The gang goes to Kenya
It is the wet season in Kenya. The rain patters hard against the tin roof of the Moi University guesthouse. The lights flicker intermittently as the power comes and goes. Dylan gazes out at the calm Eldoret night, sipping a warm cup of Dowa, a ginger tea concoction that is reported to “put hair on your chest”.
It has been two weeks since our arrival in Kenya, and what a whirlwind it has been. From the minute I stepped off the plane in Eldoret, I knew I was woefully unprepared for the culture that I would soon be immersing myself into. Our first introduction to life in Kenya was the drive from the airport to our residence. The roads are bumpy and potholed with no appearance of speed limits or stop signs. The drivers of 1990’s sedans, mutatus and 18-wheelers swerve unabashedly through traffic, occasionally honking as they go, to signal “If you don’t let me in, there’s gonna be an accident”. This scene of chaos, somehow artfully navigated by brave and confident drivers, serves as a suitable metaphor for what it means to be Kenyan. Life for many is unpredictable, daunting, even dangerous. But there is beauty in the madness. The struggles that these people face brings them together. I have never seen a culture better embrace the idea of community, and as far as Kenya still needs to come, there is much value to be learned from them.
Teaching has been an incredible experience for myself. At first, I was nervous; I wasn’t sure how the students would react, what they would think of me, how I would be able to relate to them. But I was blown away by the engagement and enthusiasm of the students. We have faced issues with enrollment and class attendance, and a school administration that has been difficult to work with at times. Yet I am confident that we can build strong relationships with our students. We have high hopes that the case method can give them the tools and the confidence to challenge their beliefs and succeed in the real world. We are also looking forward to learning about their customs and immersing ourselves further in Kenyan culture.
We’ve had the opportunity to visit some beautiful natural environments, taste some exotic cuisines (although quality pizza is sorely lacking in Eldoret), and meet some incredibly hard working people. The highlight of the trip so far has been visiting a local farming community. Dr. Lagat, one of our contacts at Moi University, took us to see his home village. We were treated to a lovely meal and tea, and given a tour of several farms, boasting dairy, poultry, tea, maize, and other crops. We were then given the opportunity to sit down and talk with the farmers themselves. Jordan and I had an incredibly interesting discussion with five horticultural farmers. They told us about the struggles they were facing; Their crops were failing due to disease, their venture into greenhouse farming had failed, and they couldn’t afford to purchase superior breeds of crop seed. Having just a very basic understanding of farming, I was fascinated to learn about their lives. As I asked more questions and started proposing some ideas, I came to appreciate just how vital the community was to these farmers. They are all part of a local co-operative, and each contribute 1,000 shillings to a community fund every month. This money is invested and used to pay for school fees, so that every child in the village has access to adequate education.
The farmers were adamant that whatever decision they made must be unanimous, and the profits of their ventures had to be shared. We helping them develop a plan to pool their resources to buy seeds of a new breed of potato, which should be far more productive than their current crop. They should have enough to plant a half acre of potatoes on one farmer’s land, and after the first harvest, they can distribute the seeds to the remaining fields.
I am incredibly grateful for everyone who has made us feel so welcome here. Our journey in Kenya has been a bumpy one, but I for one am looking forward to the rest of the ride.