Free access to information for Nguruman residents

Information has always been a major tool for steering development and improving livelihood in the society living in the world today. On the other hand, access to information has been a challenge to the communities living in arid and semi arid regions. ALIN has taken the lead to ensure that access to information is a ‘Dream come true’ to all people living in these regions and at no cost.

Nguruman Maarifa center is a community knowledge center that has been giving free access to information to communities living together in this area since its establishment way back in 2006. This has brought impact within the community by enabling farmers improve their food production through adoption of best farming practices and pest control measures thus creating food security for their families.

Students also take their time and do their studies at the maarifa center during vacation due to its aesthetic environment for learning.

The center has also been a rich source of information about climate change mitigation and has gone further to train farmers on alternative sources of Energy for cooking other than wood fuel. Biogas energy has taken the place of wood fuel in three homesteads so far and more pending requests for installations put forward. The center has also enabled the youth secure jobs through free ICT skills they acquire from the center.

Mr. Lodaro, a farmer and a youth had this to say;

“I have been able to improve my farming and computer skills through free access to services at the Maarifa center. I am now able to type and print and through the knowledge I got from the books I read at the Maarifa center, I am able to identify and control crop pests attacking crops at my farm.”

Mr. Leonard Ndungu, a youth who has benefited from free access to information had countless testimonies to give. This is what he had to say;

“I have used the internet to search market for Jatropha seeds, sold lots of kilograms, I got research assistant job with a Canadian lady doing her thesis on bio fuel, became a member of bio fuel development in Africa through free access to internet.”

Due to free access and ICT knowledge acquired at the Maarifa center, Mr. Lenard has been able to create a community blog and this is what he had to say;

“knowledge on blogging has helped me create job for myself with well established tour firm, Loita safaris trekks, I have also created lots of casual job for the youths who work as guides, potters, cooks whenever there are visitors.”

“I have managed to market Nguruman as perfect gateway destination, we even featured in international new york travel magazine and locally in the Saturday Magazine travel by Rupi Mangat, Saturday Nation April 2, 2011,” he added.

“At the moment I have a new job with a small media and publishing firm Global vision digital solution as a sales executive a job I applied through the Nguruman Maarifa center....am able to use web 2 tools because of the knowledge gained there.”

Ladies were not left out as they also had testimonies to give about free access to information. Naomi Tonkey, Community Knowledge Facilitator at Nguruman Maarifa center had this to say;

“ Before I knew about the Maarifa center, I knew nothing about computers, but now I can operate a computer and share what have learned with other youths around. I now have a web mail and a facebook account. I have also attended several information exchange workshops organized by ALIN and other partners like PELUM (participatory ecological land use management)."

The physically challenged had also a say on how the Maarifa center has helped them. Mr. Kasifu, disabled representative had this to say;

“ I have been able to successfully submit proposals to donors in support for Tuko disabled group initiative through proposal writing and computer basic skills I acquired at the Maarifa center. I have also been able to open the groups blog that highlights issues of disabled people within Magadi division and Email address through free internet access at the center.”

Some of the students pass by the maarifa centre after school to do their extra studies.


Services offered at the Maarifa center are:
• Internet access
• Basic computer knowledge
• E-government services e.g., KRA pin registration
• Mult-media content
• Online market information
• Publications
• Advisory services
All services are offered free of charge.

Nguruman communities trained on Green energy technologies.

A community exchange visit and training session was conducted at Nguruman Maarifa centre from 16th to 20th march 2011. The tittle for the training was 'Recycling animal waste to generate gas for Cooking and Lighting for pastoralist communities'. Main Goal for the training was to increase environmental conservation using alternative green energy technologies.

The main objectives for the training were:
1.To impart technical skills to participants on construction of tubular type biogas technology.
2.to exchange information and knowledge on the role of maarifa centers in development.
3.To discuss viability of biogas technology as an income generating enterprise for Maarifa centres.
4. To create awareness on climate change and the role of renewable energy technologies.

Potential Benefits of using Biogas technology were highlighted to be
• Avail clean and efficient energy for cooking food and lighting at night.
• Reduce women and children’s vulnerability to respiratory diseases and eye irritations caused by smoke at household level.
• Reduce children and women’s workload in fetching fuel wood.
• Reduce deforestation caused as a result of fetching firewood and burning charcoal.
• Improve general sanitation and good management of livestock waste.
• Reduce carbon emissions that cause global warming.
• Increased productivity in the evenings given clear and adequate lighting for children to complete their home work more comfortably.
• Production of high quality organic manure for food production at household level.

The participants were drawn from Marigat, Isinya and Nguruman Maarifa centres. The main facilitators were Mr. George Kamau of Tree Is Life, Mr. Joseph Githiga a member of Nga’rua focal group and Mr. Noah Lusaka, the project manager ALIN. The participants were expected to learn and pilot how to construct affordable tubular biogas digester units and utilization as an energy source for cooking, lighting and organic manure for household food production.

An ‘active participatory learning’ approach was used to ensure all the participants acquired technical skills. The participants were trained on household energy conservation tips and practical sessions on construction, utilization and maintenance of biogas units. by the end of the training, three tubular biogas digesters had been installed with complete kit including the burner.

About 21 participants were trained on this technology and this is anticipated to reach many pastoral communities faced with energy challenges. At Nguruman, we were lucky to have ten of our focal group members trained and this gives us a upper hand to have this technology spread faster within the community around.

A baseline study that was conducted at the three centers namely, Nguruman, Isinya and Marigat before the training showed that, Most rural communities rely on firewood, agricultural residues and animal waste for cooking meals at household level. Collection of these energy sources is normally the responsibility of women and children. The cooking systems used are the popular three stone hearths that is smoky and inefficient leading to fuel wood wastage and carbon emissions to the atmosphere.

In addition, communities rely on paraffin lanterns and wicket lamps for lighting at night which was found to be not adequate for a family. The lamps used poses significant safety and health risks in addition to carbon emissions and expenses involved to purchase paraffin.

ALIN has been in the fore front by promoting green energy technologies as alternative energy sources and also as a climate change mitigation measure. Among the most affordable and appropriate energy technology is the biogas digesters. By the end of the training, all objectives were met and the participants shared their views and the way forward for maarifa center sustainability. This initiative has been well received by the farmers and the community and it has been left out to be a matter of 'wait and see' if the three installed digesters work.

At the heart of Maasai land where ‘farming as a business’ is the core.

Nguruman is located in the heart of Maasai land, Entosopia location of Magadi division and is one of cosmopolitan areas in Kenya where you find almost all tribes from Kenya and a few from neighboring country, Tanzania living and working together. Due to its rich soils and availability of water all round the year, farming has been its core business and as a result, most of vegetables and fruits consumed at Kiserian and Rongai town located at the outskirts’ of Nairobi come from this region.

Farmers in this region also plant Asian vegetables and other green vegetables for export alongside keeping their animals. There is compelling evidence of an aging farmer population in Nguruman region which need to be addressed to facilitate sustainability in agricultural production in this area. Due to fluctuations in market prices for Asian vegetables which have been grown in this area for a long time, many of the youth have given up farming and gone to look for jobs in bigger towns. The few who have remained back opt to be employed as casual laborers and get their share at the end of the day other that tilling the land all year round and earn less.

Lack of farming skills and capital investment has also contributed to negative perception about farming by the youths since farming requires inputs for output to be realized. Poor infrastructure has also contributed to high transport costs and therefore many youths are discouraged when they fail to get profits from their produce.

Making a change by ‘Beating the odds’

This has not been the case for Mr. Fredrick Kamango, a Youth aged 24 years who has taken the lead to help the youth in this region change the perception they have towards farming. All this started way back in 2009, when he begun thinking of how he can earn as much as the older farmers do. He very well understood that the older farmers didn’t wake up one morning and found themselves earning, they had to be patient so he was.

In his 5 hectare piece of land, located at Darkalali village, Entosopia location of Magadi division, you will find 1,200 banana plants which are barely two years and from them he earns around Kshs 10,000 after every two weeks from the crop sales depending on market prices.


He has also has 150 young pawpaw plants from which he is expecting to be earning Kshs 2,000 after every week.

It will be interesting also to note that, it’s only in Nguruman where you find mangoes during the month of October to December and this makes prices go up to Kshs 30 per every piece(apple mango).

Mr. Fredrick has not been left out and in this case, he started with 50 grafted mango trees and 60 which he plans to graft by the end of February and from this, he expects to earn more than Kshs 8,000 from every tree when they grow up.

When asked about how youth in this region perceive farming, this is what he had to say “Many youth in this area perceive farming as dirty job and for those who are not learned…..they also need a crop that will give them quick money and therefore majority have moved to the city to look for jobs...”. When the expected doesn’t happen and the youths find themselves back to the village, they feel shy to even visit Mr. Fredrick’s farm.

“I feel good when the youths come from the city and appreciate my work and even some have regretted their action and are now back to their senses, ready to join me in farming... I even employ them when I have much work to do in my farm and this even hurts them more...” Say’s Fredrick.

Through the help of the field officer at Nguruman maarifa center, Mr. Fredrick has been able to identify some of the crop pests and diseases which affect his crop and has been able to take action. He has also knowledge on grafting so he doesn’t have to hire an expert to do this job for him.

“I am able to take care of my crops through the knowledge I get from the maarifa center and also after my work at the farm, I visit the center to check my mails and chat with my friends on face book...”
Although in Maasai culture crop farming is not a priority, Mr. Freddy has chosen to go for it and is now creating an impact in his community by challenging the youth and encouraging them to take part in crop farming to ensure food sustainability and also as a way of creating more jobs for the youths since grazing land is diminishing with increase in population.

Best practice replicted

Despite Nguruman being an area flowing with water throughout the year, its high temperature is one unique feature that cannot go unnoticed. This feature makes demand for cold drinks go high at the center and its environs and this has caused business people to adopt a technology that will ensure there is always a cold drink whenever it is needed despite the fact that there is no electricity at Nguruman.

One of the well stocked shops at the center, ‘The Wendo junior shop’ set up the phase and so far, the technology has been replicated by many another shopkeepers. A charcoal cooler or a ‘fridge’, as they call it addresses the need for refrigeration in areas where electricity is unavailable. It is a small box that at a far distance could make you think that it provided shelter to young chicks, but the closer you go to it, you are convinced otherwise.


From the side, the structure is covered with wet sisal sacks. Every morning, Miss Lillian, the shop attendant wets the sacks and the charcoal to ensure that her customers get their favorite drink at desired temperature through out the day.
A charcoal cooler uses the principal of evaporative cooling to maintain a cool interior temperature for refrigeration and food preservation. The device is constructed from an open timber frame with charcoal filled sides, which is kept continually moist. As warm, dry air flows through the moist charcoal, water is evaporated into the air and it is cooled. Evaporative cooling has an added benefit of increasing the air moisture content, preventing food from drying out and further extending shelf life.

The charcoal cooler can hold up to eight crates of soda and several boxes of distilled water and this has met the needs of people and at the same time bringing a lot of income for the shop owner due to high sales for these drinks as Miss Lillian narrates “.... After I introduced this technology, I am able to sell three times more than I used to sell before”.

After inquiring where she got the technology from, this is what she had to say, “…. I adopted this technology from my aunt who is always outgoing and has visited many countries of the world including Sudan where she borrowed the technology and uses the same to preserve drinking water and fresh vegetables at her backyard. I then decided to replicate the same at Nguruman to help people fight high temperatures by ensuring they obey their thirst by always having cold drinks”.

This technology is cheap to adopt since it is made from locally available material, and occupies small space. It also requires very little attention i.e., pouring some water every morning. It is a technology that can be adopted by farmers in this region to preserve their fresh produce giving it a longer shelve life and preventing their produce from spoiling due to high temperatures. Bearing in mind that Nguruman area produces almost all vegetables and fruits consumed in Magadi, Kiserian and some parts of Nairobi like city market, this technology can be very helpful to farmers. In hot climates where electricity is unavailable, refrigeration of food is a developmental need.

In Sudan, for example, tomatoes will only last 2 days in the hot sun. Preservation of crops through refrigeration can help fight hunger and starvation in the developing world by keeping foods fresh longer. For example, when housed using a similar evaporative cooling device, the life of tomatoes can be extended from 2 to 20 days as well, this may apply to other vegetables and fruits. Farmers are therefore encouraged to embrace the technology to ensure that, they preserve their surplus fresh produce for their families and for a longer period of time.

Even without Power…..

Despite lack of power in Nguruman location, Magadi division the Ministry of Agriculture staff could not give up in their bid to learn basic computer training courtesy of Nguruman Maarifa Centre. The training which was well coordinated owing to the presence of a generator which made sure the government employee had the whole day to grasp simple computer skills.
They were indeed grateful and they opted never to do their reports in bulky pieces of papers and files and instead embrace the ICT where bulky reports can be typed and shared online.

THE FUTURE OF FAMILY FARMING IN NGURUMAN

Mr Saruni Duya’s eight-acre farm, near the village of Nguruman, in southern Kenya, produces mangoes, bananas, cucumbers,and also many different “Asian vegetables”, most of which are meant for the market. He farms the same land that his father farmed for many years,and his grandfather before him, but the few innovations which Mr Duya has introduced have brought about big changes. read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Beware the buffalo of Kenya’s Loita Hills

Zebras are not Kenya’s scariest animals. Smaller than the average horse, these docile beasts do little except munch grass and look stripy. But when four of them hurtle towards you Read More>>>>>>>>