CYCLE RIDE FROM MAUA TO MOMBASA = 825 km DATES: 26 TH SEPTEMBER 7 TH OCTOBER 2005 Introduction/Background: The idea came up in 2002, when nine DPSHG (Disabled Persons Self Help Groups) sat together thinking about raising funds through a cycle ride. They registered five hundred to be members of the groups. To start with they raised funds locally door to door to enable them to begin with the main project. They started practising cycling locally and outside the district. In June 2004 they cycled to Embu, supported by a ministry of five services and the MCK (Methodist Church in Kenya) disability programme. Through the backing of DCC (Disability Community Centre) and Disability Self Help Groups that have increased to 25 groups by that time, they were now able to ride to Mombasa from 26 th September to 7 th October 2005. The objectives as set up in advance: In Support of Disability Community Fund, six [6] Disabled People are riding for 825km from Maua to Mombasa to raise Ksh 10m to address the following issues among others: - To raise awareness of the needs of the Disabled People and their families both in Meru North and beyond On the whole the cycle ride to Mombasa was a great success to raise awareness for Disabled People because it provided great publicity through TV, newspapers and contact to big companies. Those who heard of the ride mostly showed big interest for the project and promised to give support either in advance or afterwards. - To improve accessibility to schools, churches and public offices by providing ramps and other facilities - To organize training workshops for the disabled people self help groups on resource mobilization - Develop a housing scheme on prime land donated by the government, a source of income for future sustainability In the long run the cycle ride will have influence on all those issues if only because it gained publicity for the needs of disabled persons both in Meru North and beyond. - To develop DCC as a district resource centre providing a library for provision of information and other facilities Through the ride the DCC as a centre for disabled people gained a lot of publicity and therefore will be seen as the first station for any further information about the issue of disability. Whoever is interested in the topic and wants to support disabled persons, will now be able to start somewhere through DCC. - Provide seed money to promote income generating activities for the disabled people By now the amount of money raised through the ride is not sufficient for any future activities, but many companies and private persons have promised to provide money in support of those activities and other current issues. What happened - shortcut: The ride took of on Monday, 26 th September at 9.30 am after some last speeches and interviews and was sent out by different representatives, among others the MCK Meru North, KBC (Kenya Broadcasting Corporation - radio and television programme) and the Conference office in Nairobi.
The first step after about 80 km distance was Chogoria, where the first minor problems like headache, tiredness and chest problems could be sorted out by antibiotics, prophylaxis and massage through the accompanying nurse and physiotherapist. On Tuesday, 27 th September, the team proceeded from Chogoria to Mwea through Embu town. On their way they were welcomed by different provincial administrations to fulfil their mission of raising awareness and funds. In Thika, the next destination on Wednesday, 28 th September, the team could meet with a local Disability Self Help Group to share experiences and explain about the ride. The biggest step came on Thursday, 29 th September, when the ride proceeded to Nairobi. The riders were escorted by the Kasarani police up to the Methodist Church office in Nairobi where they were welcomed by the presiding bishop. Throughout the day the team met with different representatives from politics and press, gave interviews, was donated with magazines, and could give reports on their experiences so far about the ride. The next day turned out to be quite tough because the whole team had stomach upsets which was found out to be result of the food and water in Nairobi. Otherwise also those 112 km to the next stop were managed in the end, although with a lot of tiredness and pain. On Saturday, 1 st October, the ride set off to Kibwezi, where it was welcomed very warmly by the inhabitants who could not believe that the riders had actually made their way from Maua to Kibwezi by bicycle. In fact people in Kibwezi who proclaimed to be cyclists were told that the actual cyclists only could be found in Meru North. If you want to ride bicycles properly, go to Meru North! they were told, because there Disabled Persons are able to do something which not even Non-Disabled can imagine to do. After a day of rest on Sunday with lunch at the DCC-directors family they were given diverse donations by the church representatives and MPs and started at 10.45 am to Mtito Andei on Monday, 3 rd October. Although very much discouraged by several people telling it is impossible for those disabled persons riding bicycles through Tsavo Nationalpark which the team had to pass on their way to Mombasa, they took this route leading through the Park on Tuesday, 4 th October. Because they felt insecure of the animals and additionally because of those discouragements, the riders crossed the Park with a high speed of up to 25 km/h which they had not reached before. The normal speed was 18-20 km/h up to this point. The next day covered the longest distance leading from Voi to Mariakani over 122 km on a road full of potholes which caused a lot of trouble to both the riders and the team. On the way from Mariakani to Mombasa, the last distance, the team stopped in a town called Miritini to meet with KBC people who wanted to accompany the ride with video cameras showing the ride on television. While waiting for them the representing Chief for the area was encouraging local people to contribute money for the ride after he had been told about the project which he was very much interested in. In Mombasa the team was received by the Methodist Church whereupon the Director, David Kariuki, gave interviews to KBC which were shown on TV. The next day the team proceeded to South coast in order to cross Likoni ferry being escorted by the traffic police. When they arrived at the ferry and were up to pay the fees for passing over, one of the gatekeepers realized that he had seen the team on TV, so he wanted it to pass without paying. Those are disabled persons who have been riding bicycles all the way from Maua for 825 km, please let them pass freely. he told his colleagues and so the team got on the ferry without having to pay. At the coast they got free accommodation at Word of Life (a church organisation dealing with youth and young children ministries) where people showed great interest in the ride and also the work of the disabled people in Meru North. They were very much encouraged by those disabled persons riding ordinary bicycles to raise funds for other disabled persons in the district and thereby giving opportunity to the less fortunate. In Safari Beach Hotel, an expensive Hotel for prominent persons and foreigners, which has an alliance to other Hotels all over the country and therefore big influence on projects like this, the team got free breakfast and diner. The following day a group from Safari Beach Hotel came to a meeting with the riding team and the people from Word of Life to discuss about the ride and its objectives. They were very much interested in the projects of the Disabled People in Meru North and promised further support and assistance if needed, for they also work with disabled persons and want to be part of those projects. Coming back to Maua, people could not believe that this ride actually had taken place. Someone who didn t see disabled persons using those ordinary bikes for 825 km on tough roads thought the whole project has just been a weird dream. But those accompanying the trip know that it actually has been done. So now people start showing interest in supporting the project.
That it really was hard work, especially for the seven riders, shows a statement given by the accompanying motorcyclist who said: Even the ride on the motorbike was exhausting. How much more exhausting must it have been on a bicycle! For sure now anybody with a similar idea can t be able to cycle from Maua to Mombasa or vice versa because the record has been broken. The next one has to leave the country and cycle maybe up to Rwanda to break a new record! A last question: How could it be possible for the team to ride two weeks on tough roads without being seriously sick, without even using the first aid kid, without having major problems? The only way they could have gone safe like that is through the Grace of God who has protected the whole ride with His blessings. And whatever trouble we have undergone or will still be undergoing, the bible is encouraging us to keep on: Our great desire is that each of you keep up your eagerness to the end, so that the things you hope for will come true. (Hebr. 6 v.11) Let us not give up in what we are doing! Visual impressions: Between Chogoria and Mwea The riders on the road, accompanied by a motorbike
Getting into Word of Life On Likoni-ferry
The riders with motorcyclist, physiotherapist, nurse and patron Very happy after reaching the destination: Word of Life at the Coast
The riders at the coast: Peter Michubu Ngorue, Jessial Kiruja Kiraithe, Wilfred Mwiti, Jeremiah Kaiiri Rukunga, Joseph Kuthuku, George Kamau Thuo, Muchui Gerald Rukunga (from l. to r.)