The un-told story of Hyrax Hill Museum

By Eric Sindabi
In the early 20s British settlers at a hill farm in Nakuru had discovered human fossils that later were to attract leading archaeologists in the world like Mr and Mrs Mary Leaky, and turn the site to be one of the most famed pre-historic archaeological sites in the world.
Hyrax hill is a small rocky lava ridge situated on the edges of Nakuru Town off the Nakuru Nairobi highway in the great rift valley of Kenya. The area measures about 500m in length and rises to about 50m above sea level.
The pre-historic site derives its name to hyrax animal species that predominantly inhabited the hill. According to biological definition an Hyrax is a small mammal of the rabbit family that live among rocks in Africa and Syria.
The animals are among the endangered species of the world.
Archaeological materials that date over 5000 years ago have been found at the site. Information ascertained from pre-historic sites can enable modern man understand the nature and way of life of pre-historic societies.

Hyrax site is one of the most crucial pre-historic sites not only in Kenya but in the whole world. It has been central to the discovery of the closest human revolution fossils for the last 100 years.
The archaeological information gathered here have helped in ascertaining knowledge of the transition from hunter/gather way of life as a survival means for the pre-historic occupants in some parts of the rift valley during the Neolithic and iron ages.

This information indicates that the people who occupied the site as a settlement area were pastoralists, hunters and gatherers who can be traced to the modern Maasai and Kalenjin ethnic groups normally described by historians as Sirikwa people
Archaeological materials like grinding stones, skeletons, skulls, iron bungles, pottery, among others have been used to draw archaeological decisions.
The hill occupants probably settled here as an ideal site to watch over advancing enemies and a strategic grazing, hunting ground and water source at the Lake Nakuru.
The National Museums of Kenya took over the site after the white settlers surrendered it to the government in 1927.
The Hyrax pre-historic site comprises of a natural environment of indigenous trees, grass, rocks, shrub and herbs. The habitat attracts a variety of bird species and other wild life species like Hyena, Snake, Hyrax, and Tortoise. Visitors at the museum can be fascinated by a tortoise pit and nature trails up the hill.
The museum gallery contains cast fossil collections art artifact collections. A magnificent view of the Lake Nakuru, Town and the Great Rift Valley is clear at the hill top.
According to the deputy curator of the Museum Mr. Peter Talam, plans are at an advanced stage to introduce a snake park and Tourist class resort centre at the site.

Is injustice a human nature?

An opinion by Eric Sindabi
I tend to believe that injustice, the contradictory of Justice is a natural phenomenon that is connected to the human society. Ever since or time immemorial, down the history of Man kind and even centuries before and after the death of Christ injustice has existed.
History shows that People have ever been unjust to others while people have always cried and yearned for justice.
Reference books define the term Justice as the practice of fairness, un biased and impartiality.
Being just is like adherence to the right thing or conforming to good and expected standards in society.
Injustice thus is a vice while justice is a virtue and an expected social standard ethically, culturally and even spiritually.
In Kenya today for example majority of citizens cry foul and are up in arms with the Government for not up holding justice in the country. Ranging from the last general elections flawed results and the continued miss-management of public resources, to the crumbling economy, corruption in public and private sectors, insecurity, poverty and un equal distribution of resources are some of the issues that Kenyans cite for injustice by their political leaders.
As Kenyans soldier on to demand justice from politicians it should be reflected that justice is directly proportional to in justice. That justice cannot exist without in justice and the other way round. It is a human nature that exists in any society of the world and only God, according to Christian teachings, can be trusted for justice.
Indeed many nations of the world have ever experienced the In justice phenomenon that has contributed to the suffering of many now and in the past and where social and political tribulations are believed to be caused by a few unjust leaders.
Never the less victims of in justice have ever been tempted to apply all possible ways to decry in justice while oppressors too use all possible ways to en rich in justice.
This can explain the events that were witnessed in the country following the disputed presidential election results early this year. Many voters urged that by being denied, through rigging, and the practice of tribal politics, a chance to elect leaders of their choice was injustice of the highest order. Many voters believed that by electing leaders of their choice would be as well as making better choices for their lives as these leaders would have brought about the changes the country ache for to improve livelihoods.
In protests that followed many innocent Kenyans suffered a great deal with thousands being killed and displaced in the skirmishes that ruled the day. Likewise it is a great injustice according to social analysts for the government to put the citizens of this country in such an ugly situation. Neigh ours and associates in the country drawn from all walks of life that hitherto lived and co-existed peacefully soon turned against each other in support of particular politicians.
As Kenyans try to re -construct from the effects of the post poll violence, injustice still beckon and Justice seems to be far from site. It is as ever as normal as politicians continue squabbling than serving Kenyans on the most contentious issues. Indeed Philosophers have put forward that Justice can never be fully achieved in any human society. It is like heaven. We desire for it but we can never achieve it here on earth.

Incinerating services at Egerton to boost environmental conservation

By Eric Sindabi
The department of Animal Sciences at Egerton University in Njoro has acquired an incinerating machine that is intended to boost the local environmental conservation and protection. Incinerators are machines that are used to dispose off solid waste that can be hazardous once exposed to the environment.
In many developed countries incinerating machines are used by Municipal councils and in factories to destroy solid waste by burning.
This machine can be able to burn and destroy carcasses, vet nary and biological waste and other related materials to sterilize ashes that are non-hazardous when discharged to the physical environment.
This comes however when the government is fast implementing the use of such machines in all urban centers in the country. Recently the minister for public health professor Anyang nyong directed that all municipal councils should acquire incinerating machines to curb environmental degradation that is caused by solid waste dumping in urban centers in the country.
The heavy duty machine at Egerton that is now in full operation has a capacity of high temperatures of over 1000 degrees centigrade. Sources at the Animal Science department hint that the machine will be used for academic applications at the varsity and will also extend its services to the local community by targeting carcasses from local farmers apart from the University’s farm department.

The source said that the incinerating machine will mitigate on the hazardous means of disposing carcasses by local farmers.
Large incinerators are mainly applied in reducing the volume of wastes in disposal fields while there are also smaller household refuse incinerators. These machines come in handy most communities where land fill space is scarce and where environmental protection measures ought to be upheld.
The Government of Kenya for example has directed the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to ensure that tough measures are undertaken to implement the use of Incinerating machines.
The media had hitherto highlighted hazardous disposal of wastes and expired drugs by most Hospitals and equally harmful solid wastes by Municipal councils in the country.
While giving out the directive on use of incinerators professor Anyang nyong said that burning or disposing waste in the open was dangerous as these wastes go along way in polluting the environment and pose danger to people where water, soil and air get polluted.
The minister said that NEMA and Municipal councils waste management personnel should under take a thorough understanding of the ecology, water circle and the products of decomposing waste material and their impacts on the environment.
The Vice-chancellor of Egerton University Professor James Tuitoek during a recent environmental conservation day celebrations at the University said that the higher learning institution had made big prospects in sustainable environmental management. He urged other local stake holders to come up with similar projects that will enhance environmental protection.


Incinerating machines come in four major categories depending on the type of waste material targeted for destruction. These include machines that burn harmful chemicals produced as by-products of industrial processes, community waste incinerators, medical incinerators, and sewerage incinerators.
Large incinerators can heart waste to up to 2000 degrees centigrade that is hot enough to break down toxic organic chemicals into less harmful gases and water. The heart that is generated can be used as a by-product to heart buildings or generate power.
To control pollution caused by exhaust from incinerators, modern equipments contain scrubbers, devices that contain chemicals that remove acidic gases from the by-products.

Why African women are vulnurable to deadly diseases

By Eric Sindabi

Recent statistics indicate that at least over 65% of people infected with the deadly HIV and Aids in the sub Sahara Africa are women. A further survey on the infection among women in Africa shows that many married women who though may remain faithful to their husbands are likely to be infected with the pandemic due to their pre-marital sexual experiences.
The Author of a Book; the Aids Pandemic, Richard Willis believes that many young women in Africa are frequently engaged in sex early in life with multiple partners. Once they get married, they shift to a faithful life but live with STDs among other sexually transmitted ailments.
Another close source of sexually transmitted diseases among women in Africa according to the Book is the one dreaded Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) culture that is prevalent in many African tribes.Here, transmission of ailments is increased by the sharing of ritual tools like blades, knives, traditional medicines and costumes during FGM.
Diseases like HIV and Aids and others greatly flourish in conditions or permanent effects on genitals of FGM victims. Such effects include conditions like; Anatomical distortions, Partial closures of virgina, Urinary tract infections and chronic Urinary retention.
Research interestingly has revealed other health hazards performed on young females in Africa that lead to the vulnerability of disease infections.
For example apart from FGM,such other factors are like;Rape,rough sex, traumatic injuries, genital cures after injury and fertility enhancement on genitals by Bush doctors. To please their men some African women apply or treat their Vaginas with substances to to enhance virginity. However this affects the womens’apart from men’s genitals. Medical reports indicate that such practices cause injuries to the Virginal system and thus increase the risk of disease infection.
In most African settings it was the duty of the man to go out in the field in search of means to make ends meet. Most modern rural women whose husbands have abandoned them in search of jobs in urban centers risk most are infected with STDs as most indulge in extra marital sexual life due to poverty or in protest over abandonment by their husbands.
With the increased campaigns in the prevention of HIV and Aids disease in Africa, Women and gender stakeholders should keep in mind that they the women are the most vulnerable. Sociologists though have put forward that women are the mothers of nature. Without women there would be no continuation of human generations. The African society thus should treat women and girls with great care.Governments and stakeholders should strive to put in place Laws and policies that protect the female sex under all costs.

Publishing Industry in Africa needs to be re-addressed

By Eric Sindabi
In 1973 a Conference on Publishing in Africa was held in Nigeria to address on the way forward in developing the industry. The conference resulted in the formation of a wide range of recommendations that were geared towards developing the low ranked industry in the world, according to UNESCO statistics.
The recommendations reflected on key issues that were to be addressed. These included developing Paper manufacturing industry, Training printing experts and setting up standards on printing. The conference also recommended that up coming Authors in Africa were to be motivated by publishing their works while being trained through creative workshops and award schemes. The conference also addressed the issue of developing sound publishing policies in Africa and heightening the book distribution market. Nevertheless the conference stressed that African governments had the responsibility of developing reading cultures on grassroots levels.
Over the years there has been little however that has been achieved. UNESCO statistics still rank Africa low in the world publishing industry. With the influx of the information Technology dabbed; information explosion, the print media is headed for doom unless re- addressed. The electronic media of the Internet is a threat to the print media even though the ideal source of information for the electronic media is the book form. Much needs to be done to revive the Print media as a sole source of knowledge and a cultural heritage of generations.
Up coming Authors ought to be motivated and trained while publishers and distributors need to be objective and diverse. Governments in Africa must address the issue of illiteracy and develop grassroots reading culture initiatives. It is true indeed that an informed society is a developed society. Africa shall never develop as long as its people continue living in darkness-read IGNORANCE.

An escape to Egerton botanic garden

By Eric Sindabi

Botanical Gardens are sanctuaries of plants of all kinds including Trees, Flowers, Shrubs, Vines, and Herbs among others. The term Botany means study of plants while Botanical Gardens are used as parks or arboretums in urban and research centers. Such act as nature trails and recreational resorts and for providing natural environment conservation centers.

Historically Botanical Gardens evolved in ancient and modern China where naturalists and botanists owned them for raising medicinal herbs, vegetables and fruits. Indeed modern botanical gardens are common in University’s and other research centres .They provide facilities for teaching, research and environmental conservation and incorporate both plants and animals.

In 2003, Egerton University established a Botanical Garden that was meant to be a centre for teaching, research, environmental conservation and recreational facility.
A ride from the main gate towards Ngongongeri Farm within the main Campus in Njoro leads to a 300-acre beautiful landscape that is a modern Botanical Garden.
The natural environment was a brain child of a former Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Ezra Maritim who during his tenure turned the university into a greenbelt through various environmental activities. This included among others the establishment of the Egerton Botanical Garden.

The serene landscape is dotted with breath taking riparian vegetation and forest resources. Propagation of rare and threatened plant species collected from all over the country is dominant. Likewise in the line of conservation are a wide range of medicinal plants that are common in various parts of the country.
A visitor can be fascinated by camp and picnic sites of wooden seats, African thatched huts, footbridges, nature trails, ponds, dry river valleys and a watch tower.

Nature lovers can also be fascinated by exploring the forest watching guinea fowls and picking their feathers, Wild flowers and fruits and bird watching.
The sanctuary is home for animals like Snake, Tortoise, Antelope, Leopard and rare birds like Owl.

To add value to the animal collection the University recently introduced rare animals at the sanctuary .Llamas are exotic animals of the Camel family that originated in South America. The animal can be used as a beast of burden and for meat and wool production. According to the University Public Relations officer Ken Ramani, the Llama, three in number have boosted the local tourism sector as many visitors steam in at the Botanical Garden to see the rare beasts. He says the University intends to breed Llamas and introduce them to local farmers in Njoro.

Visitors at the nature reserve include the University’s Students and Staff from all the campuses that come for recreation and academic missions. Others include both local and foreign researchers and Tourists and Journalists.

The wonder reptiles of Hyrax Hill

By Eric Sindabi and Melissa Cheruiyot

The hyrax hill prehistoric museum is by far one of the most attractive natural environments in the country. The site, located in the heart of Nakuru town is also a globally reputed archeological centre. It was here where in the 18th century British settlers discovered Iron Age fossils that prompted to acclaimed archeological works.
At least fossils dating back to 5000 years ago have given information about original communities in Rift Valley of Kenya. The natural habitat that is managed by the The National Museums of Kenya is rich in both animal and plant species.
The land Tortoise
Tortoises the mystic land reptiles are part of the animal collection at hyrax hill pre historic museum .Some three years ago the museum established a Tortoise pit which is currently one of the major attractions at the museum. According to the deputy museum curator Mr. Peter Talam the tortoise breeding project is intended to conserve the wildlife and to provide opportunity to local tourism and research industries.
He says that the animals are collected from the natural environment of the museum and others others donated by locals who collect them from the jungles around the site.
According to reference sources, Tortioses are land dwelling reptiles of family Testudidae and order Testudines.Like sea turtles tortoises are shielded from predators by a shell.
The land Tortoise can be of several varieties including the leopard Tortoise at the hyrax hill.Tortoises mostly lay eggs at night and reproduce by incubation that takes between 60 – 120 days. The female Tortoise digs burrows underground of up to 30 feet before burying about 30 eggs to hatch. The egg is oval and clear in cast measuring about 3cm in size, a fact that has puzzled animal scientists. However recent research hints that the size could depend on a reptiles age or species.
The plastron of a female Tortoise has a noticeable V-shaped notch below the tail to facilitate mating. Another wonder about the reptiles is that during mating males become asthmatic. The notch also facilitates the laying of eggs. Yet some how it puzzles to note that a male Tortoise is smaller in size than a female of same age group.
According to the curator hyrax hill museum is believed to be home of one of the oldest leopard Tortoises in the country. It is estimated that a Tortoise can live to about 150 years. They are rarely prone to predators save for the mighty shell and also these reptiles are vegetarians and feed on a variety of herbs and other vegetation.
Upon incubation lapse, a young Tortoise digs out of underground to start its life on land. During the early days of their lives the young ones feed mainly on soil before later switching to vegetation. However Talam says that young Tortoises are prone to disease and predators and only a handful survive. He says that wild dogs that find their way in the museum compound at night have contributed to the scarcity of animal population at the site including the young Tortoises.
The centre he says plans to expand the Tortoise breeding project to the increasing number of tourists and researchers at the museum. He says the centre in future wills lipase with veterinary officers from the ministry of wildlife to treat young Tortoises and to provide more health information about the reptiles. He however hints that Tortoise farming is not so demanding. He says that the museum spends less than 5000 a months on purchasing green vegetables to feed the reptiles while the natural vegetation subsidizes on food requirements.
Nevertheless, all said and done the hyrax hill pre- historic museum Tortoise pit can provide a visitor with an un-predictable experience of natural environment resources of the animal kingdom.