On Saturday, Fred called in the afternoon to tell me that another infant had died here. This makes the third child in two months to die from this manyatta. This child was 8 months, and was the nephew of a friend (a watchman here) living in a manyatta, next to where I stay. One day the child was fine, the next night the parents took the baby to a clinic in Athi River. The child was sent home with some medications but worsened over night. They were on a matatu to a Nairobi hospital when the child died, silently in the arms of the parents. They brought the baby back here on the matatu, and then called Fred to bring the baby and mother from the main road to the manyatta on his motorbike. They buried the baby in the cattle enclosure; the only place assured that wild animals would not uncover the child in the night. They placed stones on the body and then covered with dirt. I tell you the details to let you know how life and death are here. Children die of illnesses like malaria and typhoid but mainly due to dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea. The parents take them for treatment when it is too late.
The Masai will gather from the three local Masai churches today at the burial site for prayers. I won’t attend since my presence either draws attention away from the prayer, or causes concern that I might turn them in to the officials for burying on land they don’t own. Something needs to be done as far as medical services for these children. I’ll keep thinking.
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