Esther
Esther is the owner of the guest house in Kapedo. Her family has been hard hit by the conflict. She is an important partner in our efforts to restore peace. Here is her story.
I grew up in Kapedo sub-location in Lomelo division in Turkana East County. My childhood was not an easy one. It was a terrible kind of life and very hard. You may ask why.
It was hard because being pastoralists, we depended on milk, meat, and blood. But animals could not be slaughtered everyday, so sometimes we could spent even two days without anything to eat. Evening was the worst time. It was hard to sleep while waiting. “Do you know what she is boiling?” we would think. Three big stones that looked like balls of meat. The following morning she could tell us that the wild cat ate all the meat she had kept for us. Another problem we had was clothing, bedding, etc. We were naked The boys had to cover their bellies. The girls had small goats skins in front and at the back to hide their private parts
As a result of this hardship, my mum decided I should go to school. Not because she knew the importance of education, but because she wanted me there because children were fed. Life there was better. We could get porridge in the morning and getheri, ( maize and beans) during lunch. Soon the rest of the family moved to Kapedo center. My brothers too joined the same primary school where I was and life was good.
Though I didn’t know the benefit of education, in every class I was good. I was also gifted in athletics. I brought many trophies to my school. My teachers motivated me a lot and I was nurturing my talent nicely. Unfortunately, immediately after I joined standard seven (grade 7) my father withdrew me out of school. His purpose was that I was to be married for him to receive dowry. Though my teachers tried hard to stop this, my dad turned their efforts down. So my learning stopped at standard seven. At the age of 17 years old I was married. My life was doomed. Up to this moment, I am struggling with life. The animals that my dad was after all have been driven away by our enemies. We have remained helpless with children that we can’t provide for- even basic needs.
Though Kapedo is the worst place to live in Kenya, God has been kind, generous, giving, my shield and my strength. The area is full of many resources. For example, we have the palm trees that we use for brooms, mats, basket making. The place has Drona, stones for quarry work, hot springs that are the source of geothermal power found in Kenya craters, etc. The only obstacle is this worry between Turkana and Pokots. Nothing is reachable. If you try or attempt to get this materials for baskets, that is the end of you. So people are killed every now and then in such areas. None of the economical activities are going on in the center. People are helpless not because they are unable to work, but because of insecurity.
The conflicts of Pokots vs Turkana has made their life the worst among the 42 tribes found in Kenya. The government also is doing little to help them. None of their roads are tarmacked. Their places has no network, technology is not known to them and because of this hostile kind of live these people are living hostile too.
The result of the conflicts mentioned below are just a few in Kapedo center. There are many orphans who run after every vehicle coming to Kapedo for help. The widows are also many. They have turned to commercial sex to support their living. Widowers also lead unmentionable kind of lives.
School teachers, pupils, government officers have also lost their lives, so many schools in the area have been closed down and people have moved for safer places. As a result, the population is reduced and there is no development at all. The residents of Kapedo are all over Kenya leading unpleasant lives.
As my friend, I kindly invite you to pray, to think, to dream, to wish, to try, to plan and to show the seed of peace and hope for betterment of life in this valley at this page, I wish you a merry Christmas as you reflects our Father’s love on earth. BE MY FRIEND
WITH LOVE,
ESTHER LOCHOK.
I grew up in Kapedo sub-location in Lomelo division in Turkana East County. My childhood was not an easy one. It was a terrible kind of life and very hard. You may ask why.
It was hard because being pastoralists, we depended on milk, meat, and blood. But animals could not be slaughtered everyday, so sometimes we could spent even two days without anything to eat. Evening was the worst time. It was hard to sleep while waiting. “Do you know what she is boiling?” we would think. Three big stones that looked like balls of meat. The following morning she could tell us that the wild cat ate all the meat she had kept for us. Another problem we had was clothing, bedding, etc. We were naked The boys had to cover their bellies. The girls had small goats skins in front and at the back to hide their private parts
As a result of this hardship, my mum decided I should go to school. Not because she knew the importance of education, but because she wanted me there because children were fed. Life there was better. We could get porridge in the morning and getheri, ( maize and beans) during lunch. Soon the rest of the family moved to Kapedo center. My brothers too joined the same primary school where I was and life was good.
Though I didn’t know the benefit of education, in every class I was good. I was also gifted in athletics. I brought many trophies to my school. My teachers motivated me a lot and I was nurturing my talent nicely. Unfortunately, immediately after I joined standard seven (grade 7) my father withdrew me out of school. His purpose was that I was to be married for him to receive dowry. Though my teachers tried hard to stop this, my dad turned their efforts down. So my learning stopped at standard seven. At the age of 17 years old I was married. My life was doomed. Up to this moment, I am struggling with life. The animals that my dad was after all have been driven away by our enemies. We have remained helpless with children that we can’t provide for- even basic needs.
Though Kapedo is the worst place to live in Kenya, God has been kind, generous, giving, my shield and my strength. The area is full of many resources. For example, we have the palm trees that we use for brooms, mats, basket making. The place has Drona, stones for quarry work, hot springs that are the source of geothermal power found in Kenya craters, etc. The only obstacle is this worry between Turkana and Pokots. Nothing is reachable. If you try or attempt to get this materials for baskets, that is the end of you. So people are killed every now and then in such areas. None of the economical activities are going on in the center. People are helpless not because they are unable to work, but because of insecurity.
The conflicts of Pokots vs Turkana has made their life the worst among the 42 tribes found in Kenya. The government also is doing little to help them. None of their roads are tarmacked. Their places has no network, technology is not known to them and because of this hostile kind of live these people are living hostile too.
The result of the conflicts mentioned below are just a few in Kapedo center. There are many orphans who run after every vehicle coming to Kapedo for help. The widows are also many. They have turned to commercial sex to support their living. Widowers also lead unmentionable kind of lives.
School teachers, pupils, government officers have also lost their lives, so many schools in the area have been closed down and people have moved for safer places. As a result, the population is reduced and there is no development at all. The residents of Kapedo are all over Kenya leading unpleasant lives.
As my friend, I kindly invite you to pray, to think, to dream, to wish, to try, to plan and to show the seed of peace and hope for betterment of life in this valley at this page, I wish you a merry Christmas as you reflects our Father’s love on earth. BE MY FRIEND
WITH LOVE,
ESTHER LOCHOK.