Lorika Foundation, The Mother of Many

By Maison Nteetu

Many young children would like to join schools be it primary or secondary schools to ensure they cope with the current generation. However, it is not their faults or even their parents’ if they fail to do so. They sometimes lack finances to carter their school fees and other needs. Education is becoming expensive though it has also become a basic need.

Olorika Foundation came out as the source of hope for the needy society in the year 2005. It extended from Nguruman to many places including Shompole, Oloika, Olkiramatian and Oloserian. Mr. Bonde came up with the foundation after realizing the suffering and how needy the society is.

The foundation has sponsored the following in its mission of helping the needy.

·         Students’ school fees payment

·         Provision of teachers’ salary.

·         Provision of water drams and

·         Provision of library books for some schools.

Students’ school fees payment

The foundation sponsors a hundred and fifty secondary and primary students. Seventy two students are from Olkiramatian primary school while sixty five students are in Patterson Memorial Secondary school. The other thirteen are in different secondary schools.

Some of the students are partially sponsored while others are fully sponsored. This was arrived at after realizing that other students are from extreme poverty affected families while others are from poor but not extreme poor families.45 students in primary school are partially sponsored in primary schools while 27 are fully sponsored. In secondary school, 20 students are fully sponsored while 45 are partially sponsored.

Teachers’ Salaries

 Olorika foundation pays salaries for some primary school teachers. It pays 2 Olkiramatian primary school teachers, 3 from Entasopia and one from Pakaase primary school.

The foundation donated 100 library books to Patterson Secondary school. The foundation supplied 20 tanks to the community members. These helped in the environmental conservation.

Olorika foundation beneficiaries in a meeting

From 2012 however, there was a delay in payment of school fees. Mr. Bonde explained the situation and promised he should have not let them suffer if he was capable of controlling what he is undergoing.

Mr. Bonde is undergoing financial difficulties as his source of finances is affected by frequent attacks. He called the whole community to join him in prayers to help him out of the difficulties.

Mr. Bonde addressing the meeting

“I can’t promise for any help now as I am struggling to recover from losses caused by my assailants. I will be back to help you if God help me through.” Said Mr. Bonde. 

Oil exploration in Olkiramatian faces opposition from the community members

By Maison Nteetu

The National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK) sent explorers to Olkiramatian, Shompole, Olkeri and Oldonyonyokie to explore oil in the areas. The National Oil explorers set camps in the area and they have already started their research task.

Despite provision of job opportunities for the community members, the community calls for an end of the research due to many reasons.

The members accused the organization for starting their exploration without explaining the advantages and the disadvantages of the act. The organization should have conducted a civic education before their activities.

Members also claim that according some rumours, the residents were to be displaced 50 kilometres radius from plant. 

This annoyed them since the community claims that the land is becoming too little for them and their next generation.  They also claimed that they are in the boarder and any further relocation means they will lack places to move to.

The conservancy of the area also claims that the research is causing destruction of trees and grass which is the source of food for their livestock and wild animals which act as the main tourist attraction in the area. The noise produced by the machines has also caused migration of wild animals to other areas.

Area MCA Honorable Pariken addressing the meeting held in Laleenok by both the NOCK side and the members of the community. Photo by Maison

The NOCK side promised to give civic education. They also promised to give 4.2 million Kenyan Shillings as compensation for the four areas to divide among themselves.  

The community leaders however, insisted that the exploration should end since the disadvantages are more than advantages.

Community members bear bus rivalry brunt

Nguruman community members are furious about the operation of two buses plying Nguruman-magadi-kiserian route after the two operators failed to agree on operating hours. The buses have been chasing each other leaving the community members stranded as they are the only means of transport to Magadi. If anybody needs to travel, he/she has to be up at 1:30 am as there is no specified time when the bus will leave.

Intervention by the local administration failed to bear the fruits when they called the two bus operators and drafted a schedule of which the operators discarded and retained their normal schedule. Sometimes by 2:30 am, all the buses have left while in other occasions they even leave earlier.

“We feel annoyed by the conduct of the two bus operators and it our wish that they agree on specific time so we can be sure when to leave our homes to the bus stop”. Said Mr. Mburu, a resident. some people even spend the nights inside the buses to avoid the inconvenience and in fear of being left.

NCV calls upon the relevant authorities to take action and address the issue.

One hurt as insecurity rocks Nguruman

By Kelvin Koinet

In the past two days, insecurity has rocked Nguruman area where one person was shot by suspected gangsters on loose.

The suspects allegedly killed two people near Tanzania Kenyan border. The two had escaped from Tanzania and headed to Nguruman.  A brother of one of the deceased communicated from Tanzania and gave full information about the incident. As reported, the two; Noeli and Isaiya Simiyu robbed Gema village in Loliondo Tanzania and escaped towards Nguruman in Kenya through a road that leads to Shompole Market.

Tanzania Police accompanied by civilians were ambushed by the suspects as they tracked them where two were killed. This happened on Wednesday evening around 4:00 Pm the 29th Jan 2014 A day after the Shompole market day. On Friday the two suspects were identified by a guy who sought anonymity for security purposes, and reported to the Laleenok community Rangers, Nguruman AP post and the Administration chiefs. The search began and on Saturday morning the two were caught by the chief with the help of Laleenok rangers, the police and the residents.

On the other side, the government of Tanzania had communicated and asked to be given the 'criminals' from their country. Nguruman residents kept guard of the suspects until they were ensured by the police that they will not escape. At around 7.00 pm the suspects escaped police custody. The chase began again where one was caught at Congo forest where they agreed to meet with his partner. 

The other suspect had arrived earlier to the spot where they hid their gun, picked it and headed to the escarpment. As another search team followed him, he laid in wait and shot one resident in the right hand. He is still being searched but with fear as the Tanzania police said the suspects are trained in gun handling and are known to be sharp shooters.

NCV team will keep you posted on new developments.