ONE FOR THE AGES

MASHUJAA DAY CHRONICLES

We're visiting Wamo Care Academy; A children's home in Kawangware area, Nairobi. We're under the ELP (Equity Leaders Program) banner. Time of arrival is 1050hrs, give or take a few minutes. We're welcomed by one of the few teachers(male) available. The kid's look in awe as we get in. Probably they haven't seen this huge a crowd in a while at their haven. Nonetheless, we walk in. A few murmurs here and there amongst us. This is a new environment. Personally, I don't know how to act. 

The few donations we brought along are placed at a corridor in one of the corners of the two storey building which the close to a hundred and fifty kids call home.

A few of us squeeze into a first floor office, probably the headmaster's or director's. He gives us a brief overview of the institution and asks us to feel at home. My friend Sam and I proceed to be given a room by room walk by the head master. There's an acute desk shortage in the classrooms. For instance, in grade five, which has 23 students, there are only five desks. The dormitories are well maintained, in as much as the beds are shared. The general infrastructure is in its nascent stage. But going by the fact that this centre is not funded by any steady revenue source, you can't help but give all the credit.

At 1100hrs, the girls get themselves busy in the kitchen. A few onions, tomatoes and cabbages are beinged chopped. Others begin to knead the wheat flour into a dough. You all know what's being prepared for lunch-the Kenyan household favourite; chapati. Male folk are splitting firewood while others, me included, are fetching water from the borehole and filling all cans and small tanks in sight. It's the least we can do. Thereafter, fun and games as the food cooks. Girls play the old-age famous 'kati'. A few boys with obviously no regard for masculinity join in. Some of us look in jest. We look for a football and begin juggling in rounds as we wait for the food. 

For lack of a better word, groundshakers are brought and music is connected. Buana people know how to dance in this kanairo! There's this group, Wamo dancers, it has four masculine guys and man, don't they have passion in this dancing art! Some of the stunts they pull midway in their moves scare the hell out of me. I tend to think some of them break a few bones but no, they all look fine through to the end. Not even a wince of the slighest pain is displayed! Talent or hobby, they outdo themselves!

Then the popular 'Vaida' song is played. The way shoulders and limbs are shaken is breathtaking. Almost thought the entire group is Luhya😂. Outright good vibes!

At about 1500hrs, we group up for lunch. I pair up with this small kid, probably 5 or 6 years old. His name is Manu, as he tells me. He has a certain calm demeanor that makes me fall in instant love with him. His eyes are an outright emission of rays and glimmers of hope. I love that for him. I think I also need that for myself. The belief that everything will eventually be okay. Anyway...

We're served two platefuls of the almost saltless rice, cabbage, waru and meat. Manu begins devouring into it bare hands, maybe he's used to that. Anybody could see he has really been waiting for that food which he however doesn't finish in the end. As soon as he's full, he scampers away to play with his mates. Again, I love that for him. Childhood and the 'carefree-ness' that comes along with it looks exhilarating. I miss it. Adulthood finds a way of taking all that away. 

The day is now coming to a close. We have stayed with the kids and talked to them. We have showed them how life can be a bliss when you excel in your academics. We hope they'll take our word for it. They need to. 

Its now 1800hours and the dark is starting to creep in. Our coordinators-Osundwa and Josiah-give us a chance at one final jam session. We don't disappoint. One for the ages indeed! We don't want the day to end. The fun with the kids is too much. But we have to give way. And at the end of it all, we hop into our citi hoppa buses hoping that we each inspired a soul or two. Again, one for the ages indeed!

@oiraqaleb inc.

0745325515