The Embu Event: Saving the Earth for Future Generations

The Embu event was the second one to be held, following the event in Thika the previous day. It was organized by Peter N. Chandi of EM-Kenya in order to reach stakeholders in Eastern Province. EM-Kenya is a private enterprise involved in the promotion of Effective Microorganisms, products that are used in agriculture for humus and compost production, sanitation and waste management. EM-Kenya provides extension services for its products in collaboration with several development agencies. FORMAT headquarters was partly involved in the preparation of advertising posters, the schedule of activities, and in the selection of participants of this event. This was necessitated by lack of computer and office facilities, and too few staff available to the local organizer.

The event was very successful in many ways. There was a tremendous response from local advertising and mobilization evidenced by the massive turnout by the members of the public, estimated to have reached 300 persons. Most participants arrived by 7 am and set up their exhibits and organized their presentations. The exhibition hall was labeled according to the titles of exhibits and space was allocated to handle the anticipated  visitors. All the presentations were   made using PowerPoint. And then the crowd began to swell.  Presentations and exhibits were conducted simultaneously as neither the hall nor the exhibition arena alone could accommodate all the people who turned up for the event. Crowds of visitors zealously took notes and received samples and literature from exhibitors, who at times faced the difficult task of explaining their work to a near continuous stream of inquiring visitors.   

Several schools sent students to the event as well.  Despite the chilly weather and rain, the event proceeded smoothly and a fine time was had by all.  There were 51 exhibits and talks covering products and value-added processing (18), soil fertility management (10), traditional foods and plants (8), resource conservation (7), information dissemination and extension (5), waste management (2) and new crops (1). All the prizes were won by women. The first prize was awarded to Peninah Mwangangi from Kyanika Women Group with an exhibit on “Drought Resistance Vegetable and Gourds”, followed by Naomi Gakuthi of Kiringa Women Group (2^nd) with an exhibit on “Dried Green Vegetables” and Helen Murangeri also from Kiringa Women Group (3^rd) for her exhibit on “Herbal Soap”.  Not surprisingly, during the discussion session organizers were advised to seek a larger venue for future events to handle even larger crowds in the future. The first place winner closed the event by reciting a poem entitled “Nyonyi” on the wonders of amaranth, a popular traditional vegetable.

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