Rain

April is supposed to be the wettest (and coolest) month in Kenya but since we've arrived we've had little rain.  It's felt more like South Carolina in June!  Dust from the red earth fills the air and sticks to your clothes.  The driness concerns everyone. 

On Sunday afternoon the security officer at our guest house, Tony, took us for a little walk and showed us how desperate the situation was.  He showed us the holding tanks for the water for Tumutumu Hospital and all it's supporting buildings (they have several guest houses for interns, medical students, nurses and doctors, and dormatories for around 60 nursing students).  The water is carried by pipe from an adjacent river to this holding tank which then distributes to 3 large cisterns. 

In times of drought in Kenya everyone is asked to ration water.  Use the pit latrines instead of flushing toilets.  Sponge bath instead of shower (or don't bathe!).  Many people are helpless as they sit back and watch their crops dry up in the sun.  So they eat less in anticipation of having a light harvest. 

In Kenya 80% of the economy relies on agriculture.  On a side note there is a seed shortage in Kenya, due to corruption on the retail price of seedlings, that is also complicating the issue of agriculture in Kenya.

Which brings up and interesting point in terms of landuse:  every scrap of land is used to plant and harvest vegetables, which grow year round.  Land used for recreation or aesthetics, like the church yard, often dually serves as a feeding ground for sheep and cattle.  The land can produce in abundance and no one takes it for granted.

So thats why it was a joy, rather than a nuisance, when it started pouring yesterday afternoon as we were leaving work.  The past two nights we've been woken at 1:30 to absolute downpours.  The heavy clouds never produce a drizzle or scattered showers.  Always it is big fat rain that pounds on the tin roofs.  I hope this continues to be the season of rain for the welfare of this community.

I must share this side effect of the rain.  It knocked out the power last night.  Which meant now that there is plenty of water it was looking like we would face a nice cold shower (an electric heater warms the water right at the tap).  As I was about to step in there is a knock at the door.  Margaret, who was preparing our breakfast, boiled a couple of gallons and brought a bucket of warm water to our door.  What a welcome blessing!