Issue-hid communtiy conflicts; a case of Mudungu Water

A water committee meeting in progress, 05/08/2024. I'm in Green, chairing. In black is Sammy Jaika, in attendance; Chairperson, Wodanga Climate Change committee.

Here is another quick harvest for life basket. It can inform today’s community engagements and study. I have come to learn that when an issue is too selfish to inform a case, a person or persons harboring it (also note different hearts have different selfish views) can connive or scape-goat - not strong enough to face it. Yet in that piggish push, they can have their way. How can community change agents work this out?

The Case 

I was occupied on 12^th November 2024. So I couldn’t attend the Climate Change and Stakeholders Consultative Forum. I sent in my apologies to the convener.

The meeting discussed Mudungu Water and its Committee. Some of the water committee members spoke. And it appeared the chairperson, me, was on trial. In the end the communication was that the water committee has been suspended.

It calls for reactions. How can a different entity discuss another? When Mudungu Community Water is registered as a CBO? Had they, as stakeholders, spoken of, sought audience, enquired? Written? Nothing.

Another meeting is mobilized. By the very protagonist. To elect substantive office holders. Wednesday November 20^th is set. I suggest absenzia.

Things unfold fast.

Our senior is the Sub-county Water and Sanitation officer. His office is also the immediate mediator in case of a conflict as in CBO constitution. In all this this office is unaware.

I get talked to that I should not miss. Thanks to coaches who step in at storming stage in groups’ growth. They will have another accusatory round as the 12^th. Don’t allow, they advise.

I decide to be present and not as a Climate Change attendee. But for Mudungu Community Water Project.

I write texts to the 82 members connected to water. I invite the fully registered CBO members. 9am… 10am… meeting starts a few minutes before 11am. I drop my ambition to chair the meeting. Very few are water beneficiaries.

Our good MCA stands to give direction. He starts by asking for confirmation of the 12^th Nov. Meeting. It was suspension, it is confirmed. And this meeting? Election of substantive members. Ahead! No need to know whether it was legal or illegal. His suggestion that the two committees to sit first was soon turned down – as moved.

Life is quick. And we are always late in doing another mistake. So we act in the fallacy of urgency, might or other.

A few comments here and there from the attendees – signing the Climate Change Management and Planning Attendance sheet. It was no longer a Mudungu Water Project Meeting. But a Climate Change affair.

One said a chairperson must be an elder with a mature brain, not a youth. Another, an assistant chief, advised that the committee should check on ‘luang’el’le’ (derogatory for youth), it was too much in her view. Yet only two of the 9 committee members are youths!

Two other vocal ones are in records for not paying a shilling since the project started. One even insulted the treasurer when he went to debt, he can’t pay for sun – he had spoken so of the solar powered project.

They did not refer to any climate change aims, goals, aspirations. What was the issue again?

And this Climate Change elephant who knows it best? I understand it is a call to action. I can remember the Vihiga Environment Chief of Staff Dr. Boyio saying in bold at project launch that it was time the Wodanga Climate Change Team took to other activities – their job with project initiation was done. What more now?

And Yes, the Climate Change remains a stakeholder. But stakeholders have their limits – and avenues for engagements. This akin to political gagging, interference, absoluteness and more was witnessed and unnecessary.

When it was clear that the whole committee might not be replaced due to attendance, it narrowed down to who was the problem. The chair, me, my personality? (read an article about how one friend once described me). Not what is the problem as I had seen it early, four months before project launch (read article here).

Rain was threatening.

Quickly a member was identified. An elder. And Quickly I rose to give two thank words and hand over the CBO certificate and Constitution. Without an ounce of indecision.

Everyone scampered for shelter from the open. It was raining early in the day. Plants will nourish. But what will nourish communities' hearts and minds - what?