A generous donor enabled the Kisumu/Vihiga Rotary Relief team to provide a medical camp in the rural interior of the Vihiga District on March 22 , Easter Eve.  More than 15 volunteers from the Vihiga District Hospital provided the much needed expertise and medical supplies arranged through Geeta and Jay Manek, Rotarians from Nairobi as well as members of the District Rotary Relief Team enabled this medical camp to provide for much needed medical assistance to a segment of the population sometimes forgotten in the midst of all the talk of post-election violence: the rural poor. 

Vihiga District is one of the most densly populated rural areas in the world and as such the people are very vulnerable to any economic down turn.  So the impact of the election violence has been very harshly felt by the many people in the district.  Organized by Charter President Jack Aduvate along with numerous members of the Vihiga Rotary Club, the medical team and volunteer Rotarians were able to provide medical services for upwards of 450 people during the one day event. 

While the violence and the danger has passed in Kenya, many are left to try to pick up the pieces of shattered lives.  The Rotary Relief Committee has been working overtime to address the need for food, medical assistance and to bring a message of peace and reconcilation within Kisumu and surround communities like Vihiga.  Past President Jack Aduvate was asked if this kind of medical camp is something that should be repeated.  He replied, "Absolutley!  We are able to provide much needed services through a generous donor but it would be even better if we were able to purchase the specific drugs needed and provide the much needed services for those who have to sometimes choose between food and medicine for their family!"

Another event held this past week was the distribution of T-shirts to boda-boda (bicycles taxis) drivers in a local park.  Boda-boda drivers are some of the lowest on the social ladder. They provide a ride to anyone willing to sit on the cushioned seat on the back of bicylce.  The charge? About 20 shillings for a ride of up to 2 kilometers.  That's about 30 cents in USD.  To eek out a living carrying riders to work, school or home is what we might call "donkey work" in Kenya.  So as we gathered this second group or recipients, it was stressed to them that they were chosen to be recipients of this T-shirt give away for two reasons.  First, they were some of the first to oppose the hooliganism and thuggery along the roads  in Kisumu.  The rowdy youths who held the transport sector hostage for weeks in Jan and Feb were called to task and even forcibly removed first by boda-boda drivers--even before the police. 

Secondly, a message of peace needed to be a mobile and constant message.  Who better to carry that message than bicycle taxis who are seen every day and move all over town.  In addition they live in the slums where the message needs to be proclaimed from the grass roots.  The message emblazed in black letters on the back of the T-shirts stated simply in English and Kiswahili "PEACE BEGINS WITH ME"  "AMANI INAANZIA KWANGU"  One the front was printed the names of the various Rotary clubs, individuals and organizations that had contributed to the effort around the world.  One of the guests at the event was Isaac Odinga, the younger brother of the Prime Minister designate who serves as a councillor in Kisumu.  He promised to bring to the next event, not only the mayor of Kisumu, Sam Okello who is a senior Rotarian himself but also his older brother Raila, the PM.  Let's see if he is able to fit it into his power sharing calendar! 

You'll be the first to see the pictures if such an event takes place.  300 more T-shirts are to be delivered this week for the five groups targeted to receive the T-shirts.

Also given to each driver was 2kg of maize flour.  Not a large gift but a token of thanks to those who work tirelessly to scratch out a living moving the populace from point A to point B.  The drivers all took the opportunity to organize a parade of the 85 taxis through town, all clad in their new bright white T-shirts.  They shouted messages of peace to onlookers and even sang songs as the public was forced to take notice of this proud segment of the population that is estimated at around 5000 in Kisumu alone.  In the process Peace was shouted through the streets of Kisumu.  More days like this are planned.  The leaders of the two groups given T-shirts thus far said that both groups have all committed to wearing their shirts on Wednesdays and Sundays.