A picnic in Hell's Gate National Park
underneath the remains of a leopard kill was a relaxing if sobering event. As
with all of these remaining wild spaces the Kenyan Government has its eye on
them for development – here for industry and at Sabuk for an enormous dam to
provide for a new city at Isioli. The continual tension between the needs of
people and the protection of nature always seems to make the animals pay and
you can't help feeling that the earth is all going to hell in a hand cart. I
certainly don't know what the answer is and whether I should even try when I
live in a so-called developed country with a history of exploitation of people,
land and animals. Why shouldn't people climb out of poverty making the most of
their assets? The Chinese are ploughing money into Africa, providing basic
infrastructure at the same time as smuggling out valuable rhino horn and paying
people to poach tortoise for their supper. Chinese lorries and motorcycles are
no longer a rare breed but looking down I note my walking trousers and my
watch, and even the Duallys I use for my work, all come from China.
Debbie's husband, Craig, is a fantastic
person to talk to about all of these issues. A white Kenyan, he is General
Manager at Finlays Flower farm which provides millions of roses to companies
such as M and S, Tescos and Waitrose. Incidentally he is also a friend to the
stars having snuggled up to Joanna Lumley at the Chelsea Flower Show! He talks
with a quiet authority and a great deal of sense and a disarming lack of
defensiveness, seemingly only too aware of his great privilege to be living in
such a beautiful country.The difference now, he says, is awareness but will awareness be enough
to stem the tide of destruction?
Finlays, a major employer in Kenya, takes pride in all sorts of iniatives from recycling, welfare of humans and even local donkeys. Donkeys are used extensively on the farms and the last tractors are due to be phased out very soon. The donkeys, mostly rescued, work a maximum of four hours a day, and are never hit. Each donkeys pair has its own handler and they take great pride in their donkeys. Donkeys in Kenya generally can have a rough time and mutilation for identification or for medication is still rife.
