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By Isabella Maua
Farmers around Kibieto village in Mt. Elgon have called upon the county government and relevant authorities to look into the matter of lack of water in the area.
Speaking with The Times Newspaper during a visit around the area, Simon Kiboi, a donkey user, said that despite the heavy rains being experienced, they have had to endure long walks with their beast of burdens in search of the rare commodity.
“It is ironical that rainwater is running but we lack clean drinking water and even that to use domestically at our homesteads since we don’t have any tapped water here,” noted Kiboi.
He further explains that donkeys have been their sole savior when it comes to fetching water and transporting goods and stuff to and from the farms.
“We are neglected as the occupants of Kibieto; since independence, there has been no leader who has ever bothered to make our roads or connect us with tap water for our consumption,” he highlighted.
Margaret Chebet lives on the other side of the road known as Sendera. She divulges that she developed serious chest problems some years after getting married to one of the men in the area.
“When I set foot at Sendera, I started looking for water far away so that I could prepare a meal for my family, clean up my home, and even wash clothes,” she recalled.
She added: “It is after many visits to hospitals that we realized it was the overworking I had to endure in the quest to fetch water, and that is when my husband sought to purchase three donkeys that have been helpful to date.”
The farmers could not hide their happiness when they talked about the ripple effect that has since 2021 set foot in the Mt. Elgon region and transformed the lives of people and donkeys in the area.
“I heard of Ripple Effect in 2022 when they came around to sensitize farmers on sustainable agriculture and donkey welfare; I can attest that our lives have never been the same,” revealed Chebet.
Most farmers, however, are still ignorant of matters like health and welfare, despite the fact that they rely solely on them to run their day-to-day vital activities around their homes.
BENEFITS OF ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTIONS
No doubt, the presence of Ripple Effect and other animal welfare institutions could play a very big role in revolutionizing the lives of people, especially in remote areas.
There is still a lot of room for more farmers to benefit from such imperative knowledge and services from not only Ripple Effect but also other animal welfare organizations in areas of Mt. Elgon like Upper Kibieto, Kibundo, Kimama, Kaberua, Chesinende, Chemweisus, and Chemses, among others.