The trench in Soweto East smelled the way trenches do before you touch them — stagnant water, old plastic, yesterday’s cooking oil. Two hundred and sixteen people showed up anyway, gumboots sucking mud, jembes ringing against concrete, clearing an 800-metre stretch from Cultures toward Darajani.
While hands worked, Victory Farms Kenya kept another fire going — fish frying, ugali steaming, oil popping in a rhythm that travelled on the wind. By afternoon, water moved a little faster in the ditch, and more than 860 children ate fish and ugali until their fingers shone.
Friends who came with us
Ngong River Regeneration Network Zone 2 turned out in force: Lang’ata Local Water Forum, Mazingira Women Initiative, Baricho Youth Group, Kibera Talking, Soko Moko Youth Group — names that mean sweeping, mobilising, arguing with blocked drains until something gives.
Join the next cleanup roster with your youth group — we post dates at the office and on our community chalkboard; bring gumboots if you have them.
