Shoes in Kenya by Viatu Africa

Tuiyomoi Primary, Nakuru County Viatu Africa donating shoes. Photo by Viatu Africa.

Today as then, shoes are a symbol of status and only the wealthy are able to afford them. Due to the cost of shoes, most Africans in rural areas still do not wear shoes, and walk barefoot or wear shoes to work or ceremonial functions. Viatu Africa Kenya, an organization that provides shoes for the shoes less saw this gap and jumped to help everyone in Kenya own a shoe (Viatu is a swahili word meaning shoes).

According to Karol Tunduli, the founder of Viatu Africa Kenya, there are people in the Kenya rural areas who have never worn shoes because they genuinely cannot afford to buy shoes. To them shoes are not a necessity and if there is little money saved after the household expenses, the money goes to purchasing shoes for the parents.

Isabella Nekesa, a second born in a family of six was raised in Kitale, and currently works in Nairobi as a shop attendant says, her parents couldn't afford to purchase shoes for her and her siblings. "I didn't have shoes growing up because my parents couldn't afford them. We would get shoes during the Christmas holiday. My legs were always rough. I had wounds from stepping on rocks and thorns.  I would sometimes sneak to school with the Christmas shoes, which would result in a beating." Isabella adds.

 

Peterson Olesadira currently living in Nairobi, is a long distance athlete. The second born in a family of 5, was born and raised in Laikipia County, Rumuruti. His parents were small scale farmers. His parents owned traditional shoes called Kenyarah (Kenyarah is a local sandal made from vehicle tyres), and could not afford to buy shoes for the children.

 “I was born in a very humble family background. I walked barefooted for a good number of years. I had jiggers (tropical fleas, the female digs a hole and lays eggs beneath the host's skin, causing painful sores) because of walking barefoot in dirty places like public toilets and many others. I remember getting my first pair of shoes after winning a 12 kilometers cross country competition. Then I was in primary school class 4, aged 11”. Peterson says.

Peterson Olesadira at home in Nairobi. 

Karol adds that there were also people who owned shoes, but could never wear them because of the environment/community they lived in. "Growing up my dad was a chief and mom was a teacher so they could afford to buy shoes. But my siblings and I would only get shoes during the Christmas holidays. The shoes would only be worn on Sunday and special occasions. I was once beaten by a teacher for wearing shoes to school because I looked different from all other kids so I never wore shoes to school." Karol says.

In 2012, Karol had gone for a church mission in Uganda, and on his way back he passed by his village, Bungoma county in the former Western Province of Kenya. He noticed his son was playing with a kid who had no shoes.  He also, saw a kid trying to remove a thorn from his foot and asked himself what could he do to help them?  He knew he had to give them shoes after much deliberation with friends.

"We take this as a ministry. This is not about me. So many people are involved to make it happen.  The first time we gave out shoes we organized a concert with some gospel musicians and the entrance fee was a pair of shoes. We raised 300 pairs of shoes, which we donated at Fuata Nyayo, Mukuru slums in Nairobi. We later learnt that in case we were to give shoes in the slums, it should give gumboots. The people living in the slums require gumboots because of the open drainage systems, which floods often and are hazardous," says Karol.

 

According to a report published in 2012 by The Pan african Medical Journal, jigger infestation is a crucial health problem that is constantly ignored. The study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practices of household members with jiggers’ practices of household members on jiggers was conducted in Muranga District and rural locations in Kenya. The study revealed that the majority (88.2%) of the respondents had suffered jigger infestation in their lifetime. Over a quarter (23.6%) (64 households) reported between one to five household members suffering from jigger infestation. However, 18.8% (51) jigger infested persons were observed in the households

 

According to Karol, there are villages where jiggers are a menace to the residence especially in Western provinces. Jiggers should be declared a national disaster. "We are also taking upon ourselves to teach residents about hygiene. We tell them to smoothen their floors with cow dung, which is a good detriment to jiggers.” Karol says.

 

Viatu Africa Kenya is run by a team of five members with local support of 20 people. So far the organization has provided over 100,000 people with shoes. They have been to Marsabit, Isiolo, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Samburu and Solai. Karol recalls being slapped by a man in Samburu because he wasn't patient enough to wait for his turn to get the shoes.

In 2013, he was named as Safaricom hero for giving out shoes. In 2015, they were named Indomie heroes. "I appeared in the 2013 Safaricom online magazine". He says.

 

Viatu Africa collects shoes through their social media page as well as working in partnership with different organizations. "We are work closely with Impala Glass and Gem Cambridge school to collect shoes on our behalf. We are also looking to get more elite schools as our collection points". Karol says.

According to Karol, they lost so much time during the registration process. Their file apparently went missing in the registry office, which led to many cheques received from well wishes to expire. “I wouldn't wish this on anyone, four years to just get a certificate is extremely long. We almost gave up. Now, we are looking forward to the future; serving the community and making people happy."

 

Shoes distribution in Bungoma County Napara E.C.D primary school. Photo by Viatu Africa.

Karol adds that COVID-19 has been a great challenge. “Many of our many donors are struggling financially. We also have to follow strict guidelines of unnecessary travel and gathering. We are looking forward to Kenya getting this virus under control so we can pick up on our work.

For the future, Viatu Africa is looking into more than giving just a one-time shoe, but permanent shoes.  They will be taking care of the best performing student in each location they visit.  Also we hope to sponsor  students who don't make the cut to join high schools due to grades, to acquire handiwork skills to sustain themselves. Karol hopes to include prison in the locations they visit for shoe distribution.