Hope rekindled in Baringo County

By Paul Kiptai

CJ Reporters sourcing for news

Residents of Baringo County have for a long time been in the darkness in information base, thanks to the Marigat Citizen Voices for bridging the information gap. The training initiated by Arid Lands Information Network which took place from 11^th -15^th November 2013 became a sigh of relief to the information deprived citizen of Baringo County.

The platform provided by Marigat Maarifa centre has enabled the residents to share and communicate issues of concern including policy making, lobbying and advocating key county issues and economic development agendas for action”. Said Pastor Elijah Ruto.

Mr. Marutit, a community mobilizer and the Coordinator for Prudent Trust, a community based organization championing for community rights and welfare, is also a beneficiary of citizen Journalism.

He says that the training has not only helped him acquire skills and knowledge on writing and reporting but has also initiated a forum that citizen can express their feelings and concerns to the respective authorities.

Joyce Okuta enjoying fruits

The training brought about members drawn from respective communities who were trained on basic knowledge on journalism.This will enable consolidation of vital information from the diverse communities which according to Marutit brings unity and cohesion among the larger Baringo County.

He cites the area of lack of representation amongst communities in key government ministries, rampant corruption, gender based violence,resource disparity among others.

“It is worth noting that the people of Baringo County have lagged behind because authorities withhold sensitive information which would otherwise have been beneficial to the communities and this has led to lack of full citizen participation”. Said Marutit.

“The platform provided by Marigat Maarifa centre has enabled the residents to share and communicate issues of concern including policy making, lobbying and advocating key county issues and economic development agendas for action”. Said Pastor Elijah Ruto.

Besides,the training was very interactive.The trainees were cooperative throughout the training.He says that the bonding session,the welfare team and the news gathering session exhibited maturity and provided an opportunity to undertake the citizen journalism task.

Group bonding session

“The training aspect involved forming groups which will then gather particular information and communicate to the entire group also known as the Citizen crew. 

The information is then posted on the Marigat Citizen Voices platform which includes; MCV blog, Twitter and Facebook page”. Said Michael Okomo.

The environment at which the training was held,also provided  rare opportunity in bonding.The participants were always given a break to energize,experience seed extraction-fruit eating session courtesy of KARI-Perkerra.This enabled the training to be very lively and adventurous.

Marigat Citizen Voices Reporters met residents of Kaptich camping on makeshifts at the Kenya Forestry service Ground, believed to have been displaced by frequent bursting of the River Banks.

Energizing session

According to a resident, the problem has been persisting for long and the residents are calling upon the government rescue them from further destruction of their lands. 

“We have been camping here for one year depending on food and other basic needs from well wishers. The lives here are hard and we are forced to take one meal per day or none at all as opposed to the three meals we used to take before the displacement” said Mercy Chepkoech.

At some point the would be journalist were forced to divert their normal task of news gathering to attending into other activities;

“On our way to covering the impeding problem posed by the National Irrigation Board pan Dam to swimming kids, the journalists came across matchet wielding 50 year old man in pursuit of a minor ready to administer what would otherwise be called chastisement,” said Okomo.