Karibu Kenya

Karibu Kenya

After the Uganda project I decided to cross to Kenya by bus. It was a 12-hour journey to Nakuru and five times cheaper than the plane. They spoke very well of a bus company called Mash Poa and I have to agree with them because the trip was considerably comfortable, despite the fact that the drivers insist on playing music as if we were all in a mobile disco, and that the bus left Kampala at 1am! A couple of essentials that accompany me on every trip are earplugs and an inflatable neck cushion, one of the best investments any traveller can make.

Uganda/Kenya border to be crossed on foot

In Kenya I will visit several projects, the first one in Nakuru which is located about 3 hours north of Nairobi. It is an orphanage run by a local couple that takes in 38 children and the truth is that it has been one of the saddest experiences of my life. They are all children taken from the street, most of them orphans. The youngest, Malcom, who is now one year old, was abandoned when he was only 3 months old. Most of the children were in terrible conditions, there wasn't enough food so many days they went to bed without supper, they didn't have enough blankets or beds and shared between 4-5 children, they don't have almost no clothes or shoes and hygiene wasn't very well controlled. One of the 10 year old boys ran away a month ago and when he came back he brought a skin disease and they have been infecting each other... I was very impressed when he took off his clothes to take pictures of them and try to find out from doctors I know in Kenya what kind of disease he had so that I could give them the right treatment.

The owners of the orphanage receive almost no help and the management did not convince me, so I found it sad and frustrating and it has thrown me off balance a bit because now I am constantly wondering which option is better, to take in all the children you find even though you know you are not going to be able to improve their conditions too much or to choose a few to give them a noticeably better life?

The little ones at school in the middle of a siesta

Some of the orphanage girls in their Sunday clothes

The little cutie, Malcom

They have prepared a room to receive volunteers but for the moment I am not going to include it in the platform, the environment is beautiful and peaceful but the conditions for volunteers are absolutely rudimentary. I, who think I am quite feral and can adapt to almost anything, have to say that I had a hard time there. Besides, for me it is essential to improve the living conditions of the children first and maybe in the future I can take in volunteers, but it is clear to me that volunteers are not a priority in this particular case.

I would like to be able to help them to get electricity in the centre, to buy mattresses and blankets for them, so anyone who would like to lend a hand by making a donation would be very welcome. If you are interested please contact me, I can give you all the details you need.

In the gardens after Sunday Mass