Political Blogs
Which way valentine day?
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- Published on Sunday, 10 February 2008 00:19
The verdict from the flower farms in Rift Valley's town of Naivasha is that there are no flowers for this year's date and that from the Soapstone industry is even worse, "we can't afford to pay the people who sculputure the patterns of love on the stones."
Over 20,000 Tabaka soapstone carvers, in the Nyanza district of Gucha renowned for its craft of the soapstone have lost their jobs owing to the post-election violence, which has paralyzed the industry, that mainly relies on the talent of casual labourers.
Similarly, the industry has lost over Ksh. 100,000 million for the last two months as buyers keep off, citing insecurity, a move that left hundreds of families in teh region without a livelihood.
Small, Medium and Large Artists ( SMOLART ) General Manager, Jim Kenyanya says the company is laying off it workers until the turmoil is resolved to create a conducive political climate for foreign and local buyers.
Kenyanya notes, his organization is unable to export the curved stones, observing, "international buyers are reluctant to buy them(the soapstones) due to congestion at the Port, delaying clearance and forwarding procedures."
‘‘Right now, our consignment destined for export is stuck at Mombasa Port. Transporters fear transporting our products to the port for export fearing attack at illegal road blocks mounted on the way” he says.
"Tourists who used to buy the carvings," says Kenyanya have kept off and "are instead inquiring about our safety as the curio soaps, agents, carvers, suppliers and other middlemen are rendered jobless."
The soapstone is actually referred to as the 'Gold of Kisii' and young men and couples purchase them as signs of affection during valentine.
Doreen Muchoma who was married only last year is nostalgic when interviewed about the issue outside her grass thatched house, " when we were dating he came switched off the lamp, asked me to sit by the side of the bed and after handing me a kilo of meat he unwrapped a sopastone."
"The Soapstone had the words i love you Doreen and on the other side will you marry me?" Doreen explained to us while declining to appear in Camera.
For Kisii Soapstone Art and Craft ( KISAC) Managing Director, Daniel Ombasa, Valentine, the day lovers exchange pleasantries and gifts will be incomplete without Kenyan soapstone, especially the coveted ‘heart’.
Ombasa says, the rare and highly prized stone, found only in Tabaka, Gucha district will, this year miss at the international exhibitions and the curved, red and dotted Kenyan heart, will be absent, for the first time since independence.
"The heart," he says, "is highly valued internationally and my Ksh.2 million($2871) abroad bound container full of the hearts is laying at Mombasa Port waiting for export as the clock ticks furiously towards Valentine Day."
He says, he has sent home 53 of his workers, remaining with a skeleton staff of four- a watchman, a Business Manager a cleaner and himself until the situation returns to normal.
‘‘We have encountered massive loses and unless the current bad situation is addressed, our industry will collapse just like tourism which is on its knees due to the poor turnout of international tourists who promote it ” says Ombasa.
January and February, observes the MD are peak seasons for sales, adding, since December, no tourist has stopped at his Nyabigegege curio shop and show room, along Kisii- Migori highway to buy anything.
Ombasa regrets Kenyan exhibitors will miss participating in the Ambiente Art and CraftTrade Fare to be held in Germany this year, stressing buyers of Kenyan soapstone products will be compelled to opt for other inferior imitations.
He says, his business partner, a Belgium –based OXFAM Fair Trade promoter, Sophie Tack was forced to cancel his trip to Kenya until the political situation stabilizes.
In Naivasha, the recent disturbances that saw a dusk to dawn curfew slapped on the town has disrupted activities in the flower farms.
As Valentine draws closer, Kenyan couples and lovebirds will have to engage their creative gears to sip from the legend of Cupids cup, for the arrow that Cupid is more renowned for is associated with armed Militia here - not Lovers.
