Eldoret Centre Transforming Lives

By John Cheruiyot
It was song and dance at Eldoret Haven Recovery Centre recently when 53 former alcoholics and drug addicts graduated. It was an emotionally charged atmosphere when relatives, parents and friends assembled to receive former societal misfits. The graduands were hugged, embraced, and decorated with flowers. Tears of joy freely flowed as the graduands were received and congratulated. Every graduand took to the podium to give his or her testimony on how alcohol had wrecked his or her life.

Phillip from Tindiret confessed , “I stole beans and maize to buy beer. I wronged, cheated and stole from relatives and neighbours,” he added.
Anna Jemaiyo from Keiyo district revealed “I was cruel, abusive, hostile and destructive. My children deserted me and so were my daughters in law. In fact I burnt a house when my evil moods took control of me”
Mr. Joseph Lagat from Nandi North confessed, “I have been an alcoholic for 15 years. I was once employed at Kenyatta University where I got sacked for my drinking. Stopping smoking and drinking is the toughest thing to do. However no smoker or alcoholic is beyond repair. I am now a free man. Free from the bondage of alcohol. God has changed me”.
Kenneth Kosgei from Iten confessed “Beer has been my number one problem. I used every trick in the book to access beer. I would even use insects and reptiles to scare away those who sold or possessed beer. I was a threat and a nuisance to my people. Am now a new man and anew creature”.
“Satan stole my name Daniel and gave me Taliban.”Daniel Tirop revealed.
Samuel Sitet from Kitale confessed.“When I began drinking I thought it was easy. Beer has not helped me. Instead it has rendered me untrustworthy and inflicted shame on me and my family.”

Alfred Kiprotich from Cherangani confessed “Beer made me a thief. I stole everything and anything. I thus beg my brothers, sisters and parents to forgive me”.
Justus Kirui from Sotik confessed “The craving for alcohol made me steal things”.
The rehabilitation session took two months of very hard and difficult detoxification period for every addict of beer or cigar. They underwent tough training and rehabilitation period.
The centre was founded by Rev. Rono a man who was set apart and commissioned by God to help deliver alcoholics and drug addicts. When he disclosed his mission to the church leadership he was outrightly rejected. That church had nothing to do with alcoholics and drugs addicts the very scum of the society. Rono obeyed his God and his move to live for the rejects of the society has paid dividends. He established Haven Rehabilitation centre about 10km East of Eldoret town along Elgeiyo Border road. The centre offers a two month rehabilitation program for desperate addicts and alcoholics. Indeed it is a human reconditioning centre; a human resurrection centre. Men and women who have given up in life are restored.

Attending a graduation ceremony for former addicts and alcoholic is like no other event. It is a funeral in reverse; both sad and a happy moment. It is the end of sadness and evil side of life and the beginning of good times.

The mighty and the powerless, the rich and the poor are brought together as they embrace their delivered loved ones. Whether it is their uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, mothers or fathers, sons or daughters the centre has witnessed transformed lives of men and women whom the society had written off.

Indeed the graduation from addiction to freedom is a powerful experience. It is like a man or a woman coming from the grave. In most cases spouses who were separated by brutality and irresponsibility of drug and beer addiction are invited to the graduation, hence the event is dramatic, drastic and transforming. Homes and marriages are healed, relationships mended and made whole.

Alumni of the centre graced the occasion. One of them was Brian Kones the elder son of the Late MP, Kipkalya Kones. He was given chance to speak. He spoke eloquently and powerfully. His transformation from beer addiction to new freedom is profound. Relatives of ex-addicts keep coming to witness others come out from the chains and oppression of alcohol.
Parents whose children have graduated from the centre and have now become responsible citizens have great attachment to the centre.

Cherambos a former presidential security chief during Moi era attended the occasion. One of his daughters who graduated from the centre is now pursuing a master degree abroad.
Rev. Rono confesses that only God delivers the desperate men and women admitted at the centre. That the word of God and His power deliver and give a new lease of life to everyone who comes to the centre.

Every graduand after making powerful confessions openly asks for forgiveness from every one he or she had wronged.
Timothy Sawe from Ndalat Nandi North confessed, “I am a resurrected man from the grave of alcohol. I have been a problem to everyone particularly my family; my parents and neighbours, please forgive me.”

A teenager from Coast, Mr. Machiwe was among those who graduated from the centre. He confessed “I started smoking in primary. I smoked bhang in high school. Though I was brought in a Christian family I hated Christianity and thus rebelled against my parents. I was rude to them. I deviated from the norms. I spent my life in night clubs. My parents suffered psychological anguish caused by my anti social lifestyle. I now know God in a personal way”.
His parents and siblings burst in tears of joy as they saw their son and brother come to his senses again. His father said “I have forgiven my son. I want this program to reach the Coast. As a parent I had reached the end of my wits and power. I told God that I was handing over this son to Him. With God the impossible is possible”.

Such powerful emotional scenes are witnessed every two months during graduation ceremony at Haven Recovery Centre.

Each graduand is awarded a certificate bearing his/her name with the message: In recognition of commitment, courage and completion of a 60 days Rehabilitation program.

Birds of the Rift Valley

by Elijah Tanui
Kenya is a country blessed with a diversity of birdlife some of which are unique to its tropical climate. In this issue of eCentury we will highlight on birdlife species in the Rift Valley. The region has the highest number of bird species in the whole world which has attracted the biggest number of bird watchers. This region also serves as the best spot for migrant birds that come to Africa due to harsh winters especially from the months of November to March.

Lake Nakuru with its large number of flamingoes and other water birds, which sometimes goes up to three million, is one of the most ideal havens for bird watchers. Lake Baringo is another tourist attraction because of its high bird species population-more than 500, some of which are exclusive to the region. During winter in the temperate regions some birds migrate and find a home in this area, to Bogoria and the wider Kerio Valley. Examples of birds which migrate during this season include steppe Eagle, white stork, black stork, martins, swallows and swifts.

Rift valley also offers the best spot for researchers in birdlife who come mostly from Europe. Ringing is done on the birds so as to monitor their movement from Africa to Europe. The ringing is connected to satellites which relay information on how the birds travel, and thus can be monitored.

Traditionally, some birds are considered bad omen by some communities. A deeper understanding of this connotation has to do with conservation. Our great grandparents were conservation-oriented; most of the birds which were classified under this category were threatened ones because of their small numbers, and their chances of survival were minimal.
Birds were also useful in predicting seasons; our forefathers used to observe bird behavior which used tell true facts about the seasons. Famers would know when to prepare their land, when to plant and how the seasons would go. Today, this is no more. The only viable option is meteorological data, which has in most instances proved quite unreliable.

There are many other places which has rare birds but many people are not keen to realize and appreciate the importance and the value which these birds can bring to them. Some of the areas considered as important bird areas (IBA) in the Rift Valley are: Kerio Valley, Cherang'any Hills, Mount Elgon, Tugen Hills, and many other places that have not been identified.

Communities living in or around any wetlands and forests should be vigilant and take responsibility putting in mind the benefits of conserving birdlife, and consider the future generations. People living in such regions should be conservation-oriented because any destruction to the ecosystem destroys our heritage. When we begin to realize our role in taking responsibility, then we can be assured of a better future.

Kenya can become a First World

eCentury Editorial
Welcome to the maiden edition of The eCentury . We are a trendsetter, a paper anchored on a vision to promote new ideas and better options. We envision to transform print media into a people driven process. Our focus is to be unique, innovative and empowering. Our calling is to shift attention to institutions, individuals and ideas which seek to energize every Kenyan to create wealth and unleash their creative brainpower. Kenya is said to be the third most unequal nation in the world. The traditional media has for decades focused on conflicts which spur their circulation. It has widened ethnic divide and political differences. We shall strive to change all that. It is an awesome task.

The 21st Century is a paradigm-shifting epoch in human history. Globalization is the trend; the internet is the heart beat. This is a century of great and fundamental changes. The world is shifting from industrial age to information. There is a shift to knowledge economy where ideas will be what the land and rain is to the farmer. Hence brainpower is the centrepiece of this century. We shall therefore become a springboard of new ideas and new trends in Kenya, Africa and the World.

We shall thus call on Kenyans and Africans in general to arise. We must get rid of petty differences for the common good of the nation. All the 42 communities should embrace each other. Every Kenyan should dream dreams of prosperity and move away from hopelessness and dependency syndrome. It is time we redefine our world. It is time we innovate, invent and recreate our nation afresh.

The days of IDPs, tribal wars, grand corruption, mediocrity and politics of bribery and deception should come to an abrupt end. It is time we become builders of business empires, great institutions and great organizations. It is time we believe in our God-given talents, resources and creativity.

The fact that Barack Obama, a first generation American-Kenyan is the president of a super
power is a proof that we as a people and as a race have what it takes to transform our nation, our economy and our history.

We should focus our attention on excellence of global and international standards. We should stop comparing ourselves to failed states. We should dare compare ourselves to European and American standards and beyond. That is what Singaporeans under Lee Kuan did. They rejected mediocrity and corruption which characterized the nations of Asia. Lee Kuan became the PM of Singapore in 1965, then with a per-capita of $400. He retired in 1990 when per-capita income was $12,000. Nine years into retirement Singapore clocked over $20,000 to be exact $24,500 in 2004.

Was this a miracle from heaven? No they set themselves to achieve it. Today Singapore Port is the leading and the best run port in the world. Singapore is the financial centre of Asia and the world. This did not come from the blues. They outlawed corruption and embraced intellectual capital. The youth of Singapore are the best in Maths and the Sciences in the world. They lead the whole globe in academic scores. Are they more endowed than us? No. They as a nation decided and made their minds to be the best they can be. We too can attain that. Singapore aspires to be an intelligent nation by 2015 and India an industrial nation by 2020. Singapore became a first world by 1998. Within 30 years they achieved what no other third country has achieved.

If we follow the footsteps of Singapore by 2050 we shall become a first world.
Is this possible?

Yes! We have more potential brains than Singapore. We have over 40million people while Singapore mere 4 million. We have nearly 600,000 sq.km area of land as Singapore is mere 640 sq.km.

The eCENTURY we believe, is a paper whose time is now. We strive to become a paper of the 21st Century.

Land Issue and Federalism in Kenya

eCentury News Analyst
The issue of federal system agitated by leaders mostly from Rift Valley, Nyanza, Western, North Eastern and Coast is a thorn and a sensitive topic in Kenya. In the past, smaller communities agitated for a federal system or Majimbo. In Uganda the federal system is agitated for by the populous Baganda community. The Baganda community was however appeased by Museveni with an autonomous kingdom without political power and so were other communities which traditionally had kings. Most Ugandan communities have traditional systems which deal with cultural and ceremonial issues. A federal political system as agitated by Baganda has not been given a green light by the past and current governments. The smaller tribes are against the federal system unlike in Kenya; the reason being in Uganda no native land was grabbed or alienated by any power. The colonial administration did not settle Whites in Uganda hence no community was displaced thus no land was lost.

The same is true for Tanzania. The defeat of the German colonial power in the World War II ended German occupation. Tanzania was thus put under control of United Nations. Land was never an issue in Tanzania before and after independence. Hence Kenya is a unique case; it was occupied by the white settlers as the natives were displaced and jammed in what was then known as native reserves. The Africans were crowded in tiny corners of the nation’s native districts.

After independence the Kenyatta administration and subsequent administrations ignored the plight of the indigenous people whose land had been stolen by colonialists. From independence the communities where the presidents hailed were favoured in land allocation. It was during Kenyatta administration that land was grabbed by the rich and the powerful and the same took place during Moi era. Land became a preserve for the politcal elite. The native communities who occupied the land in pre-colonial era were ignored in land distribution, hence land remains a real emotive issue in Kenya.

The agitation for a federal system of government by communities whose land was grabbed is seen by the powerful groups as a threat to their grip on power. On the other hand, the desire for devolution is an attempt to give power to the locals to chart their destinies.
Kenya unlike other East African nations is driven by phobia among the communities, big or small; locals or immigrant communities, and the fear of the empowerment of the poor by the political elite.

Kenya thus is at crossroads; it is a nation faced with tough options.
The communities in Rift Valley and Coast who feel marginalized in land allocation and who perceive immigrants with suspicion have concerns that must be addressed. Communities who have settled in these regions and who see themselves as victims of hate and tribal wars too have genuine fears.

The way forward for Kenya is to take the diverse interests head-on. She must listen to herself. The fears of the big and the small tribes should be addressed. The gap between the rich and the poor should be equally be addressed. Ignoring them will only exacerbate the issue now which may erupt tomorrow.