2018 – Another year has gone

 

THE GALLMANN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION



NEWS FROM KENYA 2018   

 

2018 ANOTHER YEAR HAS GONE, THE HILLS REMAIN THE SAME.

 

In the garden a thousand birds crowd the bowls and at the Kuti camp, I see tracks of the old leopard. Elephants trumpet at the water trough, and in the night come the buffalo, Elephant herds climb through the stone wall of my garden, and the new hippo shares the salt lick at Kuti with the warthogs families and the hundreds impala.

In the early December sky unexpected clouds gallop in the wind, taking with them the ashes of the arson fires, and memory of old dusts.
Below the lelechwa tapestry, the silver expanse of olive, and the shades of the croton canopies new grass grows. Bees cluster the creamy euclea, new honey trickles down the new hives. But restless incessant winds are sign of drought ahead.

 

Dear Friends,

It has been a year of healing and beginning to rebuild. When the rains came at last, once again all changed. The fever of pre-election and the turmoils were washed away in those early storms and all gleamed refreshed.

Nature’s resilience humbles me.

Back in Laikipia at Kuti at last for good, returning eighteen months after I had left, elephants greeting my car, and rediscovering heaven.

So, what at happened in 2018?

 

January
At the Aga Khan Hospital for a week to remove the last stitches and final check up.

 

March, Italy
Milano: Keynote Speaker Conference on Climate change brought about by Human Activity.

San Polo di Piave : Lifetime Achievement Award, XXXV edition Premio Gambrinus Mazzotti Honoris Causa
For over 40 years of work with Environment and Communities in Kenya

Sveva , Nigel travel to the USA, Florida.

 

23rd April
One Year after being wounded, with my young family I flew back to Kuti, brought flowers to the graves, my thanks to the loyal staff, and I greeted again at last my patient dogs.

 

22 May 2018
WORLD BIODIVERSITY DAY , THE GIFT OF A NEW LIFE.
On this symbolic date, to Sveva and Nigel, May brought a new child, a beautiful daughter: Ayana Alba Eleanor, born easily, blue eyed and eager to learn like her just older sister.

 

July 23rd
I returned to Kuti for good.

 

22 September 2018
THE LAIKIPIA HIGHLANDS GAMES, SPORTS FOR PEACE 10TH ANNIVERSARY
This was a triumph of friendship, imagination, survival and battles won smiling.
9 different tribal groups attended, all proudly resplendent in their regalia.
The Mutaro Children Choir, that we support, opened the Games with the National Anthem.
10 Envoys flew in for the function.

 

ROAD CLEARING AND FIREBREAKS
As the last tent and sign of thousands of visitors faded, the plains of Bogani ya Dume given back to the resident herds of Impalas and Warthogs.

 

RECONSTRUCTION
Is underway with NGOBITU dam look out, THE NEST, FUKU 1, and BANDA RESEARCH CAMP completed.

 

ESSENTIAL OILS
The purchase and setting up of the new and ecofriendly essential oil extraction still was finalised. this will serve for sustainable extraction by steam distillation of Lelechwa, Lippia, Lemuria and other common plants, so far considered “invasive weeds”. That is as per our ethnobotanical research dating back over 20 years. Nigel and Sveva have taken this unique project on.

 

HONEY AND BEEHIVES TO COMMUNITY
Sveva’s project supported by the Leopardess fund has seen her team construct and deliver special hives to all community areas an especially ecofriendly project.

 

ANTI-POACHING and WILDLIFE
An extraordinary Number of Elephants were recorded throughout the year and ZERO elephant POACHING for the first time in over 20 years. Our famous populations of Buffalo are spotted daily in large herds everywhere, while Lions and Leopard sighting are recorded, with Striped Hyena, warthogs and the largest ever number of Impala. The legendary birdlife of Ol ari Nyiro is Thriving, while it appears 2 hippos have joined our lone male, moving from lake to lake since 1991 when he first appeared.
One of them seems to favour my garden at night, with his tracks seen up to my bedroom passage!.

We have recruited and professionally trained over 40 New Rangers in 2018.
Although the difficult terrain no elephant was poached in 2018 in Ol ari Nyiro in our knowledge.
On November 29th an elephant with a spear wound was spotted and treated by KWS Vets in conjunction with LNC/GMF Rangers, KWS, Sheldrick Trust and Andrew Francombe. A Special thanks to them all and to Vet. Dr. Mutinda for organising the team.

 

BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH AND WILDLIFE MONITORING
This is an ongoing project that involves all staff. Sighting of elephants, lions and buffalo-and the families of Colobus Monkeys in the Engelesha forest, have been regular and multiple daily, the two salt licks of Kuti and Centre visited for tracks, in addition to sighting of rare birds over our lakes, such as the endangered Crown Crane.
Our elephant population at the time of this News is estimated in excess of 350.

 

REFORESTATION

EDUCATION and guided local schools visits were resumed with the re-instatement of peace.

 

FIREWOOD, ECO-CHARCOAL TO COMMUNITIES
To alleviate the scarcity of firewood we offer regular donations to communities of our neighbours, or Lelechwa-Tarconanthus camphoratus -sustainable firewood and building material.

 

BIOMASS
Sustainable lelechwa charcoal.
Firebreaks clearing by community Road gang.

 

EDUCATION AND SPONSORSHIPS
Peris Muraya Laikipia University campus
Susan Lenawasae, University of Nairobi
Samwel Kapanat, Lodwar Secondary
Samson Kipkulei, Milimani Secondary
Jacson Riomo, Churo Secondary
Jonathan Saitoti, Rumuruti school of driving

 

VOLUNTEERS
Amos Maina
Fred Lokale
Leonardo and Viola from Italy
THE 4 MUTARO GIRLS WHO HELPED WITH KIDS CHOIR

 

COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Supply of specialist and maternity equipment to our donated clinics of Matwiku, Kamwenje, Ndidika, and volunteer doctors visits.

Nurse Waithaka
Mama Hellen Wangechi and the Ndidika Women Group
Mzee Josepeh Njuguna and the Colobus Elders
Mzee Paul Njoroge and the Kamwenje Elders
The Lobere Women and Elders
The Illchamus Elders
Mama Selina Selale and the Pokot women Group
Mama Resiato Lenawasae and her family
Mzee Thomas Thomoko and Elders team Tebelekwa
Mzee Losyangolol and Apetole and the Nagum Team
The Mutaro children
The Mutaro Women Group and Mary Anomat

 

THANKS
Special thanks go to our Team,without whom nothing could be achieved.

Patrick Ali Apetet
Martin Kuria Maina
Stephen Ali Apetet
Joseph Epeyonon
Enoch Nodwaa, Francis Muthaura and their Workshop team
Geoffrey Kamaiteke and his plumbers Team
Builders: Paul Maina, Joseph Merikut, Josephat Nalubo, Julius Gachiri, and their teams
John Aboto and his Road Gang Team
Mary Anomat
and
The Drivers
The Workshops
Stores: Moses Lendorope,
The GMF/LNC Security Rangers and Felix Mwema
The Clerical staff: Michael: Administration, Kevin: Procurement, Human Resources

 

We wish to give a special thanks to the Government of Kenya, The Laikipia County Commissioner, The Laikipia County Police Commander, The General Service Unit (GSU) and the paramilitary force especially close to my heart, The Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) for their unparalleled support over difficult times in 2018.

 

Last but certainly not least: our Sponsors and Donors, all our Friends without whose help and steady loyal ongoing support simply nothing could ever be possible.

We are protecting a Piece of the Planet for all of us.

 

ASANTE SANA!

 

Kuki

Kuki Galllmann
In Ol ari Nyiro, Laikipia Nature Conservancy
on Kenya Great Rift valley

 

 

Please help us with the ongoing rebuilding and the maintaining of vital conservation infrastructure on Laikipia Nature Conservancy, while supporting our philanthropic work of education and scholarships, community support, assistance to neighbours, public health, food drought relief, water, road building and maintenance.

And of course continuing to equip the outstanding team of rangers with uniforms, transport, binoculars, infrared cameras and everything they need to continue to protect and monitor the unique Biodiversity of Ol Ari Nyiro, and also support our ongoing re-forestation project to combat global warming by planting more and more indigenous trees.

With your help we can secure Kuki’s vision and legacy in perpetuity.

Please help us by making a donation below, however small or big it may be!!!

 

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