0 Tamu Mdomoni

Tamu Mdomoni * Sweetness in the mouth
Raha Moyoni * happiness in the heart
Shillingi Mkononi * Shillings in the hand

Something I came across today at Mubins (one of the best in Mombasa for Nyama choma/grilled meat/mishkaki) :)

2 Kiosk

I was born by the name Atich
Christianized and called Grace
My husband Njoroge
Was called John
We were happy

Obtained a license for setting up a kiosk
Freshi was its name
Chai, chevro, sodas and sweets
Were just a few things we sold
We were happy

A girl,
Followed by a boy
I gave birth to
Our customers loved them
We were happy

My children began school
Enjoyed it they immensely
Accessories they also needed
We worked long to keep up their demands
We were still happy

Now Kapuki and Wajaro are in university
My husband and I have tired ourselves
Just four more years of struggle
The children will soon be on their feet
We are still happy

My daughter dreams,
Of becoming a teacher
She yearns
To train future leaders
My son dreams,
Of becoming a doctor,
Opening his clinic
Is his aspiration

The media spreads disturbing images
Of a clash with a shop owner and kiosk
Awareness is raised
All kiosks are automatically termed bad
We try to be happy

Now we must be careful
For we are under prying eyes
We live in fear
Of being incapable to fulfill the dreams of our dear ones
We struggle to be happy

Those askaris, they harass us
Do they not understand?
This is not a crime
It is the only form of living we have known
It is difficult to be happy

The sun rises
what a beautiful day
We go to work
But there is no work
We are no longer happy

They have come,
With their pangas and bulldozers
Destroyed our kiosk
Destroyed our life
We are sad

My son cannot complete his studies
Neither can my daughter
They have dropped out
And instead are doing odd jobs

We sit here on Mama Ngina Street,
Selling what we have at home,
Whilst the bruises from the beatings
Are still visible,
We are torn apart

0 Tonight's sky from Mombasa

6 Madaraka day

I was going through my picture archives, and came across this photo.It was taken in February 2004, at the House of Hope. It is a school in Mtwapa a few kilometers north of Mombasa which provides education for 300 children from poor families.

In 2004 I went there with a group whose aim is to help the less fortunate. The group organised a fun day for them and provided them with a few necessities such as school books, pens etc. All the children were so lovely. They organised a play for us in swahili which was excellent. What was even more appealing was the sound effects they created using their voices, one particulary of note was of the creaking door.One of the teachers read us some poetry and finally they sang traditional songs and performed a few dances. lol.

Lunch was then served. A lady from the US told me that in her time that she spent there, she had not seen them drink milk. The children would normally get water and maharagwe (red beans) daily. It was really sad.

Anyways today is Madaraka day! The first National holiday of Kenya. In 1963 today was the first time the flag was raised and the anthem recited. This is the day when the heroes like Tom Mboya, Dedan Kimathi, Jomo Kenyatta, Harry Thuku and other Mau Mau freedom fighters struggled against the chains of colonialism. Today is the day to recall the lives that were lost and the sacrifices that were made, so that Kenya could be free.