Power Returns!

The generator is off and the power is back on! Our repair man, Victor, saw 3 or 4 power company employees working in Kiserian today and told them they must come out to Corner Baridi, that we’d been without power for a week. The guys said they couldn’t do that, that they’d have to get their work order changed with the office. Victor insisted they come out anyway. They said they’d have to call the office - he said fine, so call them. He prevailed upon them to come and insisted on following them out to the transformer that supplies our power. They found a single blown fuse and replaced it - and then our power came back on. This in spite of the fact that every time someone from here had phoned KPLC (the power company) we were told that they were working on that same transformer!

During the time the power was out, from Apr. 17 thru today, Apr. 23, Rick estimated the generator ran more than 100 hours and consumed >300 liters of diesel fuel. That’s about KSH 26,000 worth of fuel. Annualized it would be KSH 1.5 million or $19,000.

I asked a couple of our Kenyan trustees if they would call power company executives they know and complain. Their lack of responsiveness cost the orphans here at Hekima Place about 26,000 Kenyan shillings (about $300) they could ill afford to do without!

Tonight I let the girls watch a movie, “Cheaper by the Dozen” with Steve Martin. The little ones were rolling around the floor together waiting for the movie. It was probably in the upper 60’s out and the girls were wearing snowsuits! Kenyans don’t suffer cool weather lightly! Soon eveyone had gathered before the TV set, leaving a pile of shoes in their wake.