AN EXPERIENCE ON IVORY BELONG TO ELEPHANT WALK- NYERI COUNTY – MURANG’A COUNTY (NDAKAINI) 13^th -22^nd of September

13^th September, Day One.

My team and I were looking forward to this day as we were to start our fourth edition this year of the ‘ivory belongs to elephants walk after three very successful campaign walks in Meru, South to North Coast, Laikipia, Nyeri and Nyandarua Counties. We started the day by setting up our equipment; the Public address system, banners, and cameras into the KWS vehicle that would be our escort vehicle for the entire walk. At around 9am I met the Deputy County Commissioner Nyeri County Mr. John Marete at the Nyeri - Othaya Junction and briefed him about the walk. As I was still talking to the County Commissioner, Journalists from The Standard Group arrived and interviewed me. Mr John Marete then flagged us off at 10.am. By this time we had received a security team from the Administration Police who also provided an escort vehicle. I led the walk through Othaya road accompanied by the County Commissioner, my team and other government officials. At some point Mr.Marete and his team had to go back to attend to some pressing issues. Being a Saturday, we had no schools walking with us that day and I remember thinking to myself how lively it would have been having school children chanting words like ‘Ndovu Wetu’ (Our Elephants)It always lifts my spirit whenever I hear such words. We passed through various towns taking a few minutes to address people at shopping centres and farms. As I walked, I had a bunch of ‘ivory belongs to elephants ‘bumper stickers that I issued to all motorists who passed us to stick to their cars. We walked into Othaya town at 3 O’clock; I addressed the people at the main Bus Station that was next to the great Othaya Market. I am confident to say that I reached quite a good number with the conservation message that day. Happy with the first day, we went to the Administration Police Base in Othaya and set camp for the night.

14^th September, Day two.

I woke up at 6am. Being a Sunday Morning I said a prayer asking God to give my team and I the strength we needed to finish the walk. This was one of the shortest walks this year but I knew it wouldn’t be easy especially with the hilly Murang’a County, the scorching sun and above all we would be walking on rough roads at some point. By 9am we were ready for church. We attended the church service at ACC&S Chinga, where women from all the branches within the country had gathered to worship that day. On arriving at the church compound, the church Moderator requested if they could use our sound equipment to supplement theirs. I instructed our sound technician Peter Gitau to help the church sound team set up the equipment in preparation for the service. This day was particularly remarkable for me because I knew almost everyone in the congregation. ACC&S is my home church and most of the branches are within Murang’a County, where I hail from. It felt like home for me. As I walked past the congregation I could hear people calling my name ‘Nyamu’, saying that they were proud of me. After the service began, Reverend Ngumo, my personal friend and the church’s Secretary General called me to the front to introduce my team and I. He then gave me a chance to speak to the people giving them the conservation message. The church leaders then said a prayer for us. After the service I remember interacting with so many, people most of them my relatives, neighbors, childhood friends and even classmates. It was surreal. We then headed back to camp to rest in preparation for tomorrow’s walk into Murang’a County.

15^th September, Day three

Today I left camp at 8am, to the `County Commissioner’s office to meet the Assistant County Commissioner who is to flag off today’s walk. Mr. Evans Ogwankwa of Nyeri South flagged us off at exactly 9am; we were now headed towards Kiriaini that will be our first stop in Murang’a could not hide my joy. This meant so much walking and talking conservation in my home County. After I crossed the boundary between Nyeri and Murang’a County I was met by the Assistant County Commissioner Kiriaini who was to walk with me into Kiriaini town. A few minutes into Kiriaini and our Kenya Police escort vehicle went ahead of us with sounding sirens, and as it is typical of Kenyans once they hear such sounds or see a police car in haste, they just want to come out and see what is happening. This actually worked as we reached Kiriaini a huge crowd was already waiting for us. Some were craning their necks to get a better view of the procession. It was pretty obvious who we were and why we were there from the banners on our escort vehicle. Ken Mwenda our MC also announced on the Public address system what was going on so that people could be up to speed. The first lady of Murang’a County Mrs. Jane Mwangi arrived accompanied by the minister for Environment and Natural Resources Murang’a County, The County Government Choir and some members of staff from the County Government office. This was quite a big gathering especially with the governor’s wife gracing the occasion. Local Journalists and media correspondents from Citizen TV, Kenya News Agency, Kangema Fm, and Radio Maria among others came to cover the event. The main message to this people was about the New Wildlife Act; stop the illegal killing of wildlife in particular elephants. Good thing the government was there to emphasize. The whole group from the County Government agreed walked with me for a few miles and then I proceeded to Njumbi where I walked on rough road for a few kilometers before calling it a day. We set camp at Nyakianga Police Station.

16^th September, Day four

I woke up a bit late today, it had rained the previous night and you can imagine how uncomfortable it felt especially because we were camping in the rain. I am not complaining though, it was just unusual...hehehe I was a bit disturbed also and my spirit was low. There was a little incident the night before with the Station’s OCS who was not around as we were pitching tents in the compound. On coming back she asked two armed police officers to escort me to her office so that I could answer why we had set camp in the compound without telling her. That was not the case since the Police officer on duty was fully aware that we would be staying the night but did not communicate to his superior. She, the OCS uttered some very disturbing words that literally left me speechless. It was all a misunderstanding as she apologized later in the day. I had to send Lilian Mugo (Communications Department) to Nairobi to run some errands and get some crucial things that the team needed. She would be back in the evening.  We had community meetings no walking, it was a good time for my team and I to catch a breath, talk but not walk....hahaha. We left camp at nine for Mioro that was quite a distance from Nyakianga. We visited a total of four schools, reaching out to more than 1,000students and pupils.

17^th September, Day five

Woke up rather excited, by 8.30 in the morning we had left Nyakianga ready for flag off towards Kangema. Said Abdalla Mwamzungu County Commissioner Mathioya Sub-location flagged us off I walked enthusiastically towards Kangema Market where we would have a community meeting at the market place. After a few hours of serious walking, we had reached Kangema Town where the area chief was eagerly waiting for us. He ordered some men to quickly clear the market’s entrance for us as he quickly set up the joint for a formal meeting. When my turn came to talk to the people of Kangema I chose to stand on a table to get a better view of the crowds listening to me. As I talked I saw another KWS vehicle pulling over just opposite where I was. I got really excited to see my personal friend and Assistant Director Mountain Conservation Area Mr. Aggrey Maumo walking towards the meeting; it was such a pleasant surprise. Mr. Maumo walked with me for the rest of the day a distance of about 20km.It was such an honor. After the meeting we continued walking to Kanyenyaini joined by students and school pupils. As usual we would stop at shopping centers and talk to people. Apart from the hills and the slopes of Murang’a, the county is a tea-growing zone, hence so many tea collecting stations, where we found a good audience at this points. From a far Kanyenyaini looks likes a city on a hill but as we came closer it looked like a normal town. We held a meeting their as well and issued some certificates and books to the schools that had walked with us. We then drove to Tuthu for an evening meeting and a video show at a boarding school then called it a day.

18^th September, Day six

I left camp early today, I had a 7am interview at a local radio Station, and Kangema Fm. Kangema is quite a distance from Tuthu where we had spent the night so to make the seven O’clock interview I had to be up by 5am.We did not make breakfast at camp since there was no time. The interview went really well, I was asked to talk about the Ivory belongs to elephants’ campaign as well as talk about the New Wildlife Act. Unlike other interviews I have done in the past, this one was unique since I had to use my mother tongue Kikuyu. My team and I had breakfast after the interview and then we went back to Kanyenyaini for the flag off. Madam Miriam Wangare Tilas Assistant County Commissioner 1 Kangema Sub-County flagged us off at 9am.It was such an encouragement to see so many women in leadership in my County, from the County Commissioner of Murang’a County my good friend Madam KulaHache. We walked towards Ichichi my village. The trek was not an easy one; it was pure rough road, no tarmac. In the afternoon the sun was scorching and my feet were starting to act up due to the friction between my toes. We decided to stop for a cup of uji (Porridge) and since we were just a few kilometers from home I knew just where to get some delicious uji. After 15minutes we were back on the road determined to get to Ichichi. As we approached my home chief and former classmate Mr. Paul and his colleagues received Ichichi. It was an awesome feeling I tell you. As I entered my home village people could wave at me others called me by my Sir name Mwangi, people could not hide their joy, nor could I. We assembled at the main sports ground for a meeting. There were some light showers but that did not deter people from listening to what I had to say. After the meeting we then proceeded to Ichichi High School where I went to school for a talk. That day we put up at home, in our house; it was a really nice sleeping on a bed after so long. I actually felt relaxed.

19^th September, Day Seven

To be honest it was a bit difficult for me to get out of bed that morning, I think I was too comfortable in my own bed that I forgot the walk for two seconds....hehehe. By 8am we were at Paul’s Office as the chief of the area he flagged us off and we walked together to Gacharage where he handed us over to the Kigumo Sub county team. Led by the Deputy County Commissioner Mr. Lang’at we walked into Kinyona shopping center where I also met some of my family members that got so excited to see me. We held a community meeting there before proceeding to Kangari town. A few Kilometers from Kangari town I was received by Kangari Upcountry Schools who had printed some banners written ‘ivory belongs to elephants’. We then walked into Kangari, had the last meeting of the day and then proceeded to Uptown School who hosted us for dinner and gave us a spot to put up.

20^th September, Day eight

We left Upcountry School at 15minutes to 9am, and the flag off was at Kangari town by the Assistant County Commissioner. We were walking towards Makomboki shopping center. Pupils from Upcountry joined us up to Njiiri High School and then went back to school, they promised to join us on the last day of the walk. Unlike my previous walks my feet were perfectly ok, no blisters but the heat was too much. I persevered through the rough terrains. Once we reached Makomboki I addressed the people there and then we preceded to other towns ahead. Our final stop was at a small shopping center called Kimotho that is much closer to the Forest and so people here are a bit notorious in hunting game and illegal grazing of cattle in the forest. I therefore took my time as I talked to them. We were done for the day and headed back to Kangari where we set camp at the Administration Police Base.

21^st September, Day Nine

I woke up at 7am; we had to prepare for church. We attended the service at ACC&S Kangari an invitation by Reverend Ngumo. The church started at 10am. In the Congregation we were honored to have the Member of Parliament Kigumo  Hon.Jamlick Kamau and his lovely family, accompanying him were other government officials among them the minister for Agriculture Murang’a County. The service went well as I was given a chance to talk to the church. After the service I was able to interact with ‘Mheshimiwa’ (Honorable) and exchange a few ideas. Honorable Jamlick is a great supporter of this campaign he even walked with me last year during the Nairobi edition. We then headed to camp to prepare for the last day of the walk.

22^nd September, Day Ten

Last day of the walk. It was a very important day as it was also World’s Elephants and Rhino Appreciation Day. The chief of Ndakaini Location at Kimandi Shopping Centre flagged us off. We walked to Ndakaini to mark the end of the ten-day campaign. From Kimandi to Ndakaini it’s about 5km and as usual we had schools walking with us. The plan was keeping the day’s walk short and then having a closing ceremony at one of the hotels in Ndakaini afterwards. So I sent Ken Mwenda and Lilian Mugo to go help some people from the county government of Murang’a in organising the ceremonial grounds. The County Government of Murang’a had pledged to cater for lunch for all those attending the walk. On reaching Ndakaini I led the walk towards Muchiri’s resort where my team and the county’s team had been organizing. The minister now joined me for Environment and Natural Resources who had been sent to represent Murang’a County Governor; some of my friends and relatives had also walked with me. We had a team from the Red Cross Society of Kenya. The final meeting went well and usual we had presentations by schools and the County Choir. The press was present too at least six mainstream media houses. After a few hours the event was over it was time to have lunch and interact. The hotel had prepared some nice rice and chicken stew. I barely ate because I was really exhausted. We later offered a certificate of appreciation to the hotel management and then left for Nairobi.