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What good can come out of Kawangware?



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(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.

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