Kenya: How a village elder and his horn protect people from disease

In Bomet County, Kenya, the Kenya Red Cross is supporting influential community figures to use traditional practices to tackle contemporary diseases.

Some people use WhatsApp. Others prefer a phone call. But in Kipajit village, when you need to communicate with many people quickly in a crisis, there is only one option: the Kigondit.

A traditional instrument made from a cow horn, the Kigondit has been used for generations by Kipsigis communities in Bomet County to summon people to important meetings and to warn them of impending danger. And in Kipajit, it is the village elder, Augustine Langat, who has the power and privilege to call the Kigondit to serve his community.

Through the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Program (CP3)The Kenya Red Cross works with village elders like Augustine and other influential community figures to keep people healthy and protected from disease.

When Augustine calls his village together for a meeting, Community Health Promoters (trained by the Kenya Red Cross through the CP3 program) and animal health workers arrive to share key messages about different disease threats, active outbreaks, and ways people can reduce their risks.

“When I blow the traditional horn, it reaches a lot of people, especially those who might not be reached through one-on-one interaction. I alert people so that we can meet in a central place to be enlightened by the veterinarians and the human health professionals,” Augustine explains.

Village elders are highly respected and trusted figures within their communities and are looked to for advice and wisdom. So when villagers hear the call of the Kigonditthey come.

“There are different ways to blow the horn for different occasions – you can call them different ringtones. There is a way to call a general meeting, and another sound if you want to warn the community about something dangerous,” explains Purity Kosgei, CP3 Project Officer for Bomet County.

“Augustinus can mobilize the community very quickly, for example if a cow dies of anthrax. It is wise to call everyone in the village to help tell what is happening, what the preventive measures are and how to respond,” she adds.

In case of anthraxa serious and potentially fatal infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Older adults are also leading the way in changing cultural norms and behaviors that can endanger lives.

For example, in the Augustinian community, there is an ancient belief that when an animal dies, burying the carcass whole will bring a curse on the people and stop them from breeding more animals. It is therefore customary to cut the animal open and remove the entrails before burying it. However, if the animal has died of anthrax, this can expose people to the disease, which can be fatal if left untreated.

“We’ve seen real behavioral change. The elders were the ones who were against throwing away animal carcasses from the beginning. But now they understand the risks to people’s health and are using their platform to promote proper burial of animals, to promote vaccination of animals, and to get people to report suspicious animal deaths.” explains Monica Okwanyi, former CP3 project officer for Bomet County.

“Elders are the most trusted figures in the community and by involving them we reinforce ownership because community members want to know ‘what are our elders saying? Is it approved by our elders?’ It’s important to be culturally sensitive. We involve them respectfully so they don’t feel like we’re imposing anything on them. They’re happy to learn powerful knowledge that they can pass on for generations,” adds Monica.

As epidemics spread further and faster across the globe, equipping communities with the knowledge and skills to detect, warn and respond to disease threats is more important than ever.

Thanks to the CP3 program, we have seen time and again that well-informed communities can be the first line of defense against epidemics: they can limit and even stop their spread.

Augustine puts it best:

“I am passionate about the work I do because when you educate the community, you protect their lives. When the area chief tells me to call people, I do it wholeheartedly because I love it when people get the right health messages.”

“It is good when the community is warned. They respond to ultimately save lives.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).