18/05/2022
I was born and raised in Soy location, Keiyo South, and the memories of my childhood are of pure joy and freedom.
Freedom to run wild with the boys and their dogs, in grazing fields and along river banks while playing hunt in the bushes and in the woods.
Beautiful days those were.
We grew up though. Education and the pursuit of quality life took us away from home only to return once in a while because home is and will always be home.
I came home a few weeks ago after been away for a while and i have been looking around with a different set of eyes.
Yes, its the same place, beautiful scenery and all but with an eerie feel.
The glory is gone.
I was shocked to find that the forested escapment has been reduced into patches of clearings.
The once dense hillsides of Mugomet and Tingwa are now dotted with numerous homesteads and farmlands which is horific to say the least.
Have we thought of the repurcussions?
What is the difference of the Soy Ward (for example) of 30 years ago and that of today?
Once upon a time, it had a vibrant economy thanks to the mining of fluoride by The Kenya Flouspar Company.
Now? Now you can hear the chirping of birds because of the silence of inactivity all over.
We had a glimpse of a brighter future and now we don't.
It makes my heart shutter at the thought of the socio-economic future of my motherland.
The Nyaru-Flouspar road is pathetic. Especially since it started raining.
A journey on a motorbike from the lowlands to the highlands that once took 40 mins now takes more than an hour.
Can you imagine the amount of money on fuel lost on the roads everyday and the amount of money passengers need to cough up to meet the rising fare prices?
Do not even start on the inefficiency of electricity. I do not remember it been so unreliable.
It is heartbreaking.
When the trees start swaying to the tune of the wind that sweeps from the valley below as a precursor of the rains that will soon pound the region, even the powerlines tremble and power goes missing.
Oh what a tragedy?
What is happening? Is there something we are missing?
