ABCD -- Session Two

Saturday was the second session for the second group -- we have two groups:  "new group" and "co-op group" which started their trainings in October -- of Asset Based Community Development Training.  I wasn't sure how many would show up because I had told Joyce, Carolyne, and Bibiana to let the groups know that I was not going to pay fare this time.  Kenyans are used to being paid a sitting fee or at least having their transport reimbursed when they are called to a seminar.  I went way over budget on the first session (with over 100 in attendance), and wanted to make up the difference.  Not paying fare would also serve to be sure that those who attended were really serious about learning something.  Alex made it clear in the first session that there was no money to be had from this training, but then I did pay fare, so that was something of a mixed message -- I'm learning too.

The girls that pull it all together -- Carolyne, me, Bibiana, & Joyce

We were scheduled to start at 9:30am, and at 10am we had 48 present; I guessed my plan worked.  Alex told me not to stop counting until noon.  He was right, people trickled in until after noon and 112 was our final count.

Late arrivals hustling to their seats

This session was focussed specifically on smashing the illusion that there is no money in Kenya.  Self Help Groups are common in Kenya.  We've mentioned these before.  Groups get together, register, elect a board (Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, etc.), and work together ideally on income generating projects, but at least in supporting each other.  These groups get together about twice a month and each member usually contributes 100 Ksh each meeting.  Alex did the math with the group, assuming there are 20 groups in Kakamega (there are way more), and assuming each group has 20 members, meeting twice a month, contributing 100 Ksh each meeting.  That's 400 people X 200 Ksh/month X 12 months =   960,000 Ksh/year.  ALMOST ONE MILLION SHILLINGS PER YEAR.  The crowd loved that one.

And then he asked if anyone drank in this town.  The group agreed that there might be 100 people that drink in Kakamega (there might be one or two more than that given how many bars there are in town, but 100 is a nice round number).  Let's say these 100 people have one drink everyday, yes, even on Sunday, and a drink costs 50 bob.  100 X 50 X 7days a week X 52 weeks a year = 1,820,000/year.  ALMOST TWO MILLION SHILLINGS PER YEAR.  Don't tell me there's no money in Kakamega.

Alex painting a clear picture of the wealth waiting to be exploited here

Throughout the course of the day participants worked in small groups to identify the projects that they engage in.  What are the coping strategies?  We came up with poultry, small scale horticulture, and merry-go-rounds.  There is also a group doing fish farming (our KASFOOC group).  Some want to expand to bee keeping -- bees can be kept on small plots of land and honey demands a high price.


Alex went through a KAP analysis -- Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice.  He believes it is the attitude that is killing this country... the continent.  And once the attitude shifts and Africans see their own capacity, they will be able to seek out more knowledge, like this training, and put into practice what they are learning.  The feedback from the session is so positive -- they are hungry for more.  But with only one Alex, and the Canadians leaving in just a month, we are concentrating on how to keep the momentum.  The next session will be to train trainers -- leaders selected from each of the small groups, that can carry this work through.

Let's remember who we are doing all of this for!