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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistichelping/message/2269 Sat Feb 9, 2008 9:53 am Devlopment in such centers like Mbita

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nafsiafrikasaana/message/124

Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:37 am

This email is from Ken, and i have just called him just now about Sam's health requiring if all goes bad he can fly to kampala but he says more in this email.

Am writing this on 23rd Jan 2008 the time here is 14:30 Kenyan time.

Am glad at all the encouraging responses we are receiving regarding Sam's health. I have received calls from Dennis, Ronald Omondi in Kisumu and also talked to David Mutua, who are all concerned and willing to assist in getting good hospital for Sam. Maria sent 200 euro today that was to be be spent on transferring Sam to Nairobi for proper and further medical assistance. I discussed this with Sam's Doc. (Fred), jacktone Ariga and Lilian (Sam's wife). They all supported the idea of having Sam flown to Nairobi. However, Sam insisted on being taken to Gendia District hospital where he had been earlier reffered, sighting that he didn't feel healthy enough to fly to Nairobi and worries on who would remain responsible for his family in his absence. Sam says he feels comfortable receiving treatment from Gendia hospital and hope that he will recuperate soon. He was taken to Gendia Hospital today , and was immediately admitted. I could not get him on the phone but her wife told me that he his good today, dismally talking, and at least can take some fluids. I still have no concise information from the Doctor on his condition or on how long they expect to keep him in hospital. I will try to get through to Sam later in the afternoon. Meanwhile we can weigh all options that we have now, and if need be, and if Sam accepts we can have him transfered to either Kisumu Agakhan hospital, Nairobi hospital, Agakhan Hospital in Nairobi, or Mbagathi Nairobi which are all equally good.

I will update you more as soon as i am informed enough.

Peace,

Dear all Dan Otedo sent me this message today...

"Thanks Ricardo. sam is much better today. Has a wobbly walk. He is mentally strong and very determined to get over this reaction. Oh the police lobbed teargas in Homa Bay hospital and shot dead a nurse. Mbita is calm today. Police allowed a peaceful demo. They were shocked after shooting 2 women. I will go for the hospital bill tomorrow and see what more care we need to give Sam. Dan."

Ricardo

Ricardo:

Dear all

I received this text-message from Dan Otedo, Samwel's friend and co- worker in Mbita/Rusinga Island, western Kenya...

"Hello Ricardo. Hope you got my voice mail. Sam is much better now. We had a lot of challange taking him to hospital. There was a violent demo as early as 7PM. They blocked the causeway (from Rusinga Island to Mbita on the mainland) with boats and little fires on the road. The hospital refused to give us the ambulance for fear of it being burnt. We walked him half way to the hospital. Took 1 hour to get access to the doc. There is no business here today. So no internet. 2 people got shot dead. 2 women with gunshot wounds. Tomorrow could be worse. But Sam is more stable today. Dan."

Rusinga Island is connected to the mainland by a causeway, like a bridge. Sam lives on Rusinga Island. The town of Mbita, where the ICIPE scientfic station and doctor are, is on mainland side of the causeway. I don't know where the hospital is, or how far, but I think Dan said the other day that it is in the Mbita area.

See the hand-drawn map on one of Sam's Worknets pages at...

http://www.worknets.org/wiki.cgi?RusingaIsland

I thanked Dan for looking after Sam, and asked him to send Sam our best wishes.

Update on Samwel. Also violence in Mbita area.

Dear all

I received this text-message from Dan Otedo, Samwel's friend and co- worker in Mbita/Rusinga Island, western Kenya...

"Hello Ricardo. Hope you got my voice mail. Sam is much better now. We had a lot of challange taking him to hospital. There was a violent demo as early as 7PM. They blocked the causeway (from Rusinga Island to Mbita on the mainland) with boats and little fires on the road. The hospital refused to give us the ambulance for fear of it being burnt. We walked him half way to the hospital. Took 1 hour to get access to the doc. There is no business here today. So no internet. 2 people got shot dead. 2 women with gunshot wounds. Tomorrow could be worse. But Sam is more stable today. Dan."

Rusinga Island is connected to the mainland by a causeway, like a bridge. Sam lives on Rusinga Island. The town of Mbita, where the ICIPE scientfic station and doctor are, is on mainland side of the causeway. I don't know where the hospital is, or how far, but I think Dan said the other day that it is in the Mbita area.

See the hand-drawn map on one of Sam's Worknets pages at...

http://www.worknets.org/wiki.cgi?RusingaIsland

I thanked Dan for looking after Sam, and asked him to send Sam our best wishes.

Ricardo (England)

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/mendenyo/message/1090 Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:46 pm

Dear all I've been talking to Samwel's friend, Dan Otedo, who works with Samwel at Tom Mboya centre in Mbita, near Rusinga Island in Kenya. Samwel's illness was a lot more serious than chickenpox. He's being treated by the doctor, a very good General Practitioner, at the scientific research station at Mbita and he is recovering well. It may take him several months to fully recover.

If any friends of Samwel need updates on his condition, Dan is at...

Dan Andrew Otedo Administrator Tom Mboya Community Technology Learning Center P.O.box 18 Mbita Code 40305 Kenya or call him through Dan Andrew Otedo +254720366094

I sent our best wishes to Samwel. Let's hope he gets well soon.

Ricardo (England)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistichelping/message/1786 Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:06 pm

Dear Tom, Ken , Samwel and all, due to serious situation of Samwel, Ken suggested me to send some money to Lilian. She can't working because she is constantly caring for him. We have been informed by Meadowlea (who is doing a extraodinary work contacting so many people and reporting to us!!!) that Jackton needs medicines, nets ans whatever for prevention and treatment of Malaria. So I aaranged with ken that i'll send him tomorrow by Wester Union 70 EURO to ken , he will send taht money to Lilian and Jackton. God bless people of good will! Maria Agnese

Sabrina Jung wrote: please update me concerning your will to send money by air > mile... i think it is still very needy because jacobs father and his > two of 3 children are still very sick and others from the community as > well. the hospital in mbita seems still to be very full. i hope samwel > got his treatment and medication. maybe he had to go to another > hospital, i know the condition there, when it is overladed then it is. > the sick people have to wait... sometimes they die in front of the > hospital. one doctor, 2 nurses. ... not really trained personal and > often people who dont care. it hink especially at that time now the > health situation in mbita is horrendous... desastrous. > > thanks so much for ur job... so lovely and kind. > > love, mina

JacobOgweno wrote: Dear Mr Andrius I am Jacob Ogweno the Kenya Director of MINA ACADEMY, a school operating in Kenya – Suba district- Mbita along the shores. I have got your name from Sabrina Jung – Mina, The International Director of MINA ACADEMY and your email from Samwel Oketch Kongere. I am happy to inform you that I know Mr. Kongere and we always work closely to assist in the community development programs in the District. He has been representing my programs on line. Following the massage I got from Mina yesterday I am glad to inform you that I have talked to Mr. Kongere and I deeply appreciate your outstanding efforts to assist the needy and Val arable members of the society. After our lengthy discussion I hereby kindly advice as a matter of urgency that you send the money to RECARDO who will quickly communicate with Pamela Mclean and finally wire the money to our school account. Please if this is possible below are the school bank details

January 8: From Francis Opiyo from Mbita, Kenya:

The Kenya situation has detoriated. The Kenyan people needs humanitarian assistance after the post election violence. We have created a network in getting people's cell phone numbers so we can know exactly what is taking place within thier surrounding e.g, the number of people who has been killed and displace,what exactly do they need and more so What does Kenya as a country need for reconciliation.

We are requesting if possible to reach out with your support by purchasing a phone credit at http://www.mamamikes.com (a service pointed out by long-time customer, AsifDaya) (safaricom card to number +254 725 213 873) or sending your donation through Western Union to FrancisOpiyo Opiyo-Homa Bay. These people can excahnge these credit cards amount to buy food, blankets, water, transport and other neccessities.

HELP & INFORMATION FOR KENYANS, Food,support, & how to obtain help etc. at this site below. You can get more news from our gmail group: [email protected] or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mendenyo/ or http://www.ms.lt Thanks in advancefor your support FrancisOpiyo Box 337 Mbita, 40305 Kenya- East Africa Tel: +254 725 213 873

SamwelKongere, January 8, 2008: Chatting with FrancisOpiyo+254725873 who was holed up, he said that Kenya need mediation talks through an independent commission and people should tell us their Socio-economic problems. There are more problems created by the two regimes in other areas than good. Kenya needs centre Cohesiveness which is entangled due to the gap between the rich and the poor. Poverty usually makes people swayed at the elections hence they don’t focus on the bargains and policies.

Mbita

Mbita Town Suba District

Inhabitants

Most of the inhabitants in Suba District are Luos and Luo Basuba, who are the River Lake Nilotes originally from Southern Sudan and cross section of Bantu and Nilotic mixed race who migrated to Western Kenya through Uganda along lake Victoria in the 15th century. They were called the River Lake Nilotes because they were fishermen from along the River Nile. They speak Dholuo (meaning Luo Language). Luos are the second largest of the 43 main tribes in Kenya. The river Lake Nilotes came to Kenya through 4 main family groups: Jok�Jok, Jok�Owiny, Jok�Omollo and Luo Abasuba leaving the Padhola, Acholi, and Aluru families in Uganda.

Mbita Economy

Rural residents of Mbita mainly depend on agriculture as their main source of food and income. The area receives two rainy seasons a year: March to June and September to December. The farming is mostly subsistence based and major crops grown are sorghum, potatoes, cassava, beans and maize. When farmers have surplus crops they sell in local markets for income.

In the past some farmers have grown cotton and coffee as cash crops, but the market�s unreliability disappointed them. These days most farmers prefer to grow food crops they can put on their table and sell in local markets. Mbita town serves as a trading center for the community around it and the nearby Islands. In the town most people work in small businesses and district offices. There are a number of retail shops, bars, hotels, cafes, and residential houses. There is also (no bank but cooperative society micro credit village banks), a post office, transport service companies, Small supermarket, chemists, 1 health center, and some private clinics.

Poverty in Suba District

Though there are many development initiatives in the area, poverty is still a major challenge. Most families live on less than a dollar a day. Poverty hits hardest in areas facing low rainfall levels and poor soil fertility, such as the lower parts of gembe hills, lower Nyamanga, Rusinga and Waondo Locations.

Poverty was not always a problem. Community elders talk of times when there was plenty of milk and food. Cattle herds were larger and their manure made for fertile soil. Many factors have caused poverty to spread during the last 20 years.

As the local population grew and new land use systems shifted ownership from common to individual, problems began. There was growing pressure on natural resources such as trees (for firewood and building). Deforestation led to erosion and desertification and a decrease in soil fertility. Lack of trees also reduced rainfall and caused rivers and streams to dry up. Soil infertility and other causes led to low crop production and lower animal production.

At the same time, expenses for such things as education and healthcare rose dramatically as Kenya�s economy grew. In the past, people could not have imagined needing one cow to pay for one year�s worth of school fees for one child, let alone the five cows that are necessary these days.

Climate of Suba district

Suba district has two rainy seasons. The geography of the land influences distribution and amount of rainfall. The district is drier in the Eastern part towards Usao nad waondo locations and is wetter towards the higher altitudes in the western parts of Gwasi hills and Mfangano Island. On the highlands the rainfall ranges between 800-1900mm per annum. The lower areas receive between 800-1200mm.

The long rains fall between March and June, with a peak in April and May. Short rains do not last as long and typically fall from late September to November. In the past the pattern was consistent but now it can be unpredictable, having negative impact on farming.

Temperatures also vary with altitude. The mean minimum temperature is 15�C while the mean maximum temperature is 30�C. The humidity is relatively high with mean evaporation being between 1800mm to 2000mm in a year.

Agriculture activities in Suba district

Many crops are grown in Suba district. There are a small amounts of cotton, sugarcane and pepper as cash crops. Green vegetables such as kale and indigenous greens grow with partial irrigation. Farmers use kitchen water, spring water and intricate systems of trenches for catching rainwater to irrigate, mostly by hand.

Bananas, sweet potatoes and cassava do well when fed by rain and are grown widely as security crops that will withstand drought and feed families during famines. These can also be sold for income, especially bananas.

Local breeds make up most of the livestock in Suba district. Farmers crossbreed cattle and poultry to raise the quality of the local breeds. In the past there was enough land for cows to graze freely in fields and most families had large herds of more than 20 heads. The average family in Suba District has only around 4 cows. Most compounds that you visit will have a flock of free-range chickens.

This Story is Given by the local District Agriculture Officer with reference from the following farmers Bernard Midianga okello, Hezra Omwoma and Risper Oswango.

Compiled By Samwel Konngere

MILLET Background Information a bout millet Millet (bel) is one of the oldest foods known to humans and possibly the first cereal grain to be used for domestic purposes, most Nilotic tribes known as the river lake Nilotes. It is mentioned in the Bible, and was used during those times to make bread. Millet has been used in Africa and India as a staple food for thousands of years and it was grown as early as 2700 BC in China where it was the prevalent grain before rice became the dominant staple.

It is documented that the plant was also grown by the lake dwellers of Switzerland during the Stone Age. Today millet ranks as one of most important grain in the world and especially in Kenya a long the Lake Victoria region as the story is told by John Ouma of Rusinga Island, sustains 3/4 of the area�s population and is a significant part of the diet in almost all the households. Millet is a major crop in many of these districts, Nyando, Bondo, Homa-bay Migori and Suba, particularly Suba and Bondo where the crop covers almost 1-2 Thousands acres, and thrives in the hot dry climates that are not conducive to growing other grains such as wheat and rice.

Growing

Millet is mainly grown during the long rainy season from March to July. Once out of the hull, millet grains look like tiny yellow spheres with a dot on one side where it was attached to the stem. This gives the seeds an appearance similar to tiny, pale yellow beads.

Millet is unique due to its short growing season. It can develop from a planted seed to a mature, ready to harvest plant in as little as 65 days. This is an important consideration for areas where food is needed for many.

Planting is done after a through ploughing using Oxen driven or by hand hoes. The land is tilted to wait for the rains which start in either February or March. The Millet seeds are just sown using hoes which are traditionally made. From one hole to another the seeds are put in a small hole. One hole can take about 5-7 seeds which germinates after five days.

Millet grows well on poorly drained and dry soils and fits well in hot climates with short rainfall periods and cool climates with brief warm summers. This has made the production of millet consistent in our Island. Our island is having most unpredicted rainfall trends for a number of years now. The Millet plant need good drainage, have a low moisture requirement and do not do well in waterlogged soils. Rusinga has most undulated valleys and soil does not store water.

Millets are better adapted to dry, infertile soils than most other crops, and are therefore often cultivated under extremely harsh conditions - for example, high temperatures, low and erratic precipitation, short growing seasons and acidic and infertile soils with poor water-holding capacity. Most millet have strong, deep rooting systems and short life cycles, and can grow rapidly when moisture is available. As a result, they can survive and reliably produce small quantities of grain in areas where mean annual precipitation is as low as 300 mm. This compares with a minimum water requirement of 400 mm for sorghum and 500-600 mm for maize. Some species (pearl and proso millets) also appear to tolerate higher temperatures than sorghum and maize, although they do not tolerate long drought periods as well as sorghum.

Types of Millet grown

In the lake region the types grown depend on one area, they are usually named after the size and colour. Most millet species are yellow and reddish. Other more popular types here include; Gopari, obeko leso, Nyonyango abougo, nyakaicipe, seredo-these are the shorter types and can be planted when the time of planting is late. The shorter millet types can mature quickly. There are some species which are more durable and can give harvest with quality seeds which were mostly grown in the late sixties and early seventies. Types called Ojuti, Nyamrongo and others which I can not remember because many farmers including me don't grow them as before due to fluctuating rainfall.

As told by JOHN OUMA Samwel Kongere Rusinga Island

Some links in Mbita, Kenya:

SamwelKongere

The Millet as Nutritious food for Health

For several years around the Lake Victoria shores, Millet has proven to be the most nutritious cereal for most of the families living here. Mr. Jackton Okoth, tell a short story of the crop (Bel) he has known since he was a young boy.

Millet is used in many homes with children taking it as a formula drink whenever they need to drink as those who take tea or Coffee. Of late, the name is changing from the usual name Nyuka to Uji a thin gruel used as breakfast, porridge in Kiswahili a language that is widely spoken by the youths. Many old people still admire porridge, Nyuka Bel. In Rusinga Island, millet is used in porridge, or is fermented every evening to be prepared in the morning when people are going out for morning chores. In very few cases, some use it into a beverage like Busaa, a local brew that old men and women used to take after a serious day�s work. In addition, in Rusinga, it is used to make bread for lunch or dinner, as baby food, and as uji, for most of the family�s drinks. Commonly eaten foods like, cabbage, kales, mustard greens, spinach, turnips, cassava, soy beans, peanuts, peaches, and pears, Millet still ranks high here as the others are not favorably grown due to the hostile climate only millet can withstand. The people here eat fish as their staple food; the millet floor goes very well with the tilapia fish soup. Some old people saying, the Fish and millet bread is very good in bodybuilding and this is why many from here are strong and can withstand many hardships. After the harvest over the planting season in August, the stock to be kept is stored in granaries: these are small makeshifts for cereals storage. Mostly the millet is not pounded but left in store for interval pounding whenever one family needs flour for meal. The stock mostly can take most families up to next planting season. There is no millet taken to the markets due to the fact that its consumption is not very much widespread, only the Luos and very few tribes like it as flour. We mostly grow millet most of the years, as Maize is not doing very well here but most children nowadays prefer Maize flour from millet, because the corn flour is lighter than millet flour and nowadays fish is also minimal and eating millet flour which is sometimes sour with vegetables is real hard. We prefer millet because most of the weevils do not interfere with it at the stores. We also do not use fertilizers to plant millet and it is drought resistant.

This story is told by MR. Jackton Okoth Of Rusinga Island And brought by Samwel Kongere.

malaria nets for Mbita, Kenya

Support for orphans and vulnerable children

Mbita Point research and training centre

AboutThisPage

• PageType = Location
• ThisPageRecommendedBy = AndriusKulikauskas
• FeaturedIn = MyFoodStory
• GlobalVillageIndex = SamwelKongere and AndrewDanOtedo lead a center with 15 computers where they are training 3,000 women in three years.
• KenyansToCall=JacobOgweno +254 726 095 945, SabrinaJung (Mina) +31 610 495 376 in The Netherlands, Dan Andrew Otedo +254720366094 ,
• LatestNewsFromKenya=Sabrina Jung is helping Jacob Ogweno of the Mina Academy, the hospital in MbitaPoint is overloaded, family of JacobOgweno is sick,he needs airtime;Samwel Kongere and family of JacobOgweno are very sick, Maria Agnese is sending them some money for medicines and malaria preventing nets;riots, blockades on the bridge, two peope shoot dead, two womans with wounds,no bussines working,Samwell is recovering;riots near HomaBay hospital, nurse killed

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:25:29 UTC pearl mbita: what is mention above is quite true

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:33:21 UTC [email protected]: Jacob ogweno is con man i have known him for some time