Skip to main content

What good can come out of Kawangware?



https://colorsynq.pixieset.com/diaconateordination-1/p/OTI0NDcyNjM4Nw==-OTc4MjkxMDc/

(Photos/Links Courtesy of Stano)

The man, 70 years plus, stands up to address the crowd, somewhere deep in the village of Obimbo. His face, old-smooth: anti-aging face lotion. His hair, jet-black – dye does wonderfully for one’s political career, forever young. A Young Turk, in Kenyan political parlance. ‘When I was in Alliance…’ Carey Francis is quoted too, to a mild chuckle from the congregated villagers. Alliance being Ivy League for public schooling.

We are gathered in Langata. The day is dreary, grey and drizzly. It’s the midst of July. The Father is quoting scripture, of how the child ought to bring joy to the mother. Of how the child ought to bring pride to the father. Of how the child ought to bury its parents. In the casket lies Nixon, Nick to his friends. His end a brutal one at the hands of an enraged mob. He had nicked a phone at the local open-air market and the traders there had gotten tired of this. Kawangware alumni. Churning out drug users and robbers and women of the night. Will Jesus ever come out of Kawangware?

Another day in Langata. The day is cheerful, sunny. Birds chirp happily about. You can feel the song in the day, full of promise. The venue: Regina Caeli, a Catholic Church domiciled in Karen, Langata. We are here gathered to witness the ordination of Deacon Gideon Kyallo (Charlo)… give him strength to become Father: a father to the boys, to the girls, to the youth, to the people of Kawangware. A beacon of hope and faith and strength. We sing, we breakdance, we recite poetry…

Tupe upendo ewe Mungu
Dunia yote ifaidi upendo
Maisha yetu yajae upendo
Bila upendo yote bure.

Nao upendo uanze nami
Mawazo, maneno yote upendo
Matendo yangu yakiri upendo
Ewe Mungu uanze nami.

Shusha baraka ewe Mungu
Dunia yetu ijae baraka
Maisha yetu yajae baraka
Bila baraka sio kitu.

Unapobariki uanze nami
Mawazo, maneno yajae baraka
Matendo yangu yakiri baraka
Kila baraka nianze mimi.

we give praise and worship, we give thanks.

For good has come out of Kawangware.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

#20BobSanaa

  With a heavy heart, having cried my heart out, I let go. Of these dear books with many a memory. This to support my book launches. Gladden, though, for they are on offer for as low as Kshs 20 – 20bob (exclusive of delivery costs): 1.        Betrayal in The City 320 2.        Paper Doll 320 3.        Royal Scandals 320 4.        Poems from East Africa 320 5.        Mimba Ingali Mimba 220 6.        Half a Day and Other Stories 120 7.        Kitumbua Kimeingia Mchanga 320 8.        Walenisi 420 9.        Horn of My Love 220 10.    Mayai Waziri wa Maradhi 120 11.    Brisinger 520 12.    Cabal 320 13.    The Patriot Game 320 14.    The Resurre...
Post a Comment
Read more

Age, Dreams, Love, Death

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETIbcEdyVfk The sweet child, golden her smile Death of innocence, led to her being Love was had, made and shaped – furiously Age was come, the world and the home – to enrich. The sweet child, golden her smile Cuddly and warm is she, ‘cept when called to dine She would rather play, not away her dolls – file Tantrums she is, tantrums she does, this sweet child of mine. Age is catching up Dreams are drying up Love withers away Death rides on the highway. Dreams, the essence of all that is A business to start, a sweet one to kiss If killed, sharp is the cobra’s hiss The daring shoot the star, can’t – the moon – miss. The infant wonders, clear eyes wanders Age trickles, drips and drops to the sea There is still no dreaming of what could be Love, Death – each Being flounders. Age is catching up Dreams are drying up Love withers away Death rides on the highway. Love, some claim He and She - The First Words, deeds, faith, tr...
Post a Comment
Read more

My Once-Molly (Political versus Business Ethics),

  Dear Molly. How are you? As always, I hope you are well. You know, there is something about you, something that made me inspire for better. Was it that rich smokers’ laughter of yours? The daring twinkle that flashed in your eyes when you were angry? The tight curl in your lips when you were about to lash out? Anyway, Molly, I continue with my business training. I am now thinking of business as warfare – the honourable kind of warfare; chivalry, observing the rules… not the Machiavellian 48-Laws-of-Power warfare where there is no honour, but only winning. Politics of deceit, our president calls it. Well, these past couple of days have been chilly… a precursor to June’s biting cold? Anyway, I am more often sad than happy during the cold months of June and July. I totally blame this on Sam Kahiga’s short story, ‘The Last Breath’ – if my memory serves me right. Off the ‘Encounters from Africa’ anthology. There is a way he made June and July sad. Pretty much like you wouldn’t tai...
Post a Comment
Read more