Meru: The land of Manly Men and Miraa
I just spent the last week in the town of Meru, the center of the Meru tribe. I heard about this tribe in training. They are known for their machismo, aggressiveness, and the local drug miraa. I was introduced to the area in the matatu ride in. Two people argued quite forcefully about how much they paid and one old codger made comments about me in Meru. I could barely understand him because his mouth was filled with miraa. What little I got was that he was saying I was an idiot and his companions (I think wives) were making jokes about me. The driver and several of the passengers were also chewing miraa. This doesn't bother me but it was surprising coming from Kikuyuland were I have never seen anyone argue heatedly and where hospitality and friendliness are prime virtues.
Miraa is this drug which grows really well in the Meru area. It is a form of speed and is highly sought after in much of the world. The problem is that its power drops rapidly with time. The drug has to be chewed within 2 days. Pickup trucks get loaded down with the drug and head out at breakneck pace for the Nairobi airport. Any fines they get are minor compared to the profit so you almost get run over by these trucks flying by. Quite a few people do get hit by these trucks. The last night some of the volunteers tried the drug. It apparently tastes like really tough grass and must be chewed for hours. There is actually no high and no happy feelings but you can't sleep at all. Not sure why people spend the time, effort, and money on it.
Meru is also the home of some of the most sexist men in Kenya. The street kids will ask for money while touching woman's private parts. The female volunteer stationed there is pretty open about punching kids and adults who try anything. Comments are made there which would shock the generally conservative and polite Kenyans from other areas. It is also unusual culturally in that the men retain custody over the kids. Marriage breakup is pretty common and you suddenly get a guy who has five kids of his own. No man will stoop to do cooking, cleaning or raising kids so they dump the kids on their mother. All in all a bad setup. A kenyan friend of mine is dating a Meru man and she is very wary of him and any situations that may arise.
It is also one of the most violent areas of Kenya. One volunteer found someone shot to death outside his gate a few weeks ago. No one else was bothered. PC rarely sends females due to the mix of sexism and violence in the area. A girl from my group was moved out because of security issues. On the other hand there is a definite need for AIDS training in the area so public health volunteers are routinely sent there.
On the positive side the area is the most beautiful I have seen in Kenya. Rolling mountains dotted with waterfalls and all kinds of forests.
I just spent the last week in the town of Meru, the center of the Meru tribe. I heard about this tribe in training. They are known for their machismo, aggressiveness, and the local drug miraa. I was introduced to the area in the matatu ride in. Two people argued quite forcefully about how much they paid and one old codger made comments about me in Meru. I could barely understand him because his mouth was filled with miraa. What little I got was that he was saying I was an idiot and his companions (I think wives) were making jokes about me. The driver and several of the passengers were also chewing miraa. This doesn't bother me but it was surprising coming from Kikuyuland were I have never seen anyone argue heatedly and where hospitality and friendliness are prime virtues.
Miraa is this drug which grows really well in the Meru area. It is a form of speed and is highly sought after in much of the world. The problem is that its power drops rapidly with time. The drug has to be chewed within 2 days. Pickup trucks get loaded down with the drug and head out at breakneck pace for the Nairobi airport. Any fines they get are minor compared to the profit so you almost get run over by these trucks flying by. Quite a few people do get hit by these trucks. The last night some of the volunteers tried the drug. It apparently tastes like really tough grass and must be chewed for hours. There is actually no high and no happy feelings but you can't sleep at all. Not sure why people spend the time, effort, and money on it.
Meru is also the home of some of the most sexist men in Kenya. The street kids will ask for money while touching woman's private parts. The female volunteer stationed there is pretty open about punching kids and adults who try anything. Comments are made there which would shock the generally conservative and polite Kenyans from other areas. It is also unusual culturally in that the men retain custody over the kids. Marriage breakup is pretty common and you suddenly get a guy who has five kids of his own. No man will stoop to do cooking, cleaning or raising kids so they dump the kids on their mother. All in all a bad setup. A kenyan friend of mine is dating a Meru man and she is very wary of him and any situations that may arise.
It is also one of the most violent areas of Kenya. One volunteer found someone shot to death outside his gate a few weeks ago. No one else was bothered. PC rarely sends females due to the mix of sexism and violence in the area. A girl from my group was moved out because of security issues. On the other hand there is a definite need for AIDS training in the area so public health volunteers are routinely sent there.
On the positive side the area is the most beautiful I have seen in Kenya. Rolling mountains dotted with waterfalls and all kinds of forests.
posted by Ross at 2:51 AM
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