The  Eldama Ravine News is published at Eldama Ravine, Baringo County, Kenya. It is run by a team of committed professionals keen to gather, synthesize and disseminate news to esteemed  readers in Eldama Ravine and beyond in the most informative manner possible. Welcome.

THE   EDITORIAL

STORY TELLING AND THE RELEVANCE TODAY

The power of storytelling within the African societies was very important in passing messages to the youth. It was also used as an ideal storage of wisdom and community philosophies.

Usually after supper, children congregated around the fireplace to listen to stories – usually of the ogre, the hair, the fox, the lion and the leopard.

What was usually common was the use of animal characters to depict certain themes, characters and events. But in reality, the stories mirrored day to day activities, challenges and aspirations of society.

But with the advent of modern society coupled with new gargets such as radios, televisions and lately phones and the internet, mode of passing messages to society has changed dramatically.

However, it is not entirely true that we have shifted to modernity since most of the old stories continue to remain relevant and those who listen or read such stories still find that there is something to learn from, advise or warn.

Elsewhere in this newspaper, we carry the story of the fox, the lady and the mushroom. It talks about a fox which found a mushroom and gave it to the lady named Susan. Susan takes the mushroom home to make a delicious meal but no sooner had she made the food than the fox arrived. Susan asks in bewilderment how a fox would contemplate getting into her house but the fox retorts that he had given her the mushroom.

The story goes on and on as the fox and the lady engage in altercation. But the moral teaching in the story is that one should be wary of accepting gifts that appear on the face value to be harmless but in the end potent great trouble.

In life today, there are many people brandishing various types of mushrooms and it is incumbent upon your wise counsel to reject them outrightly way in advance before you get into trouble.

GREAT LESSONS TO LEARN FROM RECENT CAMPAIGNS AND PARTY NOMINATIONS IN ELDAMA RAVINE WARD, BARINGO COUNTY

By Kiplon Kangogo

As the dust begin to settle after the gruesome campaigns and party nominations, it is perhaps time to look back and reflect whether there are important lessons for us to learn from as we gear towards the forthcoming General Elections in August 2017 and beyond.

The biggest lesson that we need to look at is whether the debate organized by Baringo Youth Alliance, Eldama Ravine Chapter, where aspirants for the Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Eldama Ravine Ward had any influence on the choices made.

We also need to look at the varying manifestos presented by the candidates and examine the extend to which they influenced the elections.

Other areas to look at are the manner in which the candidates packaged themselves, the level of political campaigns carried out and the decorum and personal aura each candidate displaced.

It may also be wise to look at such issues as locality, level of education and even ethnicity played during the party primaries.

Once an effective postmortem is done on the exercise and all factors at play deciphered, it is possible to predict with certainty what results to expect in the coming General Elections in August 2017 and all other future political endevours.

To begin with, the Jubilee MCA aspirants converged at the Koibatek County Hall and each made spirited attempt to convince the electorate to be considered during the party elections.

Nine aspirants attended the function held from 2:00 p.m. ending three hours later at 5:00 p.m.

Prior to commencement of the debate, Sakida Jepkemoi, who represented the Youth Alliance on the moderators’ desk, started by laying out the rules governing the debate.

No clapping of hands by members of the audience was to be allowed but instead replaced by foot dumping.

Secondly, no heckling was allowed and one only had to wait for opportunity later to air contrary opinion.

Once the rules of the game were laid down, the moderators who comprised of Sakida, Nelly Alembi and Charles Chebet popularly known as Asali, commenced the debate without any further delay.

The initial questions were meant to thaw tense moments. Hence, each in turn was asked supposedly relaxing question.

The first to take such question was Franscisca Cherutich.

“Madam Francisca, what is your favourite food?”

She said she loves ‘kuku’ and ugali.

The next line of questions from the moderators was for each aspirant to state what he or she wanted to do for the residents of Eldama Ravine ward.

Mr. Kiplimo said his priority will be to represent Eldama Ravine Ward by continuing to fight off land grabbers and ensure that wananchi, especially residents of Eldama Ravine town, were issued with title deeds for the plots they owned.

Madam Francisca said her priority will be to advance youth and women issues as well as that of the physically challenged.

Mr. Cledo said he will ensure equitable distribution of resources especially where bursaries are concerned so that deserving cases are no longer neglected.

Mr. Julius Ngotie said his priority will be to develop and support talent (Uzanii) among the vast youth and ensure that a bill was passed in the County Assembly in favour of the elderly so that they are offered adequate medical services.

Eng. Kipchumba, who is vying on a Kanu ticket, said he would concentrate on provision of water and also support groups and saccos.

On his part, Kibawui said he will be able to work with all the residents of Eldama Ravine in a consultative manner while ensuring that fairness and justice was observed.

Isaa Yunus said leadership was his calling and he will ensure that infrastructural development in the Ward is enhanced.

Mr. David Kemei, who is vying on an Independent ticket, said openness, truthfulness and hard work will be his guiding principles.

Baba Hiram on his part said he will ensure that his leadership does not forget the electorate and that truth will prevail at all times.

The moderators then turned to some of the aspirants and asked them to shed light on some of the allegations made by some residents against them.

The first was MCA Kiplimo who was asked why he lived in Moringwo, which was in another ward than the one he represented. He said the farm was ancestral land and being the youngest in the family of the late Job Tanui, he had to take care of the homestead.

Cledo was asked to explain about the status of his marriage. He said he was married to two women and both both were happy to live with him and hence should not be an issue with the electorate explaining that there were more leaders that he could count who either came from polygamous families or had polygamous marriages.

Francisca Cherutich said the fact that she was married out of her community was her strong point indicating that she was not a tribalist.

Baba Hiram was informed that some residents were apprehensive that it will be his wife who will run the show once he is elected the MCA and his response was that nothing could be further from the truth.

“I have involved my wife to show the electorate that once elected, the whole family will know that I am the area MCA and accord every visitor due respect and assistance,” he said.

Mr. Yusus said he would be the leader of all and not Muslims only.

After this session which proved to be quite tricky, the floor was opened for anybody who had a question to ask any of the aspirants.

But once the Jubilee party campaigns commenced, the aspirants fought tooth and nail and in the end, Mr. Julius Ngotie emerged the winner followed by Madam Francisca Cherutich.

Most of the issues raised during the debate came into the fore but the postmortem would assist in identifying the factors that really came into play.

At a glance, the issue of trust was the paramount decision maker. Most electorate looked for someone they trusted to initiate development for them and there is no doubt that the debate played central role in enabling the electorate interrogate views and opinions of the aspirants.

Organisational strategy and ability to carry out systematic campaigns also played a big roll.

However, it will take a long long time to digest and decipher quite effectively all the factors that were at play influencing the kind of results we received.

No doubt, there is need for the Youth Alliance to organize more and more of the debates not only for the MCAs but also other aspirants.

YOU AND... BEING PRESENT

By Tabukai J. Limo

Whenever you have decided to do a certain thing, do you usually avail yourself in totality? Do you ensure you are fully around through out the task and actively? Are you present when you are present or absent though present? Put in another way, do you give the assignment the maximum it requires?

We often attend various functions, ceremonies, workshops, seminars, meetings, lessons and name them.

Participants arrive at different times. Some call in, in time, others on time. But others however will report late. The irony is that, more often, it is this latter lot-the latecomers who many a time want to leave early.

Having registered for the occasion, how many of us settle and give maximum to the situation? . How many return empty handed?

Have you seen these persons who like talking to other attendee(s) as the main speaker is on the floor? Such people, who derive lots of pleasure creating meetings within a meeting are there aplenty.

How about the fellows who are in without being in! These ladies and gentlemen whose physical selves are there, but devoid of their minds.

Yes, they are at the venue and may even have positioned themselves just next to the speaker, yet far away mentally. Probably exploring an issue unrelated to what is at hand. Individuals of this kind sometimes smile and you may be tempted to think they very alert. Keenly following and taking in all that is necessary.

The Kalenjin community must have had such characters in mind when they came up with the proverb :”Ngobo kipngulya kpbo, kobo boisio kobo.” as recorded by David Ng’osos the author of the science based, Travels of a Raindrop in his more recent title, Tugen Proverbs. A proverb that translates, when it is play-time, it’s play-time. When it’s work time it’s work time.

Explaining its Genesis, Ng’osos writes that a man once, working in the woods overheard a conversation between two hyenas. One of them remarked, “When it’s work we work.” Since then and on the basis of that dialogue, the Tugen have observed that no two things can be done simultaneously and the result is success..The proverb advises us to undertake one thing at a time.

Another closely related proverb, is, “Makibelchin kirokwo aeng” and whose English equivalent is, You cannot serve two masters well or “Ushika mawili moja ubonyoka”among the Kiswahili speakers.

To ensure their members pay singular attention the use the following anecdote as well. Legend has it that a certain young man murder another young man. A council of elders converge to discuss and settle the case.

The father of the murderer, who was very talented in arrow-making brought along his incomplete arrows to the venue of the case. And as the case was going on, the arrow specialist kept on giving final touches the arrows.

The elders arrived at the verdict that that the accused deserved to be hanged.

But before this was adopted, the opinion of the killer’s father was sought. Asked to react to the decision that had been made, he readily owned it saying, “I indeed have no objection. The conclusion belongs to the majority and is quite okay and should be carried out as such.”

It’s only when he saw the son being prepared for the punishment that he jerked out of the lane of the arrow-bussyness and business on to the path of the case.

“Oh! No! That cannot be, “ disputed the arrow champion with tears gathering in his eyes.

No tears nor any second thought can change this Valid is your first word. You agreed with what was passed. Period.

Other than singing and their accompaniments like the drum, the accordion, the piano and other accepted acts and deeds the church is usually silent However, it is not insulated from lack of attention.

Clear and enticing as it may be, the message of a sermon may elude the ears of many a congregant because they have allowed their minds to wander large and wide.

It is so honourable and rewarding being present when you are present. If it is a piece of work you are executing, be it your own or others’, be personal or communal, be it formal or informal, do it to your very best. It pays. Just like Martin Luther King Jr put it, “...even if falls on your lot to be a street sweeper, go out and sweep streets like Michaelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Handel and Bethoven composed music, sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry, sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say :Here lived a great Street sweeper who swept his job well. “