Beautiful Kenya

Our bus flies down the dirt road, dangerously weaving in and out of traffic as the passengers admire the scenery and point out various animals to each other. Red dirt finds its way everywhere, from inside our socks to under our hats, and plasters itself to our sunscreen-encased skin. In the afternoon, heat from the sun caresses our pale skin as we seek shade nearby to rest under. Everyone drowns themselves in bug spray and sunscreen periodically, leaving the air unbreathable for a few minutes because of the stench. Exhaust from vehicles and smog from everyday life fills the air and lungs. The corn stalks in the fields are either knee-high or twice as tall as me. Occasionally, a small breeze will rustle the leaves on the plants just enough to make its presence known.

When I went on a mission trip to Kenya, I witnessed a completely different relationship people have with nature than here in the United States. The team I was a part of traveled across the country to help at two different schools. At one school, we helped build and paint a dining hall and funded a new playground for the students. At the other school, we spent time with the students both in and out of the classroom. Both were extremely rewarding experiences, and we were able to see how the native people interacted with their environments.

People in Kenya tend to cut down trees when they need firewood for cooking and heating. In fact, “fuelwood and charcoal production is one of the major driving factors of deforestation in Kenya” (Nilsson). Although not a scrap of wood is wasted, trees used as firewood fill houses and kitchens with smoke. The residents, mainly the women, inhale the smoke as they live their lives cooking, cleaning, and working. This may shorten their lifetimes, but they continue to practice using wood as fuel. Clean-burning fuels are more expensive and much harder to come by, leaving much of the population with no choice.

There are other issues with the living conditions in Kenya. Quite a bit of wastewater finds its way into the water supplies, such as rivers and lakes. This produces a stench that floats on the air and renders the water undrinkable, forcing people to dig for fresh water to use. Most people do not have proper bathrooms, just holes dug in the ground with a shed shielding them from the eyes of others. Oftentimes, maggots are crawling around and in these toilet holes as they are perfect breeding grounds for flies. Despite this seemingly negative relationship with their surrounding environment, Kenyans interact positively with nature as well in other situations. Unfortunately, they do not have access to the best living conditions because of various social factors, such as poverty and inequality.

In Kenya, nature lives within the villages as well as the countryside. Wild dogs rifle through garbage to find scraps while monkeys break into people’s cars to steal bananas and crackers. The occasional chicken clucks along, searching for seeds to swallow and avoiding being eaten itself. Villagers are not overly concerned with the names of the wild critters that ravage their gardens, but they are concerned with keeping those critters away from their food sources. Donkeys and mules roam the roads and are tied to various posts and trees until they are needed for transportation. Cattle are driven along beaten down paths that have been used for years to get to the watering hole, where women dig in the dirt to find clear water. During the hottest hour of the day, everyone is chased under the trees and canopies for tea by the intense sunshine. The beaten-down roads are constantly covered in dust, which people and animals walk through, leaving footprints and pawprints. A few women make money by sweeping these marks and dust off the road, leaving a clear, perfect path for travelers. Nature both creates problems and fixes them by offering respite.

Kenyans are accustomed to the harsh sun and heat in both summer and winter, although the heat and sun are less intense in their winter. Some well-off Kenyans may even wear parkas outside in the winter to keep warm because they are so used to the heat in the summer. Work and school proceed as normal almost every day despite the weather. Getting an education sets people up for greater success later in life by offering better jobs that make more money so people can better provide for their families. Many children attend school, when possible, for a better future and a safer present. Students who do not attend school “face increased risks of violence, child labor and to their mental well-being” (Education). Since students are safer at schools than on their own in Kenya, many attempt to attend school for as long as possible. The added benefit of getting an education sets these students up for a successful life and future with bigger opportunities in higher education, sports, or lifelong careers.

Overall, life in Kenya is not easy, especially for those outside the city. Many people must find their own supplies, even when the land does not have much to provide. Because of this, Kenyans are very independent and resourceful people. Ancestors pass down traditions and tips they have learned over the years to their descendants. Some of these tidbits of knowledge pertain to farming, allowing people to grow their own food instead of spending money at the store. Other practices include cooking certain recipes, making clothing and blankets, and various arts and crafts.

Basket weaving and wood carving are two of my personal favorites. The time put into each piece of art is unfathomable, and the finished products are always breathtaking. Baskets come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, and women will continue creating baskets into their old age. Wood carvings depict warriors, animals, and various objects found around Kenya. Sometimes these are painted with bright, vivid colors; other times, they are left natural yet still detailed. These age-old secrets combined with today’s knowledge and people’s knack for learning new ways of doing things allow people to improve their techniques throughout the years.

As night draws its blanket over the world, bats swoop just above our heads to devour their meals of pesky mosquitoes. The air turns clear and fresh as stars begin to populate the midnight sky. Although the tapestry over our heads looks different from what we are all used to, some of the familiar constellations are still there. As I run inside to grab a lightweight jacket to fend off the nighttime chill, I hear a scream from the next room over. Little spiders have climbed out of hiding to scare the living daylights out of a few team members. After the hunt comes up unsuccessful, we all convene outside to share stories from the day and remember this moment. As we head inside to go to bed, the world seems to lay quiet and still, preparing for a brand-new day as we prepare for ours.

—Sara