Nyamira County is not poverty stricken, Nyanchwani

I read with interest Silas Nyanchwani’s assertion published in The Nairobian about Nyamira County.

The writer is well-travelled and trained journalist whose professionalism I wouldn’t want to doubt. Ironically, he is a Kisii who schooled at Nyambaria Boys High, which happens to be in Nyamira. Whereas it could be true that Nyamira is dull and maybe backward, it is certainly fallacious to refer to it as the dullest and backward in Kenya.

In his argument, the writer categorically states that, ‘Nyamira contributes nothing to the Kenyan economy’! But he contradicts himself when he mentions green tea plantations. Nyamira does not eat these tea leaves raw but they are processed in tea factories spread across the County from where the processed tea leaves are sold in different parts of Kenya while a substantial amount is exported.

The factories include, Nyankoba Tea Factory, Tombe Tea Factory, Gianchore Tea Factory, Kebirigo Tea Factory, Sang’anyi Tea Factory, Nyansiongo Tea Factory and privately owned Mogeni Tea Factory.All these factories remit taxes to KRA and so do their employees. In addition to these factories there are a number of coffee cooperative societies that feed KPCU with coffee.

Nyamira County is a key player in the transport sector in Nyanza region. In fact should entrepreneurs from Nyamira withdrew their vehicles from the road, transport from Nyanza to other parts of the nation especially Nairobi would be paralysed. This is the home of transport companies like Guardian which boasts of a fleet of buses and Nissan matatus, Nyamira Express, Otange, Kisii Classic, Transline Galaxy among others.

It is from Nyamira that we had transport companies that were famous in the 90’s and were largely relied upon to ferry people from upcountry to Nairobi other parts of Kenya — talk of Obuya Express which later changed to Linear Express, Keroka Executive and Survival Express.

The county boasts of a large settlement scheme that is a major supplier of milk to KCC. Music and art in general reflect peoples’ cultural concerns and constraints. It is part of culture. The themes in Eminem’s music, Tupac Shakur or Snoop Dog for that matter might not be what Sagero, Embarambamba or Nyagwoka sing in their music. Kwasa Kwasa in his latest album ‘Ebitina’ discourages gossip and encourages constructive discussion among the Gusii people while Embarambamba emphasizes the need for sound leadership.

It is not always the case that Kisii songs are about death though when someone passes on at times they are remembered through music just like it happens even in other parts of Kenya or the world.

Our women can be assertive and strong willed but they are known for their hard work and resilience. Not all of them make good wives but not all of them fail that test either. There are bad and good women everywhere. After all a man is probably going to marry one but not all of them. So, it will largely depend on one’s luck.

Most cases reported in the media about men chopping of their wives hands or setting their entire family on fire do not originate from Nyamira. Rather they are not found only in Kisii highlands but also in other highlands in Kenya. I am not certain of the lynching of witches but I have heard of the unfortunate fate that befalls some elderly men and women who are killed on suspicion of practicing witchcraft.

Silas’ article is obviously good in awakening the Nyamira County from slumber but its tone is insulting and it amounts to blanket condemnation of a County and its people.

The writer is a teacher of English and Literature