CMS Ireland has been involved with Kajiado Diocese for approximately 30 years. During that time strong partnership links between churches in Ireland and the diocese have been developed and continue to grow.
Today, the work the work of the local church is supported by link parishes from all over Ireland and there is an active, two-way, exchange programme of personnel and skills between Ireland and Kajiado.
The Programmes:
Drought recovery and rehabilitation programme.
Following the drought and famine of 2006/07 it became clear that farmers needed to be empowered and facilitated to deal with the changing circumstances in which they were now working. The programme helps them understand and apply the principles and practices of dry land farming, pasture conservation, livestock disease management, breeding and selection of proper stocking rates. It is hoped that through this work the livelihood of the pastoral and farming communities in targeted areas can be improved.
The priority activities for the programme are:
- Water: encouraging and enabling rainwater harvesting, shallow wells and de-silting of dam/pans.
- The restocking of sheep and goats: providing assistance for farmers to build up their herds after the devastating effects of drought.
- Food security: educating people about and providing dry-land certified seeds such as cereals and pulses.
- Environmental Conservation: planting of assorted fruit and ornamental trees.
Each of these areas involves ongoing training and support so that the development activities will become sustainable.
Theological Education
Theological Education by Extension (TEE) groups have been established in various parishes throughout the Diocese. TEE is among the fastest of educational developments in Majority World Christianity.
In addition to a formal TEE programme, the diocese has recently begun a training programme for church workers, under the leadership of Rev. Naftaly Lemooke, who recently completed his studies at Belfast Bible College. This programme is aimed at providing knowledge and skills to church workers and pastors, many of whom have not received formal training in theology or church leadership.
Healthcare
The diocese is involved in providing healthcare to some of the most vulnerable members of their community. They do this through a mobile clinic that travels out to more remote areas of the diocese and through the ‘Health for All’ Clinic, based at Kajiado.
Through the mobile clinic, a range of services such as immunisation, health education, and mother and baby care are delivered to 9 remote locations across the diocese. The recently opened clinic, based in Kajiado, provides a more comprehensive range of services including laboratory analysis, HIV/AIDS services and consultations with a clinical officer.
MRTC (Maasai Rural Training Centre)
MRTC is a programme of the Diocese and provides a geographical centre for most of the development work carried out in the diocese. MRTC started in the early 1960’s as a result of a severe drought and famine – followed by torrential rains. These adverse weather conditions left the Maasai herds devastated and threatened their very existence. MRTC was built at Isinya and over the years it has built six sub-centres situated in the most remote parts of the Diocese.
The centre seeks to provide practical training that includes; Animal Husbandry, Crop Husbandry, Community Development, Farm Management, Craft, Water Development and other skilled training programmes.
Education
Through the 2008 CMS Ireland Project, ‘Footsteps’, some £30,000 was raised to refurbish primary schools across the diocese. Additionally, with the involvement of *Limavady Grammar School, construction has begun on a Girl’s Secondary School, situated just outside Kajiado town.
Infrastructure
As a result of the growing relationship between Kajiado and Ballyholme Parish, the diocese has been able to invest money in building a new diocesan headquarters. This resource will facilitate the growth of the church but will also provide income for the church as it is able to rent out space.
Moving forward, sustainability has been placed at the heart of all the activities in the diocese – much thought is being put into thinking how projects and programmes can be sustained into the future.
