ANOTHER DANGEROUS FLOOD STORMS KENYA CLAIMING HUNDREDS OF LIVES AND DESTROYING PROPERTIES (2024)

 THE KENYAN FLOODS AND IMPACT EVEN ON EDUCATION

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A Natural disaster has broken its way into the daily lives of Kenyans again. Many parts of Kenya have been experiencing heavy rains since the 18th  of April 2024. 

As one can see in the images, the heavy rain has led to floods leaving many people in distress following the ruins it has caused. The capital city, Nairobi and its surroundings, have been severely affected by this merciless flood. Low-income areas in Nairobi like Kibera, Mathare, Githurai, and Mukuru kwa Njenga have been severely affected due to lack of solid structures, poor drainage systems and infrastructures, and congestions. This leaves people homeless and at risk of contracting diseases like cholera, typhoid and diarrhea.

 

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Additionally, the Nairobi River and Athi River both broke out of their banks sweeping away houses along their paths and damaging nearby neighborhoods leaving about 40,000 people displaced and homeless.

A total number of 17 bridges have been destroyed, making it hard for people to cross from one side to another. In Mai Mahiu, about 60 kilometers from Nairobi about 50 people died after being swept away by the heavy rains as they slept at a dam nearby. Generally, across the whole country, over 180 people have been reported dead. 

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In the North Eastern part of Kenya where the main source of income is the keeping of livestock, the residents have lost their source of livelihood watching their cattle swept away by the oceanic rains.

The families in this part of the country also face displacement. While some of them camp along the Garissa-Nairobi highway, some people have camped at a nearby school, Jaribu Primary School to seek refuge.

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Farmers across the country lament their losses as they watch their crops flowing with the waters. They report that this comes after they have heavily invested their resources in buying seeds and fertilizers. Just when the crops were looking healthy, and they hoped for a better harvest. This is like a nightmare in their eyes.

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Due to the continuous rainfalls, the Cabinet Secretary for Education issued a statement that schools that were to re-open for the second term on 29th April 2024, now re-opens by the 6th of May 2024 hoping that the rains would have reduced. Some schools have been destroyed and brought to ruins. Even after the 6th of May, schools in some parts of the country like Busia County will not be able to open because the classrooms are left in bad conditions.

The government has made the public to understand that they are looking for ways to help the affected families and schools for life to return to normalcy.

The weird fun game.

This is a weird game, is how one beginner described the Tennis game.Tennis is not a very common game in our communities. It is perceived to be a rich man’s game. Our community project in Kibera is meant to nature young tennis players from the slum into exceptional players. They are introduced into the game at a young age in our community court and graduate to the Sadili Oval Sports club where they get seasoned further. We have worked hard over the years to produce players who have joined the tennis national team.

Many children of different age groups who encounter the game, the first time do not understand it. They ask questions about the rackets and ball that always fascinate them. Since they can hold the racket and hit the ball, most of the balls fly out of the court and into the nearby Nairobi River. The child is then left wondering, what did I just do? You should see their face then.

Training session after school hours is fun and requires a lot of attention. They are taught on how to hold the racket properly `say hello racket?’.They are also taught how to swing the racket properly `draw a letter C’ the coach instructs. These take some time to perfect. They keep forgetting and are reminded by the coach. This is followed by foot work, the different tennis hits, serving and counting. Counting is the weirdest. We don’t say 0 point but we say love. We do not count the normal way as from 1,2,3,4 consecutively but  we start from love,15,30,40 and game.  All this is very unusual as you continue to learn the game.

Soon they learn to play the game. It is so much fun. They can now count and know when there is an advantage. They know when the serve is a fault and give room for a second serve. They know how to control the balls that once flew out of the court. The game now is so much fun that every Saturday they play each other find the king and or queen of the court. They now understand that even with good skills you need to be smart to win.

It is indeed a weird and fun game.

When Tennis Runs in the Family

Allan Bahati playing

It all started with Allan Bahati a 14 year old and second born of the family. During one of our sessions at the Kibera tennis court he came out and tried playing tennis since then he never stopped later the first born Jerry Masika decided to tag along out of curiosity he really wanted to see what really his sibling was into and just like that he got hooked too and the small brother Hezron Tajiri who is 11 couldn’t be left behind as the others went for the tennis sessions he also tagged along and later became part of the squad.

The three children come from Lindi located in the large slum of Kibera being raised by a single mother who support their passion of playing tennis as long as all the house chores are done you are free to go for the tennis sessions that’s what she says. The three boys have grown playing tennis from a young age till now they are all grown Allan and Jerry have joined different high schools leaving Tajiri in Primary but that has not stopped Tajiri from coming for the Saturday sessions and the brothers usually join for the holiday camps held at Sadili after they have closed schools.

“What impresses me is their determination and zeal. They are eager to learn and they are disciplined. Whatever rules I have set they usually follow to the latter be it keeping time or observing the different tennis rules”, say Coach Asha Adongo. During a short interview with the three brothers, Jerry wants be a professional Tennis player and a Neurosurgeon, Allan wants to be an Engineer and Tajiri wants to become a doctor in future.

Despite the distance from their home to Sadili, that doesn’t stop them from coming for the tennis sessions in fact they even get to Sadili earlier than those who come from around with the motivation of learning a new skill each time and they are always the last to leave as they want to practice with each other whatever they have learnt .It is here at Sadili where we nature the talent of the young ones and see them grow and blossom.

Hezron Tajiri before the game

WONDER GAMES.

fun !

All activities conducted are coupled with games just so to break the monotony of listening all through,this helps increase the concentration span of the children and also help in better understanding a mastery of lessons learnt. This is actually the most fun moment for all the kids. You can vividly tell this since as soon as a game is introduced, they all jump in ecstasy and sing joyfully. It has been so fascinating playing with the kids, and may sound interesting that I get excited about the games too. Anyway, who would not like to engage in a fun activity?

Talking of games does not absolutely mean the very widely known ones like volleyball, hockey or even football. The games played are unique and can be adjusted to suit all, including the physically challenged. And not just that, they are brief and are easily understood by the children. They include the Newcombe game, rally around, beat the bucket, find the goal line, keep the ball, boccia and activity card, to mention just a few.

What happens behind the scenes

Pupils lead in a song that they like.

The practice of safe WASH practices is a major skill on the delivery list of services for the court of dreams program The skills requires patience, persistent and a listening ear just like that of an innocent child from Kibera slum, however the environment becomes a great hindrance  to make the skills effective for posterity.

The life skills sessions which are sports oriented finds Salem (not his real name), a boy who loves sports studying at Undugu Basic Education Unit as an avenue to explore his dramatic behaviors in the field for activity assessments.

According to Salem ,who is in phase two as they categories their transition from one phase to the other, Tuesdays are the best day to be in school because of what he called P.E-Physical Exercise days in the school. He is now a regular school attendant and never misses the days when we have sessions at their school. Sometimes Salem may appear absent in class but on our arrival he is found to be present as he comes from the neighborhood and keen to see whether we are in the school playground doing setups for sessions.

One of the pupils showcasing his dancing skills.

Salem though not so much into sport but enjoys the drama he presents before the other pupils and being an attention seeker which I guess might have been achieved by us in the life skill and sport sessions, he now finds interaction into our session as the best place to showcase his humor.

The session on behavior dos and don’ts left most of us laughing and it’s was the first instance to note the humor that was bestowed in Salem. Some of the pictures presented to him on safe and unsafe WASH practices unleashed the funniest moments of Salem and the inquisitive behavior of the boy.

Salem  apart from noting the behavior to be either good or bad and for some undecided to say whether good or bad, person defecating into the stream to him was a big crime and he went further to ask whether the person had sound mind or not. Using some of the slang terms used within the community, Salem described the incidence as, “Aaaaah! Hii nayo ni noma bro, huyu jamaa ni mkali hii form’’

A pupil leading in a game.

He went ahead to ask who was taking the pictures and if possible will have notify the police to arrest the person and send him  to jail for messing up with food,(fish) in the stream. Apart from the life skills sessions and sports we also promote talent among the children that when positively tapped can take this children places.

Safe spaces!

Safes paces are free of prejudice; they promote inclusion, communication, participation for all. They are intentionally created to give room to all especially those that would be left out. They are avenues where all disenfranchised beings will feel welcomed.

Safe spaces are assumed to be very easy to create. That with guidance from our culture, constitution, policies, rules and religion to mention a few, we are able to create safe spaces for all to live and let others live. These are among the many encounters that we have at our community court, and the community

Mary arrives in the morning at the court with a swollen eye. It is so red and she seems to be in pain. The coach enquirers about the eye and she says `` Mum beat me because I went to the shop and bought something different.” ``Is that the only reason the coach insists?’’  ``Yes she says ‘’ the coach trying to comfort Mary says `` Mum need to be reported.” ``Mary agrees nodding her head and says `` I don’t know why she beats me so bad?’’

On different occasion walking through the community we find a parent seriously canning some children. The coach confronts the parent to stop the act. She tells them that what they are doing is not helpful to the child. Others join in the discussion wondering who we are. One says `` our children are very naughty, my own is worse. How will we mould them if we do not Cain / beat? Yes, another added, tell us? They do not listen or follow our instructions.” We look at each other, and coach said ``okay enough of the beating the children have heard you.’’ After a short discussion one parent agrees to think about it.  Another says `` in my house I beat the properly. They know. ’’

I once participated in a training that involved head teachers and coaches. As they were being trained for a holiday camp that was to take place soon for the children, it was clear that some the head teachers wanted to make their schools safer for their pupils. The teachers said `` they know we cannot touch them and if we did we will be punished.’’ That they had put in place strict rules to ensure this. Having interacted with the children in this school, they were outspoken and confident but lacked respect even for their teachers.

Creation of safe spaces is intended for all. The responsibility of the individual in creation of safe spaces as consumer and initiator should be clearly understood for us to achieve the intended end goal `safe spaces’. Safe spaces should be everywhere, in the school wash rooms, at the dining table, in a community play ground , our roads,  in the market place at the, at the bus stop. The individual should be responsible for it knowing that we all are challenged in different ways.

Does it not surprise you how children who do not know each other meet and play together? That is how beautiful a safe space is. It is filled with peace, contentment, understanding, smiles and many other good things.

Everyone is vulnerable in a setting strange to them. Therefore strive to create safe spaces for they will help include you and all children.

SQUATTING AND JUMPING FINDS A NEW MEANING AT THE WASH COMMITTEE TRAINING.

Last weekend was a beautiful and successful one as  pupils from Ngei primary, St Stephen, Nazarene and St Catherine had so much fun participating at the WASH committee training for the ambassadors and the influential pupils from their respective schools.

Pupils during the training session.

Many of the children arrived in good time and before they knew it the activities began in the interest of time. Children were taken through warm up and orientation into the compound as preliminary activities before they all settled in the hall for the overview of the WASH themes namely Hand Washing, Using the toilet, Food hygiene, Water safety, Environmental hygiene and menstrual hygiene.  With each participating child having been given a note book and a pen, their enthusiasm was lightened up as they took notes during the facilitation.

Another session followed immediately after facilitation, it was the opportunity to learn how to be peer educators in training other children WASH messages using sports, play and fun activities. It was at this time that in deed children were able to make lots of fun and enjoy the game. One of the games demonstrating the use of toilet was fun and fun according the feedback from them. The game had several cones labeled with both the correct and wrong use of toilets. Children were then instructed to queue up in groups and to run to the stations of the cones, read the label and then jump over if the label indicated a wrong type of toilet or squat if the label had the correct type.

Squatting indicated using that toilet since it was the correct type. The fun of it emanated from the squatting as this is what actually happens while using the toilets but the children felt some embarrassment doing so and furthermore some children ended up squatting at the wrong type of toilet use as others jumped over the correct types of toilet use.Children then gathered into groups to develop WASH resources which they carried to school and it was amazing to see huge creativity from the children with some others making a drawing to demonstrate ovulation and the menstrual cycle in reference to menstrual hygiene that they had just learnt. Presentation of badges to WASH ambassadors, giving out of WASH materials and serving of lunch followed before the children departed to their homes. Many children were for this day well spent in learning and fun.

Warm up session .

Presentation by Felix Kipkoech who was one of the facilitators.

The pupils working in groups.

St Catherine pupils showcasing their presentation.

Ngei WASH ambassadors after receiving badges

Pupils receiving materials to help promote WASH in schools.  

Hand Washing Campaign Embraced at Sadili 8-Series Challenge 7

It was yet another fantastic tournament at Sadili Oval as we hosted the 8-Series Challenge 7 on Saturday, 7^th October 2017. 59 kids drawn mainly from the Court of Dreams program and living in Kibera and Lang’ata’s Kijiji area gathered to showcase their skills at the half-day tournament. 

The event kicked off at 9:00am and Sadili staff, who were also the organizers took charge as the referees. The young kids kept everyone entertained as they all clearly struggled to win.

This particular tournament was out of the ordinary as Sadili staff set aside some time after playing to create awareness on proper hand washing habits. All the kids sat down with their coaches for a short but highly informative life skills session that touched on the importance of washing hands and the steps involved in hand washing. This was done in the spirit of the Global Hand Washing Day that is scheduled for October 15^th. “Many kids in the Court of Dreams program already know how to wash their hands, but there are still a good number that do not. Besides, we have to keep reminding even the ones who know,” remarked Joy Akim, the staff who took lead in facilitating the session.

The Court of Dreams uses tennis to promote good health among children under the age of 10. One of its major focus areas is promotion of good hand hygiene practices- an idea that is globally accepted considered as the easiest and cheapest way of preventing many illnesses. 

The Sadili 8- Series Junior Tennis Challenge is a tournament for U6, U8, U10 & U12 kids (all levels), with Tennis Africa Cup ranking. It is great for kids who want to test their games, get out on the court and make new friends along the way. 

Run under a Sadili/International Inspiration partnership, this tournament was sponsored by Wilson Sporting Goods, Sadili Oval and Comic Relief among others.

RESULTS OF THE TOURNAMENT- 07/10/2017

U-6 Boys

Red Team

Alfred Otieno vs Patrick Ogwato 7/4

Winner: Alfred Otieno
Runner up: Patrick Ogwato

U-6 Girls

Red Team

Janice Adatia vs Gladys Kayumbi 7/5
Janice Adatia vs  Beryl Ombulu 7/6
Janice Adatia vs  Rihanna Naliaka 7/3
Beryl Ombulu vs Gladys Kayumbi 3/7
Beryl Ombulu vs Rihanna Naliaka 7/2

Gladys Kayumbi vs Rihanna Naliaka 7/4

Winner: Janice Adatia
Runner up: Gladys Kayumbi

U-8 Boys

Blue Team

Linton Ochieng vs David Shaka 4/7

Linton Ochieng vs Stanley Muli 7/6

David Shaka vs Stanley Muli 5/7

Winner: Stanley Muli

Runner up: David Shaka

U-8 Girls

Red Team

Yvonne Atieno vs Celine Khavere 6/7
Yvonne Atieno vs Sallaypto Amhuma 3/7
Yvonne Atieno vs Ashley Atieno 7/1

Celine Khavere vs Sallaypto Amhuma 3/7
Celine Khavere vs Ashley Atieno 7/6

Ashley Atieno Vs Sallaypto Amhuma 2/7

Winner: Sallaypto Amhuma
Runner up: Celine Khavere

Green Team

Michelle Akinyi vs Abigail Asira 6/7

Michelle Akinyi vs Irene Natalia 4/7
Michelle Akinyi vs Melvin Munyasa 5/7
Abigail Asira vs Irene Natalia 5/7
Abigail Asira vs Melvin Munyasa 7/5

Melvin Munyasa Irene Natalia 7/5

Winner: Abigail Asira
Runner up: Irene Natalia/ Melvin Munyasa

U-10 Boys

Red Team

John Kidziri vs Lennox Odhiambo 11/6
John Kidziri vs Victor Omondi 6/11
Lennox Odhiambo vs Victor Omondi 7/11

Winner: Victor Omondi
Runner up: John Kidziri

Green Team

Stephen Gichora vs Calvin Odino 11/0, 11/3
Stephen Gichora vs Brian Otieno 11/10, 11/8
Stephen Gichora vs Fred Omondi 11/5, 2/11
Brian Otieno vs Fred Omondi 11/5, 11/6
Brian Otieno vs Calvin Odino 11/4, 11/2

Calvin Odino vs Fred Omondi 6/11, 2/11

Winner: Brian Otieno
Runner up: Stephen Gichora

Blue Team

Nelson Gichora vs Junior Ochieng 11/6
Nelson Gichora vs David Odhiambo 6/11
Junior Ochieng vs David Odhiambo 7/11

Winner: Nelson Gichora
Runner up: Junior Ochieng

U-10 Girls

Red Team

Shirleen Anyango vs Marion Adhiambo 5/11, 6/11

Shirleen Anyango vs Esther Adhiambo 7/11, 4/11

Shirleen Anyango vs Maureen Achieng 9/11, 6/11
Esther Adhiambo vs Maureen Achieng 11/6, 11/6
Esther Adhiambo vs Marion Adhiambo 11/4, 8/11

Maureen Achieng vs Marion Adhiambo 11/8, 6/11

Winner: Esther Adhiambo
Runner up: Marion Adhiambo

Green Team

Blessing Rose vs Ida Adhiambo 11/4, 5/11
Blessing Rose vs Maureen Achieng 8/11, 7/11
Ida Adhiambo vs Maureen Achieng 11/2, 10/11

Winner: Ida Adhiambo
Runner up: Maureen Achieng

U-12 Boys

Red Team

Ali Matano vs Joseph Kaboi 1/2
Cecil Omondi vs Ali Matano 0/2
Ali Matano vs Alex Kandie 0/2

Cecil Omondi vs Alex Kandie 0/2
Alex Kandie vs Joseph Kaboi 0/2

Cecil Omondi vs Joseph Kaboi 0/2

Winner: Joseph Kaboi
Runner up: Alex Kandie

Green Team

Tom Agumba vs Kevin Mutia 2/0
Tom Agumba vs Brian Ochieng 0/2
Tom Agumba vs Austin Omondi 1/2

Brian Ochieng vs Austin Omondi 2/1
Austin Omondi vs Kevin Mutia 2/0

Brian Ochieng vs Kevin Mutia 2/1

Winner: Brian Ochieng
Runner up: Austin Omondi

Blue Team

Simon Kabiru vs Brian Amara 10/11
Simon Kabiru vs Brian Kangethe 11/6
Simon Kabiru vs Collins Mwirigi 11/2

Brian Kangethe vs Collins Mwirigi 11/8
Collins Mwirigi vs Brian Amara 8/11

Brian Kangethe vs Brian Amara 8/11

Winner: Collins Mwirigi

U-12 Girls

Red Team

Lorna Mbone vs Consolata Atieno 2/0

Lorna Mbone vs Sharon Atieno 0/2

Consolata Atieno vs Sharon Atieno 0/2

Winner: Sharon Atieno
Runner up: Lorna Mbone

Green Team

Mary Sophy vs Anne Katile 2/0

Mary Sophy vs Fanice Natalia 0/2

Anne Katile vs Fanice Natalia 0/2

Winner: Sharon Atieno
Runner up: Lorna Mbone

Kids Show of Skills at Sadili 8-Series Challenge 6

Sadili Oval on Saturday 2^nd September 2017 hosted the Sadili 8-Series Challenge 6, a free-entry event that has become a cherished monthly staple for many kids under age 12 in Kibera, as well as Kijiji- a small informal settlement in Lang’ata. The 40 kids were excited to play at Sadili and the tournament went on as planned.

On arrival at Sadili, the kids were first divided according to their ages and the matches swiftly followed. The kids, many of them new tennis learners, kept everyone entertained as they relentlessly tried their best to show their skills in the game.

The tournament organizers, Sadili staff, were satisfied with the games played even though many children didn’t show up for the event. To them, it was fulfilling that the children that participated had a platform to show their talents as they enjoyed themselves.

The Sadili 8- Series Junior Tennis Challenge is a tournament for U6, U8, U10 & U12 kids (all levels), with Tennis Africa Cup ranking. It is great for kids who want to test their games, get out on the court and make new friends along the way. It was initiated by Tennis professional, Dr. Liz Odera.

Run under a Sadili/International Inspiration partnership, this tournament was sponsored by Wilson Sporting Goods, Sadili Oval and Comic Relief among others.

RESULTS OF THE TOURNAMENT-08/10/2016

U-6 Boys

Red Team

Aaron Manyonka vs Alfred Otieno 3/7

Stanley Muli vs Aaron Manyonka 1/7
Aaron Manyonka vs Joseph Odhiambo 7/5

Stanley Muli vs Joseph Odhiambo 7/5
Alfred Otieno vs Joseph Odhiambo 7/5

Stanley Muli vs Alfred Otieno 7/2
Joseph Odhiambo vs Moses Ekisa 4/7

Stanley Muli vs Moses Ekisa 7/4

Moses Ekisa vs Aaron Manyonka 2/7
Alfred Otieno vs Moses Ekisa 5/7

Winner: Aaron Manyonka
Runner up: Stanley Muli

U-6 Girls

Red Team

Eunice Ekiru Vs Shantel Adatia 7/4

Winner: Eunice Ekiru
Runner up: Shantel Adatia

U-8 Boys

Red Team

Richard Isaiah vs Tofique Ibrahim 5/7
Richard Isaiah vs Jesse Owino 6/7
Richard Isaiah vs Mike Owino 4/7
Tofique Ibrahim vs Jesse Owino 7/3
Tofique Ibrahim vs Mike Owino 5/7

Jesse Owino vs Mike Owino 7/6

Winner: Mike Owino
Runner up: Tofique Ibrahim

U-8 Girls

Red Team

Everline Akinyi vs Abigail Asiro 5/7
Irene Natalia vs Everline Akinyi 7/5

Everline Akinyi vs Yvonne Nadia 7/4

Irene Natalia vs Abigail Asiro 7/3

Irene Natalia vs Yvonne Nadia 7/4

Yvonne Nadia vs Abigail Asiro 7/6

Winner: Irene Natalia
Runner up: Everline Akinyi

U-10 Boys

Red Team

Victor Omondi vs Samuel Oduor 4/7
Victor Omondi  vs Franklin Matata 7/6
Victor Omondi  vs Bravin Oduor 7/2
Franklin Matata vs Bravin Oduor 7/6
Franklin Matata vs Samuel Oduor 4/7

Samuel Oduor vs Bravin Oduor 7/4

Winner: Samuel Oduor
Runner up: Victor Matata

U-10 Girls

Red Team

Angela Alwanga vs Rose Daniella 7/3

Winner: Angela Alwanga
Runner up: Rose Daniella

U-12 Boys

Red Team

Joshua Abiutu vs Cecil Omondi 2/0
Cecil Omondi vs Brian Kangethe 2/0
Brian Kangethe vs Joshua Abiutu 1/2
Joshua Abiutu  vs Abdi Rashid 2/0

Brian Kangethe vs Abdi Rashid 0/2

Cecil Omondi vs Abdi Rashid 2/1

Winner: Joshua Abiutu

Runner-Up: Cecil Omondi

Green Team

Collins Mwirigi vs Ali Matano 2/0

Collins Mwirigi vs Simon Kabiru 2/0
Collins Mwirigi vs Kennedy Kanywira 2/0
Kennedy Kanywira vs Ali Matano 1/2

Simon Kabiru vs Ali Matano 1/2

Winner: Collins Mwirigi
Runner up: Ali Matano

Blue Team

Tom Agumba vs John Omondi 2/1

Winner: Tom Agumba
Runner up: John Omondi

U-12 Girls

Red Team

Scovia Nafula vs Sarah Nyanchama 2/0
Scovia Nafula vs Gloria Kakai 2/0

Scovia Nafula vs Anne Katile 2/0

Gloria Kakai vs Anne Katile1/2

Anne Katile vs Sarah Nyanchama 2/0

Gloria Kakai vs Sarah Nyanchama 1/2

Winner: Scovia Nafula
Runner up: Scovia Nafula

Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to all of our sponsors!