Bits of the Gospel

There is a lot of talk on the importance of education for all. The Kenyan government took up an ambitious task of educating its populace in the year 2003. President Kibaki had been voted overwhelmingly even because he had promised free primary and secondary education for all. The announcement that education would be free was received with mixed reactions. Some people felt that it was a project bound to flop. Others applauded the move and even went ahead to pledge support. Years after that enthusiastic reception, we have many children out of school. Reason. Simple. You can not provide education without first of all providing the other basic needs. Mwandiki is an orphan. He is the typical case of the poor of this country. He has no one and nobody at all. He has been in the streets of Meru town for several years. When he showed up in a children's home, he was accepted on condition that he would follow the rules and regulations of the centre. Having lived free and loose with the sky as...

The media houses are constantly talking about the Kenyan situation as it unfolds. The story of the destruction of Mau forest and the consequence drying of rivers has been around for sometimes. Before that came the painful truth that Kenya is a thirsty country because of lack of rains. Kenyans are a hungry people because of failure of rains for about three seasons in a row. We are a people faced with every possible challenge. Without forgetting that the Cabinet, led by the two principals has already decided to push the errant MPs to accepting the Special Local Tribunal by going to a much lower choice [may be not a choice at all] that of TJRC. Kenyans are now getting used to the reality that after one crisis another is coming. If we focus on solving the problems of the North Eastern Province and other dry areas in Kenya, some unpatriotic fellows will be busy cutting forest cover in the Rift Valley, Mount Kenya, or other water catchment area. Well, simply reducing the grain basket of this...

Today my pupils are doing their final duties at school. Tomorrow they will live. It is the beginning of August Holiday. Eighty four of them will be sitting for the National Exam [ KCPE ] next term. The rest will be spending their third term [about 9 weeks] revising and revisiting whatever they have studied in the last two terms. They will be expected to attain the minimum of 250 Marks out of the possible 500 marks in order to be promoted to the next class. Today I have seen relaxation in the eyes of the teachers. I have seen tension dissolve slowly in the actions of these pupils. There is chatting and giggling all over as the children end their term. Yet, these children and their teachers are part of the Kenya bearing the burden of lack of water, food crisis, power rationing, environmental degradation and unnecessary political bickering just to mention but a few problems. These children full of energy and will to build a bright future are leaving school today for a three-week holiday w...

Sometimes I wonder how, how to give without the feeling, the dreaded feeling of emptiness, the terrible feeling of loss. I wonder how not to lose, while I give truly. I know it's more blessed to give, to give than to receive. But I still wonder how to give, I ponder a lot on this I reflect deeply on giving so, I have observed the act. If you give and then, and then your hearts regrets the action, then your heart will feel, empty, empty like your hand. When you give, let your heart give, give to avoid regrets.

If you do not feel good, good, as in really proud, that you are dearly loved; then, ask no one why. you alone have the answer. If you wish to get that answer, answers, very satisfying responses. then ask yourself why, because it's only your eye, that can see clearly why. Certainly it's not the fault, of the one who loves you! You can trace the fault, only in you, the one loved. Yes, you are the cause of it. By the way, we all are loved, cherished, adored and elevated, by the Supreme God, the God of Jesus Christ. Yet we do not always feel that. Look inside!

For a Kenyan who lives outside Kenya, the only news one is likely to get are those filtered by the journalists and foreign diplomats. That is the reality. For those living in Kenya, there are a little bit more genuine sources, less biased and probably less selective. Now, a renown political analysts Mutahi Ngonyi has consistently helped us Kenyans to look at the Kenyan situation, not as an hopeless one but as a necessary passage in the making of a new Kenya. I am a priest and one of my duties is to become a listening presence to my people so that I may relay their sensations and desires to God from their own point of view. This is to say commenting on the situation of Kenya is obviously the fruit of this ardent listening and reflection on my part. I would like therefore, to beg the indulgence of the professional political analysts, if not their forgiveness, before I dare even to begin. The political instability seen in this country since the December 2007 elections is clearly a cha...

We are in the first week of August. I am busy in the computer room preparing an IT exam for my class. Then comes Aun and Ronnie [not their real names]. They want my attention immediately because, apparently, their problem can't wait. 'Alright, tell me something folks,' I start the conversation after saving my work and sitting down near them. 'We need your help,' Aun starts. 'I was talking to Ronnie about my own fears for the imminent computer applications exam and coincidentally he too had the same fears. We thought of coming to see you immediatelly. We felt you may help in calming down the waters!' From the look of things, the two girls are serious. I study their faces to make sure that I am not simply being too linient. 'Ok. I see your worry. How may I help you then?' 'I think that you don't need our help there,' comes Ronnie. 'We seriously feel that we will fail this exam terribly,' adds Aun. 'Am I right to say that you jus...