Communities Rally for Anti-poaching Campaign
The day was cold and grey, with the steady
rain turning the roads into a quagmire as the marchers gathered.
Determined, splashes of colour against the
grey sky and brown mud in their kangas; visually arresting Maasai in full regalia,
clutching signs, this gathering of 165 people came together for one reason.
With this number of people present, this Anti-Poaching educational rally was
the largest community yet to protest against profligate poaching in Kenya.
 |
| Masaai Morans say no to bush meat! |
Participants included, , Kenyans Against Poaching (KUAPO), Africa Network for Animal
Welfare (ANAW),AMARA, Ziwani Voyager Hotel, Mbulia Community Rangers, Kimalla Red Cross Youth group, Chumvini youth group Tsavo Pride rangers and other groups from the communities surrounding
Taveta including Kasaani and Kidong.
Full of high spirits and a conviction of
the urgency of our cause, we set off up the road, holding our handmade signs
high, chanting slogans and singing our anti-poaching songs, some of them
prepared at Kasaani with the help of GVI volunteers the week before:
“No elephants, no tourism.
“No tourism, no economy.
“No economy, no jobs.
“No jobs, no food.”
Waiting to be addressed by the warden at the KWS office.
In full view of the marketplace we paused;
ex-poachers stood up to speak – one had quit poaching only the month before,
and to the amazement of his fellow Kenyans and Tanzanians alike, spoke of the
newfound sense of freedom he felt now that he was no longer living in constant
fear.
The main message: Stop poaching now, before
it is too late. Join us in our stance, and welcome.
“Wanyama
wanyama mama, wanyama wanyama,
“Wanyama
wanyama mama, wanyama wanyama,
“Wanyama
wetu wanaleta ajira nchini,
“Wanyama
wetu wanaleta ajira nchini,
“Tujitoe
tuwalinde mama, tujitoe tuwalinde,
“Tuijitoe
tuwalinde baba, tujitoe tuwalinde.”
Kenyans United Against Poaching
What an amazing day to be a Kenyan.
Chloe Corne, Marine field staff
0 comments:
Post a Comment