With the death of a 17-year-old boy two days ago in Baringo district, the fatality toll has reached 139 and has also spread fear and panic among Kenyans who have now mostly shunned beef and milk.
Just focus on that number, 139 for a moment. Those are the number of deaths so far. 139 people can hardly be accommodated in most homes, standing space only. This is a huge number that tells you this Rift Valley thing is an epidemic of unprecedented proportions that is swiftly sweeping across the nation of Kenya and leaving death in its' path.
In spite of several awareness campaigns by the government that meat inspected by veterinary personnel and stamped fit for consumption is okay to eat, locals are not taking any chances and have chosen to stop eating beef altogether along with cow milk as the disease is known not to have a cure.
About 482 cases have been reported since the outbreak sometime early December last year in the rift valley but again many more cases went unreported as infected persons did not seek attention from health institutions and opted for traditional herbs, a common way of treatment for the pastoral community who are the worst affected.
The situation seems to have worsened and led to a joint press conference yesterday between the ministry of health and that of livestock development with the two minister's, Charity Ngilu and Joseph Munyao respectively trying to reassure Kenyans that everything was under control.
All these assurances seem to have fallen on deaf years as Kenyans are avoiding meat roasting joints like Kenyatta market like the plague and are opting for chicken and fish which are currently experiencing a boom never mind the fact that reports of bird flu have retuned with a vengeance and the first death on African soil in Nigeria was recently announced.
Most butcheries in the country have experienced an almost 50% reduction in beef meat sales since the year began while others have chosen to temporarily shut down until the disease disappears. But surprisingly, the price of beef has not gone down as expected.
RVF is a disease that is transmitted by animals through the eating of meat or drinking of milk from an infected animal but according to experts, if the meat is boiled above 100 degrees centigrade, it is safe.
It has no known cure and its' exact origins are also scanty with experts saying it was first detected in the rift valley hence the name. Most of the victims are members of the pastoral community who are known to consume lots of un-inspected meat. There is a crazy unverified theory that it may have been "introduced" by American covert agents trying to deal a major deathblow on Al Queada cells within neighboring Somalia by crippling their main source of livelihood, which is livestock. However the virus easily sneaked into Kenya where herds are much more vulnerable to disease. It is widely know that deadly viruses are these days "grown" in labs all over the Western world. Is it just a coincidence that American viral experts were the first to jet into the country to help control the spread of the disease when it was first reported late last year?
Symptoms include fever, weakness in joints and bleeding from every orifice and finally a painful death. Though it has no known cure, meat lovers like the Maasai are still consuming large quantities of un-inspected beef and surprisingly only two cases have so far been reported in Kajiado.
Read this awesome African lion safari tale of an unlikely match at the Samburu Game Reserve. Meet also some of the people capable of giving you an unforgettable African safari holiday in Kenya.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Raila Swears With The Holy Bible That Kibaki Is Lying About One Term Promise
Holding a bible in one hand, maverick opposition politician Raila Odinga last Sunday took to the pulpit and swore to the effect that president Kibaki had said he would only lead Kenya for one, five year term if elected in the 2002 elections.
Asking God to help him after the swearing ceremony caught on local television, Raila stepped down only to confirm what millions of Kenyans have feared over the past month. Their 'gentleman' president has now turned into a liar who seems to have been affected by power as is normally the case among ordinary mortals.
I remember well that prior to the historical 2002 polls, the media clearly reported that the coalition had reached an agreement where Kibaki would be its presidential candidate who would serve for only one term to put the country in sound economic footing then step aside for the affable, late vice president, Wamalwa Kijana.
But if one puts himself in Kibaki's shoes you will understand why he has changed his mind and reneged on the earlier agreement he made with his coalition partners. For starters, Kijana died and the coalition is no more, but most important of all, Kibaki has now tasted power, which is more addictive than crack cocaine. And as they say power corrupts but absolute power (especially of the kind the President of Kenya enjoys) corrupts absolutely.
For a man of Kibaki's stature to stand up in public and lie before millions of Kenyans and TV camera's, one is left wondering what happened to the soft spoken steadfast gentleman who was known for his pursuits for the truth and justice.
One cannot blame it all on power that has gone to his head but also on his arrogant and selfish advisors and henchmen who are immensely benefiting from his presidency and there is no way they could have allowed him to step down after only one term.
These are the likes of Eddy Njoroge, Joe Wanjui, Njenga Karume, Solomon Karanja, Nathaniel Kang'ethe and his domineering permanent secretary for policy and strategy, Stanley Murage who is said to have made a fabulous fortune as a result of his closeness to Kibaki.
God should help Kibaki from his friends whom he knows not unlike his enemies whom he knows very well and keeps a safe distance from. The president's so-called friends are always hovering around him like flies on human waste and will most probably cost him the presidency in the forthcoming general elections.
Read this awesome African lion safari tale of an unlikely match at the Samburu Game Reserve. Meet also some of the people capable of giving you an unforgettable African safari holiday in Kenya.
Asking God to help him after the swearing ceremony caught on local television, Raila stepped down only to confirm what millions of Kenyans have feared over the past month. Their 'gentleman' president has now turned into a liar who seems to have been affected by power as is normally the case among ordinary mortals.
I remember well that prior to the historical 2002 polls, the media clearly reported that the coalition had reached an agreement where Kibaki would be its presidential candidate who would serve for only one term to put the country in sound economic footing then step aside for the affable, late vice president, Wamalwa Kijana.
But if one puts himself in Kibaki's shoes you will understand why he has changed his mind and reneged on the earlier agreement he made with his coalition partners. For starters, Kijana died and the coalition is no more, but most important of all, Kibaki has now tasted power, which is more addictive than crack cocaine. And as they say power corrupts but absolute power (especially of the kind the President of Kenya enjoys) corrupts absolutely.
For a man of Kibaki's stature to stand up in public and lie before millions of Kenyans and TV camera's, one is left wondering what happened to the soft spoken steadfast gentleman who was known for his pursuits for the truth and justice.
One cannot blame it all on power that has gone to his head but also on his arrogant and selfish advisors and henchmen who are immensely benefiting from his presidency and there is no way they could have allowed him to step down after only one term.
These are the likes of Eddy Njoroge, Joe Wanjui, Njenga Karume, Solomon Karanja, Nathaniel Kang'ethe and his domineering permanent secretary for policy and strategy, Stanley Murage who is said to have made a fabulous fortune as a result of his closeness to Kibaki.
God should help Kibaki from his friends whom he knows not unlike his enemies whom he knows very well and keeps a safe distance from. The president's so-called friends are always hovering around him like flies on human waste and will most probably cost him the presidency in the forthcoming general elections.
Read this awesome African lion safari tale of an unlikely match at the Samburu Game Reserve. Meet also some of the people capable of giving you an unforgettable African safari holiday in Kenya.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)