Growing up amidst the verdant, undulating terrain of Nyambene forest in Meru, my earliest recollections are intrinsically linked to its landscape, a natural atlas that seemed to prefigure my life’s trajectory. One vivid memory, etched in my mind, is of a small child, barely three, resolutely climbing the incline from our humble family home to my grandparents’, the silent, watchful presence of the forest at my back.
This initial ascent, undertaken long before I understood the principles of Geomatic Engineering, was my foundational lesson in spatial comprehension. My grandmother, her smile radiating the warmth of the Meru sun, awaited me at the summit, and I, her cherished grandchild, was her constant companion.
These hills served as my childhood sanctuary. The land’s varied topography, the intricate network of paths I instinctively learned, the trees that seemed to murmur ancient tales – all profoundly shaped my understanding of the world.
I was an inquisitive child, commencing my education at the early age of three, my curiosity as expansive as the horizon. My parents, hardworking farmers with immense aspirations for my future, toiled tirelessly to afford me opportunities. Despite the financial constraints that prevented me from attending Kenya High School after earning a place, my determination remained undeterred. I found my academic home at Bishop Gatimu Girls’ School, where I discovered a deep affinity for Geography and Mathematics. While some considered this an unconventional pairing for a young woman, to me, they were complementary disciplines, like deciphering intricate puzzles inscribed upon the earth itself.
This intellectual passion led me to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, where I pursued studies in Geomatic Engineering and Geospatial Information Systems. This felt like a natural culmination, as if the Nyambene hills had been my enduring instructors, and I now possessed the technical expertise to interpret their lessons. My academic journey did not conclude there. I am currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Environment and Natural Resources Law at the University of Nairobi, seamlessly integrating my dedication to spatial precision with a profound commitment to the preservation of the land that nurtured me.
Returning to Nyambene now evokes a sense of both familiarity and renewed perspective. The hills remain eternally green and steadfast, yet my perception has evolved. I now discern the contours I would meticulously map, the boundaries I would precisely survey, the delicate ecosystems I am driven to protect. I often think of my grandmother, whose joyful laughter I can almost hear at the sight of me today – a fully accredited member of the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya, leading with the same unwavering enthusiasm I possessed as a child. My parents’ sacrifices, the forest’s subtle guidance, the challenging climb towards greater horizons – these are all integral threads in the fabric of my identity.
Each time I revisit, I am once again that happy young girl, standing at the edge of the hill, knowing that this land holds both the roots of my past and the promise of my future. It is more than simply returning to the hills; it is carrying their essence within me, wherever my path may lead.
The land remembers us, just as we remember the paths it helped us trace.
Loise Makena
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