Hunger amid feasting – a snapshot of Kenya at Kikopey
As one descends the Eastern escarpment to Nakuru from Nairobi, one is inclined to look more to the left since all the right side has to offer is a wall of rocks.

I find the rocks fascinating because they seem to be standing on each other with no sign of letting go.

The left side has well-manicured rolling green land. The manicure is not a result of landscaping by the hands of man. No, it is part of the many beautiful wonders of Kenya that many Kenyans don't really appreciate.

There is some white in the middle of the green, just below a rocky hill. The hill itself has some structures of mabati (iron sheets) which glare in the scorching mid-day sun and but like the white 'structures' are mundane. They might as well be but they are the IDP Camp at Kikopey.

I will take you through what I experienced in an hour at Kikopey – a Nyama choma (barbequed meat) stop between Naivasha and Nakuru.

The Community Outreach Program (COP) club visited Karati Home and School for the mentally disabled in Naivasha on 12th September. We decided that we needed to get some nyama choma, and where else to have it than at Kikopey?

When the bus stopped, the gentlemen went to order the meat and the ladies were left chatting in the bus. I was seated by a window and I noticed three kids who looked hungry and very rugged. I had two sandwiches, a banana and a piece of cake for my lunch.

Even if I wanted to, I could not take my lunch with those innocent eyes looking at me with hunger, self-pity and hopelessness. Moved, I gave my lunch to the kids and asked them to share. Their sweet little faces radiated with joy.

We got talking and that is when I knew where they were coming from. As we chatted, the number of children increased. Hunger was apparent on their faces. Unfortunately, most of my colleagues had already spent their money on nyama choma. But since they knew there would be more nyama choma and dinner to look forward to, my colleagues gladly shared their packed lunch with the kids.

The kids were not all peaceful and mini fights broke out with some complaining that others were having too much while others hadn't had anything. Apparently some were taking the food and rushing it home to their parents, who are jobless and therefore penniless; and their siblings.

I also noticed that the kids know each other by name and look out for each other. The big boys take care of the younger children and keep them off the busy highway.

They miss school

We continued talking to the kids and they opened up on their difficult lives. They brought out the post elections violence and tribalism better that you would get from a well researched paper. And it was all the more painful as it came from children below 13 years old.

The kids moved us when they talked about school and how much they miss the life they had before December 2007. One of the boys took my friend Angie to a point from which the IDP camp could be seen. William, another friend, and I followed them.

One of the boys told us about his mum and how badly they need sugar at home. Angie, who was at this point moved almost to tears went to the nearest shop and bought half a kilo of sugar for him and sweets for the other kids and their faces lit up.

Another kid asked for money to buy wheat flour as he badly wanted his mum to cook him some chapattis. We asked him how he gets what he needs and he said that he waits for kind-hearted people to pass by and he asks for whatever he wants. Sometimes he gets it, sometimes he doesn't, but he is happy.

We promised to visit the kids again. They asked for more and better food and clothes (which they need badly, considering what they had on). The oldest kid gave us his dad's number which we passed to our patron when we got back to college.

The kids are all happy and lovely despite their harsh living conditions. Angie couldn't help but thank God and COP for helping her realize just how blessed she is to be where she is today and for the realization she can help those who like these kids depend on other people's kindness.

William thought aloud that it is unfortunate that IDPs are becoming a tourist attraction. This thought got me praying that the situation should change soonest possible as the kids don't deserve any single bit of the pain they are going through. Why do they have to suffer so much?

What are you doing to make others smile? You could join COP and live its motto of making hearts smile! COP meetings are held on Mondays at 12.30pm in Lecture Theatre 2.

By Shillah Memusi