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#REPOST #AFRICANQUEEN 

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My fact check segment gives interesting facts about water that you probably had no idea about. 

Spread the word. Knowledge is power. 

#WATERFACTS

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CODE NAME: WATER. ACCESS: DENIED

The three basic human rights are food, shelter and clothing. (http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=nSWZY3Rs9vQC&pg=PA192&lpg=PA192&dq=three+basic+human+rights+food+clothing+shelter&source=bl&ots=VmDocae7tQ&sig=owyRBKCzfPctQqGdQvYJv2mp69g&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ELh9VOzLGeWO7Ab5xIDAAQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=three%20basic%20human%20rights%20food%20clothing%20shelter&f=false ) My basic rights include a fourth one; the internet, but that’s a blog for another day. Water falls under the food category and its uses are just about as diverse as a foster home. It’s extremely sad that not every Kenyan has access to water, leave alone the need for it to be clean and running steady. 

Approximately 70% of our bodies are made of water.  (https://purewatersystems.com/PWS_new_brochure.pdf ) It therefore only makes sense that we need to ingest healthy amounts of water in order to maintain a healthy balance. Healthy skin runs in my family (thankfully) but this does not mean that I leave everything to genetics. Water is the main reason I have healthy skin. Drinking water is not the only way to get healthy skin. I have a ritual about three times a week that involves boiling water, adding menthol/eucalyptus to it and covering myself with a blanket in order to steam my face. This serves the purpose of opening my pores and getting rid of toxins. http://www.livestrong.com/article/74530-steam-face-cleanse-pores/ 

I remember going to a high school which was new and as much as we had a steady and reliable supply of clean water, hot water would sometimes run out depending on how late/early one woke up. Therefore, the school staff would have water boiled in large amounts and poured into our individual buckets. We would thereafter go into the shower and fill another bucket with cold water and mix the two in order to shower. Typing this right now makes me feel more appreciative of the ‘insta-shower’ (http://enlightenme.com/instant-water-heater/ ) invention that has become the beacon of new hope for a person like me who is allergic to cold showers. (Of course I exaggerate for effect.)

HYGIENE: Steven Cahill, a student washes his hands before eating his lunch. Photo credits: W. Gachukia.  

Law student and Riara University President, Niven Sululu stated that, “It’s become an important task and duty that the government is faced with to ensure that every home has access to clean water.” Thankfully, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural resources have made major moves in a bid to ensure that by 2015, clean water is available to all citizens. Delegations have even been sent abroad (e.g. Tunisia) to negotiate for loans aimed at establishing water supply in rural areas. http://www.water.go.ke/downloads/ps%20visit%20to%20tunis.pdf . There are also social media initiatives such as Water.org which have Facebook pages and implore people to make donations. (https://www.facebook.com/water?fref=ts )

Farming: My grandfathers examine maize and lettuce growing on the farm in Muranga as a result of good irrigation. Photo credits: W. Gachukia. 

The availability of water is often taken for granted and you tend to find that those with limited access to water utilize it in the most innovative and efficient ways. http://www.csir.co.za/nre/water_resources/docs/10_rural_w_p32-35.pdf A fine example is my grandmother, Dr. Eddah Gachukia, whom in an interview told me a story from when she was a young girl living in Kandara, Muranga. Their water flowed from a river and it was from this river that she made a diversion using a piece of hollowed out wood that would lead the water to her little garden. This inspired me to start a fish pond upcountry with my uncle who is a farmer. Different direction but same concept. 

Agriculture, farming and innovation: Water used to make artificial fish pond for goldfish that i am rearing upcountry on the same farm in Murang'a. Photo Credits: W. Gachukia. 

A few cliché facts about the Maasai community in Kenya are known but I came to find out from Leiyan Leteipan, a Maasai student at USIU, who stated, “The Maasai are considered to be ‘protectors and keepers of forests and wildlife’ from time immemorial.” In fact, a Green Schools Tree Growing program has been started by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in a bid to harvest rain water and make the most of it during the dry season. Such initiatives will ensure that the future of water conservation is kept strong and alive.  http://www.environment.go.ke/?p=647

After all is said and done, it’s important to remember to complain less and do more. From my high school days where the worst thing that could have happened in the morning was missing out on a seamless hot shower, to realizing the struggle of the people in Turkana who would be more than appreciative of even two cold showers per day, perspective must never be lost. I therefore call upon anyone reading this blog to be more mindful of water usage in your personal lives, whether it means not leaving the tap running while brushing one’s teeth to utilizing the water used to boil vegetables in a stew or gravy instead of pouring it out in order to make the best of health benefits contained in it, it is possible to save water.

Recreational purposes: My four year old niece playing with a water balloon at Sunday school. Photo Credits: W. Gachukia. 

  Statistics:

http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/irrigationmap/ken/index.stm

Global Map in tabulated form of Irrigation Areas in Kenya.

 2.   http://www.water.go.ke/downloads/STRATEGIC%20PLAN.pdf

Kenya has 647 cubic meters of water per capita compared to the international benchmark of 1000 cubic meters per capita.

There is therefore need to increase storage, which is currently at only 4.5 cubic meters per capita; to at least 9 cubic meters per capita especially through conservation and retention at the point of fall.

Future projections: Kenya is committed to a 50% reduction of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015.

#WATER MAJI WATERISLIFE

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JOB-LESS-STRESS

  Unemployment is the state of not having a job and subsequently a steady income in order to support oneself. This is a problem that has affected multitudes worldwide. The focus of this report however, is on Kenya.

Gabriel Kimwaki on his coffee farm in Nyeri County, central Kenya. Agriculture is still the backbone of the economy even when many small-scale farmers continue to receive minimal returns. Credit: Miriam Gathigah/IPS. http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/11/middle-income-kenya-still-in-need-of-aid/ 

The number of people in Kenya is estimated to have risen from just over 6 million to about 44 million. Much of that growth may be attributed to the period between 1950 and 1985, when every Kenyan woman had an average of about eight children in her lifetime. http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/jul/11/africa-kenya-population-youth-unemployment

In September 2014, Kenya became a middle income nation however; unemployment is a problem that a sizeable e percentage of the population still battles with. The poor are still scrambling not to go to bed hungry and those that are employed are considering giving up due to extremely low returns. http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/11/middle-income-kenya-still-in-need-of-aid/  The government thus needs to come up with initiatives to cater for them and help them be self-reliant https://www.opendata.go.ke/Economy/Medium-Term-Plan-2008-2012-5-B1-5-D/vnjq-qwi3

 Source: www.tradingeconomics.com

The Kenya National Bureau of Standards identifies  the total GDP in 2013 was estimated to be US$55.2 billion, which is a good thing and the reason it is now a middle income nation. Unfortunately, this means nothing for the poor as 43% of the population of Kenyans living below US$1.25 a day as of 2010. (African Economic Outlook Database, 2014 http://www.undp.org/content/dam/rba/docs/Reports/African%20Economic%20Outlook%202013%20En.pdf  Increasing inequality of the benefits of economic growth and resources remain a concern the richest 20 percent of the population receiving an average of US$2,079 while an average of US$134 went to the poorest 20 percent of the population in 2011 http://soea.sidint.net/kenya/

In 2006, the unemployment rate in Kenya was 12.70% and this figure shot up to 40% in 2011. http://www.tradingeconomics.com/kenya/unemployment-rate     The average unemployment rate from as far back as 1999 to 2011 was at an average of 22.43%. (Kenya Bureau of Statistics http://www.knbs.or.ke/  )  In addition, youth aged 15- 24 years had unemployment rates of 25% on average in 2005/6 and it was found that the difference in gender was not separated by a large gap.

With all this information in mind, how then can this problem be solved? Pauline Mwangi, CEO at Allen Cole Partners is of the opinion that the root causes need to be identified and ‘stamped out’ and taking steps such as changing the education system and offering more support to the jua kali sector. http://paulinemwangi.com/unemployment-in-kenya/  

#unemployment

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Professor Faith Nguru speaks on Ebola in Africa. 

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Marryanne Gichuhi a librarian gives her insight on ebola.

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EBOLA: DEADLY BUT PREVENTABLE & CURABLE.

It’s hard to open a newspaper, turn on a news channel or even log onto one’s favorite social media site without hearing about Ebola. It used to be a disease of the past that many thought was contained but this is clearly not the case.

In an interview with a local watchman, Bonniface Wanjala, he stated, “I believe that Africa is cursed as a continent because the outbreak has only happened in Africa and we are paying for the sins of our ancestors. “Niven Simiyu, a Riara University Law student had a very different view as he stated that pharmaceutical companies are not offering enough support for Ebola research due to financial restraints in Africa.

For a word that is spoken every millisecond, people have very varying views on the matter and it is clear that more information needs to be put out in order to raise more awareness to all members of every society.

Ebola is actually a viral disease that affects both humans and primates. It was traced back to 1976 by Peter Peter Piot was a researcher at a lab in Antwerp when a pilot brought him a blood sample from a Belgian nun who had fallen mysteriously ill in Zaire. The nurse succumbed to her illness as there was no cure seeing as the disease was unprecedented.  http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/04/ebola-zaire-peter-piot-outbreak Dr. Margaret Njeru, a lecturer, is of the opinion that Ebola is only getting attention now that it is affecting people in America and is no longer an African problem. 

The WHO has been staying on top of matters by providing a wealth of knowledge relating to Ebola. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/ The March 2014 outbreak in West Africa has been found to be the largest and most complex outbreak since its discovery in 1976 and what’s worse is it is spreading like wildfire to countries like Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The WHO claims that transmission is low and infection is caused by direct contact with fluids, liquids et al, of people who are infected with the virus. The virus has an incubation period of 2 to 21 days before symptoms begin to show such as fever, fatigue, impaired liver and kidney function and in some cases, internal and external bleeding. WHO has also issued guidelines on the management on Ebola as seen here  https://db.tt/UiHp87BW .

A nurse receives a suspected Ebola patient inside the high-risk area at the Doctors Without Borders treatment centre in Kailahun, Sierra Leone, on July 9. (Sylvain Cherkaoui/Cosmos/MSF) http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/ebola-outbreak-more-than-doctors-needed-to-contain-west-africa-s-unprecedented-crisis-1.2720882

Ebola has led to nationw-wide quarantines. In fact, there was a case whereby Kenyans were stranded in Liberia.The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs had to step in to have them flown home but the process was lengthy due to precautionary measures. http://www.nation.co.ke/news/-/1056/2494350/-/15j9078/-/index.html 

Closer to home, the government via its Ministry of Health was yesterday reported to have gone electronic in a bid to raise awareness on Ebola. http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/article/2000139012/kenya-s-ministry-of-health-goes-electronic-to-raise-ebola-awareness  This initiative is supposed to not only inform the public, but also the medical practitioners around the country. The advantage of going digital is it has a wider reach in a fast and cost-effective way. The Ministry of Health has also taken steps to launch a media campaign together with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in order to educate the public on how to stay safe from the disease.  http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/t1020-ebola-reponse-update.html 

If you are still wondering whether Ebola is something we should worry about or not, look at the statistics below. 

STATISTICS

WHO: Death Toll: 4,033 people with 8,399 suspected cases. ( www.news.com.au/ebola-outbreak2014 )

MInistry of Health: Death Toll:  Sept. 6, the virus had infected over 4,300 people in six African countries, out of which some 2300 had died. ( http://www.punchng.com/news/kenya-maintains-flight-ban-to-ebola-hit-nations/ )

INTERVIEW VIDEO LINKS: 

http://youtu.be/3UMzSiVe1UE 

http://youtu.be/XEn3RMarz7A 

http://youtu.be/5aTKMZQbmHo 

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I LIKE MY JAM ON MY TOAST, NOT MY STREET.

Traffic is one of the most disliked words in every Kenyan’s vocabulary. Every person who owns or uses a car to get to point A to B experiences traffic but the same can be said of foot traffic but that is not the focus here. There is no such thing as good traffic. In fact, no traffic is good traffic; period. A street hawker on Mbagathi Way, Manuel Manase, begs to differ. “Traffic jam enables me to market my goods to motorists and gives them time to properly look at my goods.” As the saying goes, one man’s meat is another’s poison.

Image courtesy of :  http://priyanka-kenyasafari.blogspot.com/p/aberdare-national-park-kenya.html  

In the most general sense, traffic ‘jam’ as it is referred to quite often in Nairobi, is characterized by slower speeds, longer time duration for trips and increased queueing. When extreme traffic congestion sets in, drivers tend to get overly frustrated and this sometimes ends up in road rage.

What enrages me and what I sometimes think is the cause of traffic jams most times is the fact that there is no road etiquette. If the drivers of vehicles could exercise courtesy and respect the fact that every person has a place that they need to get to, there would be some form of order.

 A prime example is the T-junction at Yaya Centre that was completed a few months ago. This intersect does not have traffic lights and to some extent, the traffic lights will not really solve anything. The problem there is that everyone is too impatient and would rather block off vehicles coming in from one direction where there is a through pass, and just sit in a stagnant lane. It’s unfortunate for people living in that area but thankfully there is a bi-pass to bi-pass (pun intended) the madness at that intersect.  http://mobile.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/Malls-to-blame-Nairobi-traffic-jams/-/1950774/2025704/-/format/xhtml/-/9vpj4/-/index.html

I used to be a staunch advocate for the fact that Nairobi has the worst traffic ever until some free time had me browsing the net and I stumbled upon articles on really BAD traffic elsewhere in the world. A prime example is China. Apparently everything is made in China but trust me, it is the birth place of traffic. In 2010, China made history with a 62-mile long traffic jam that lasted not one, not two but twelve days! Every time there is traffic, people assume that there has been an accident behind it but this time, there were just too many clogged up vehicles on the road. The irony in all this is that majority of the vehicles were heavy trucks that were carrying construction supplies to Beijing for, wait for it, road work that was intended to help ease congestion. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1306058/China-traffic-jam-enters-11th-day-officials-admit-weeks.html

Moral of the story; The next time you’re frustrated by traffic jam, just think of the people of China and thank your lucky stars you’re just on Mbagathi Way. 

YouTube Link:  http://youtu.be/lrJpCJJZiuI