I woke up earlier than usual to catch the Citi Hopa bus that was taking us to Mathare North 4B for a clean-up and door-to-door outreach organized by UON-C.U. As usual, while in the vehicle, I did not chat much; I simply enjoyed the ride while contemplating different issues about life.
Out of the gate, past Kabete, Spring Valley, Westlands, and Parklands, I sensed the importance of being ultra-rich from the type of housing structures put in place. Past Ngara Road, I felt that people in that area could be fairly wealthy. In Park Road and Pangani areas, life seemed okay.
The bus finally stopped at the gate of Outreach Ministry in Mathare. I remembered that my late grandpa had spent part of his life somewhere around there, and I had visited him in 2001 after he had refused to leave that place (alikuwa hardcore). We were given directions and started our work by clearing trenches, motivating students, and interacting with the wenyeji.
What surprised me most was the poor sanitation in that place — food being cooked along dirty paths, no toilets or very few toilets that were charged, houses (I think I should not even call them houses, but structures), congestion, chang’aa, and many other problems. Finally, we held an open crusade and left.
As we were coming back to campus, I asked myself several questions:
Is life not hopeless among Mathare residents?
If the people living in the posh places I had seen in the morning were brought to Mathare, and those from Mathare taken to the posh places, how would Mathare and the posh places look after some years?
If one had a village home and land, what would they go looking for in Mathare?
Do I remember to give thanks to God for the life I am living and pray?
I think it is important to orient your child toward what you would wish them to become. What do you say?
Where was the government when these slums were coming up?
I felt disheartened by that life and realized that we are the ones meant to bring change.
All the same, the experience taught me to appreciate life because there are people living in very bad conditions.
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