Rainwater Harvesting & Irrigation

There are two things that every Kenyan should be doing, and I can’t believe they’re not: harvesting rainwater and using drip-irrigation. Keeping in mind that the climate varies drastically in different parts of the country, I’d still insist that at least half the country is totally inefficient with regard to its use of water.

Rainwater – it’s right there, it’s relatively clean, it’s free. Put a few buckets outside, eventually get the pesa together to guy a 1,000 L tank and jimmy-rig a gutter on your house, kinyozi or the little shed on your shamba.

An honest question, because maybe there’s an answer I’m just not aware of: Why are you walking whatever distance to your nearest river or borehole instead of collecting the water that floods your compound every day or two for at least half the year?

And the drip-irrigation – so easy! I think the rubber hosing is the only costly part, and that’s a cost I’m looking into. I talked to the Moi students about getting this started at Susan’s center. They also have to figure out how to divert water from the pipe they showed me, and maybe get permission from someone to do so. But with just a couple PVC elbows, one water tap/valve, random sticks or timber scraps and the rubber hosing, the students can easily set up drip irrigation lines along their rows of crops. I see some Kenyans doing this, but not nearly enough of them. I think this is probably an education issue, so I’m glad that Aqua Clara is promoting it around Kisii, AMPATH is using it in Eldoret and the students (particularly one) are really excited to try pursuing it in the Kerio Valley.

Of course I know that water access is a problem here, but that’s exactly why I think these two efforts are so important. I hope people aware of these approaches start doing a lot more to promote them.

Lions. And zebras. And buffalo.

In Nairobi National Park on Monday afternoon, we happened upon a lioness while driving along the park road. She slept under a bush 4-5 feet from the road - incredibly close to us! Her head wasn’t visible from under the bush, but her torso, hind legs & tail were in plain sight. Every minute or so, she flipped her tail high in the air as if swishing away flies. I couldn’t believe we sat that close to a lion, probably closer than I’ll ever be again.

We then spent all afternoon/dusk hoping to see lions on the prowl, and late in the evening as we neared the park exit, two huge male lions walked alongside the road next to our van. It was shocking to watch them walking like the huge bad-ass cats they are. We all tried to take photos, but none of us could capture the moment. The pitch blackness didn’t cooperate, and our security guard wasn’t happy when we opened windows to try for a better shot. But we saw them -  three lions in one day. Very cool.

On Wednesday I had a moment that satisfied literally my top personal (non-academic, non-professional) goal for my time here. I have a video of me looking goofy in that moment, but I've spent an hour trying to upload it with no success. Guess you'll have to wait for the details on this one.

An hour or two after that zebra moment, several of us (Kristiana, Elizabeth, Bryson, Charlotte and I) biked around some more of the park. We stopped often for photo ops, snacks and once to totally endanger our lives. We hiked up a steep slope, with Bryson and I leading the pack. We made one and a half important statements on the way uphill. First, I told him how happy I was, how I was having my greatest day in Kenya, how I’d been giddy during my zebra-filled bike ride an hour before. He seemed genuinely happy to hear it.

The remaining half statement belonged to Bryson as we walked toward the top of the hill. Facing each other, with me viewing the lowlands while Bryson faced the upper ridge, he began to say something along the lines of, “You know what I want? To actually be out here on the ground and see––” He stopped himself, absolute shock and terror on his face. “Buffalo. SHIT. Buffalo!” He was staring directly behind me.

I froze. “What do I do?” He told me to walk. “Walk or run?” I took my first steps forward.

“Walk!”

Terrified, we walked – quickly – as Bryson peered behind us every other step. He said something about the buffalo smelling us on the wind and yelled ahead to the other girls to turn around immediately and walk – FASTER – downhill.

Once out of range, I got a few more details from Bryson. An entire herd of buffalo had been 40 yards behind me, and apparently one made direct eye contact with Bryson. It had been an extremely close call with one of the most dangerous animals around.

And I've added some pictures to my Kenyan photo album.

July

Let's see... since I last wrote, I finished my internship, said goodbye to Kisii and Sam and John, met SPEA people in Nairobi for dinner last Saturday, spent a week of holiday in Mombasa & a very sweet little fishing village/beach town making friends everywhere I went, and then returned to Nairobi on Saturday morning. (As a side note: I promise myself that's the last overnight bus I'll ever take. I believe I've met my quota.) This weekend I've been hanging out with Leah and Sarah, two of my housemates from Bloomington last year. We each made independent plans to come to Kenya this summer, so it's pretty amazing that we're all here together. It's been the three of us along with Bryson and Pat. Today we went into the city so I could drink copious amounts of coffee while using a place's free wi-fi, and then we saw Harry Potter. Leah and Bryson are BIG fans. Tonight I met up Diane Henshel, the prof running my study abroad program that begins tomorrow. We have an exciting week ahead of us - a few national parks and a volunteer/community service thing in the Rift Valley - before the Environmental Impact Assessment course begins on the 25th-ish.

As usual, I've been a lazy blogger. So I'll continue the laziness by copying my SPEA blog here. Yep, I'm double-counting. My friends and fam are going to get the same propaganda I write for the Master's Program Office. Here it is:

At the end of my internship with Aqua Clara International in Kenya, I’m looking back at everything I’ve learned during these two months. Of course I’ve learned the things that were included in my job description, like how to test biosand filters to see whether they’re filtering drinking water well enough. But I’ve also learned quite a bit that I hadn’t anticipated – like how to communicate water quality test results to coworkers, partners and end-users by translating lab data into constructive advice. I’ve also planted maize, bailed water from a flooded greenhouse and trained community members on handwashing and disease transmission. Some of my work even hinted at the specific applicability of certain skills I’ll gain at SPEA – I dabbled in program evaluation and GIS, for example, so now I’m particularly motivated to take those classes.

It’s difficult to leave an internship that I’d like to be a permanent job. Since my work with Aqua Clara is pretty close to my dream job, two months doesn’t seem adequate. I’ve had enough time to become familiar with the organization, assist with its daily operations and complete my projects. That, plus my research on water projects and my SPEA education, provided the foundation to make recommendations on how Aqua Clara can improve its program success and sustainability. I’m pleased to know they’re already implementing some of my suggestions, and I feel confident that the internship benefited both me and the organization.

In making plans to work and study in Kenya this summer, I received a lot of support from SPEA. Dr. Wakhungu regularly checked on the progress of my plans this spring; the office of Career Services hosted informal meetings between students with experience in Kenya and those of us planning to go; and I was even lucky enough to receive a scholarship from SPEA to fund some of my expenses. That support definitely helped ensure that my logistics were taken care of so I could focus on the content of my internship and how it fits into my career plans.

I ended my internship in Kisii, Kenya, and the following day met Professor Wakhungu and recent MPA graduate Sarah Perfetti in Nairobi. (They’re visiting Kenya to expand SPEA’s relationships with organizations here and solidify internship opportunities for future students. So far, they’ve had lots of success, so SPEA students can expect great opportunities here next summer!) We had dinner with other SPEA students, and it was great to catch up on what everyone’s been doing with internships at the Kenya Forestry Research Institute, United Nations Environment Program and other organizations around Nairobi.

Up next in my summer plans: the SPEA study abroad program at Moi University in Kenya. Eight other students and I are taking an Environmental Impact Assessment course at Moi and traveling around the country. I’m excited to begin the program, and I’ll let you know how it goes!

Curbside Service

Last night we got a ride in an ambulance (that also moonlights as a hearse) from the Kisii Sports Club to Dallas Nightclub. This particularly special ambulance blares a nursery rhyme when it’s backing up, which it did as it dropped us at the door. Can’t make this stuff up.