead the start of a unique field visit for one of CAFOD’s humanitarian partners.  In January 2012, our Eritrean partner arrived in Kenya to conduct an exposure visit and see, first hand, some of the humanitarian programmes in the Horn and East Africa region.  

The unlikely party visited the Catholic Diocese of Kitui which is situated about three hours east of Nairobi, in what is termed as Kenya’s semi-arid lands region. The region was badly affected by last year’s drought, and was the one of the target areas for our emergency response.  We spent three jam packed days in the area and were lucky enough to visit several of the Diocese’s recent and ongoing programmes, ranging from water dams to livestock restocking and agricultural trainings.

Help us respond immediately to emergencies>>

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by | July 9, 2009 · 4:02 pm

Kenya: Simple maths – food equals school

Mwende studying at Kavumbu Primary school in Kitui District [Manchester Kyalo/Diocese of Kitui]Most of the time Mwende lives alone, except some months when her sister comes home for holidays.

“Mum died when I was five. My granny looked after me until last year, when, she died too,” whispers Mwende, her eyes filling with tears. I pause because I don’t know how to carry on asking her questions. It is extremely sad.

She goes on, “It’s just me in the house by myself each day now. In the mornings I look after the two goats and make my breakfast before hurrying to school. In the evenings I have to find food from somewhere before I can eat. Only then can I start my homework.”

Mwende is just fourteen. Alone at this young age, she depends entirely on the kindness of others to help her with the very basics for survival – food, clothes or books for school. That help doesn’t always come.

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