Friday 22 May 2026
I meet with Julius to discuss the goings on in Western Kenya. The good news is that the two groups of ladies we started last time have expanded – 15 avocado sellers have become 20 and 15 maize sellers have also become 20.
Excellent news
Of course he brings four more applications for Raincatchers. In a country that can barely cope with the levels of flooding it is experiencing in some areas, you might think that the llast thing to do would be to try to catch even more rain. The thing is about the water in the raincatchers is that it is clean. And when the rest of what is about is all churned up and chokka with nasties – like cholera – it is important to have access to clean drinking water.
Four little far flung communities want a Raincatcher. Each comprises four ladies – generally in their seventies – each one having been left with a minimum of a dozen kids of various ages to care for. No one is being beaten or sold off or abused but the poverty is grinding. Unrelenting.
Our existing raincatchers have pretty much wiped out water borne disease in the communities that have them. Which helps.
With this batch we have a few ‘guidelines’. When a community has enough water for their needs they must provide a jerrycan every few days to one of the neediest homes in the area. Julius pretty much knows who they are. Also – when the community has enough water – they should sell to churches and schools. Water comes direct from God, I point out to Julius. It is practically holy.
A complete raincatcher costs about 80 quid, all in. So pretty good VFM.
Julius and I part and I decide to go and get some wifi and sit with the middle classes in Java Hut. Different world. I have a hibiscus and min t tea and, eventually, a salad. An actual salad. Delicious. I do some research on bits and bobs for the Fringe in August and for a while I am far, far away from Dagoretti Corner.
The journey back is by pikipiki, but this one is electric. It sounds like a toy bike. Weird.
