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By Anderson Ojwang’
A village that was ravaged by HIV and Aids and poverty, with homesteads closed has burst into life four years later after the intervention of the South Africa Ambassador to Kenya and other players.
The Standard first highlighted Kogelo Kalanya village in Asego Division, Homa Bay District in 2005, with a story that moved the South Africa envoy, Tony Msimanga into action.
The village then had the highest HIV and Aids prevalence that stood at 25 per cent, leaving homes headed by children and elderly people.
But recently the mud-walled classrooms of Kogelo Kalanya Primary School were replaced with the ultra-modern ones constructed at a cost of Sh2 million. Also constructed were eight toilets.
At the school were Mr Msimanga, the French Ambassador Elizabeth Barbier, Trustee of Safaricom Foundation Joseph Ogutu, and local MP Martin Ogindo, among others.
Mobilise support
"The situation was grim. That day, I was taking breakfast and the article caught my attention. I realised something was not right. I began to mobilise support," Msimanga says.
He says he contacted the former MP Philip Okundi and together, they mobilised for emergency intervention.
The project was divided into phases. The first phase entailed mobilisation of food and clothes for the needy.
Msimanga roped in the Safaricom Foundation after he approached the Chief Executive, Michael Joseph, who was equally touched. He has also brought in French Ambassador, who has committed to being part of the programme.
Mr Okundi says the situation was pathetic and The Standard report contributed to the resurgence of the dying village.
"We provided bursary to orphans and some of them have completed secondary education," he says.
Second phase
Okundi says the second phase of the project involved improvement of schools’ infrastructure and provision of computers.
Ms Barbier asked other players to join in the noble undertaking.
Mr Ogutu says Safaricom Foundation was committed to responding to the plight of the needy as it was part of its corporate responsibility.
The third phase, Msimanga says, would entail provision of electricity to the institution and construction of a resource centre.
Alego location chief Joshua Ochogo says there are brisk economic activities and most homesteads that were closed have re-opened.
He adds that sicknesses and HIV and Aids prevalence has declined. Ochogo adds that Voluntary Counselling and Testing facilities have been spread out.
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