Muhaka

 

Introduction

 

Muhaka is one of the villages that forms part of the Kinondo location in Msambweni Division Kwale District. The community is made up of an estimated 500, mainly Muslim, Digo indigenous families. Muhaka Village is located in Kwale District, which, records high incidences of poverty with an estimated 70% of the population living below the poverty line as indicated, by United Nations poverty levels. Kwale District has been ranked among the poorest in education infrastructure and resource development in Kenya. Over 50% of the school age population has no access to proper education resources. In Muhaka, the quality of education is very low, 70% of adults lack basic literacy skills, thus perpetuating poverty. Cases of early marriage and child labor are constantly on the rise due to the prevailing illiteracy.

 

Camp Kenya has committed to a range of different projects within the area including improving primary school facilities (construction of new classrooms, desks, a library and computer room); improving livelihoods of the surrounding community through supporting various environmentally friendly income generating activities (biofuel production, ecotourism, biomass charcoal production) and to protecting the sacred Kaya Muhaka forest.

 

In addition to the support Camps International and the Camp Kenya Trust are currently providing, financial support has been committed by the UK based charity, Sally’s Children towards improving facilities at Muhaka Primary School.

 

Camp Kenya’s Role

 

The Muhaka project is the result of a three-year pilot experience in neighboring Makongeni Village, where, through addressing education resource development, performance has increased significantly. Over 50% of pupils who sit high school entrance have managed to qualify. This has encouraged sponsors who are willing to provide scholarships to these children to go through high school. The same strategy has been successful in Stephen Kanja Primary School where, through the Camp Life programme; great achievement has been made in resource and infrastructure development. In Stephen Kanja, a total of 35 pupils who sat examination last year all qualified for high school and a significant number have attracted sponsors through the Camp Kenya Trust.

 

Prior to Camp Kenya’s involvement, the school consisted of three classroom blocks, two of which had dilapidated floors with the third block in such devastating condition that it is no longer in use. Since 2007, Camp Kenya has restored all existing classrooms, constructed two new classrooms, provided hundreds of desks, and established a vegetable garden and tree nursery as well as continuous provision of vital school materials such as books.

 

Ongoing projects at the School include:

 

• Perimeter fencing of the school compound
• Completing construction of a school library and a computer lab
• Building approximately 200 desks
• Providing the school with electricity by connecting the school to the main power line at the main road
• Sports development training
• Ecology education including tree planting and improving agricultural practices

 

The beautiful protected Kaya Forest

 

The eastern Africa coastal forests covers more than 29, 125 KM2 and are part of the world’s 25 biodiversity hotspots, supporting one of the highest densities of plant endemism and more than 30 million people.

 

WWF and Camp Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding in 2008 to enhance conservation of these forests through cooperation and participation in sustainable environmental and natural resource management practices. Specifically, the organizations partner in addressing relevant issues on environmental and natural resources conservation and livelihoods, carrying out conservation awareness creation targeting the local communities and schools, Creation of enabling environment for communities to produce, develop, design and market nature based products, sharing of lessons learned and information exchange on sustainable environmental and natural resource management and poverty alleviation/wealth creation.

 

An MOU between Camp Kenya and Kaya Muhaka community was signed to support the community to protect Muhaka sacred forest a cultural/religious site and biologically rich area of coastal forest. Camp Kenya and WWF works towards raising income in this community by increasing the economic value of this depleted forest resource.

 

Ongoing projects for the Sacred Kaya Muhaka Forest include:

 

• Erecting an entrance Banda and camping facilities to house and feed day excursion clients sourced from local tour operators on the beach. This will be done in collaboration with W.W.F and the Museums of Kenya experts
• Clearing the nature trail paths
• Providing Information on Kaya’s flora and fauna & wild life
• Undertaking Management systems with the Kaya Elders
• Extending a natural buffer zone
• General Kaya operation
  

Our work in Muhaka is rapidly progressing and expanding to include new activities all the time. Please do visit our project blog for regular updates on Muhaka and our other projects or have a look at our flickr photo collection