Sad story of island tribe stranded in sea of neglect

On a recent visit to Lamu District, The Standard’s Senior Reporter Ngumbao Kithi and photojournalist Maarufu Mohamed encountered the travails of the Boni, a small hunter-gatherer tribe on the verge of extinction.

Forgotten by the Government for decades, the Boni have always turned to nature for food and medicine. For example, in Basuba Village, there is a dispensary with no medicine, no roads, no running water and no shops.

Stored knowledge

But as the journalists found out, the tribe’s future — deposited in its children — is now in danger. Five primary schools are reportedly facing closure after teachers abandoned them supposedly due to hardship.

Things seem to have turned sour as classrooms in Basuba, Milimani, Mangai, Kiangwe and Mararani primary schools are now used to store beehives.

But graffiti apparently written by abandoned pupils show the desire to learn.

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"Malimu (sic) hakuna hata moja," screams one (There is not a single teacher).

"Please help, where is the Government?" another pleads.

Well, the Boni need your help, Education Minister Sam Ongeri.