SEMA NISEME

This Too Shall Pass

This too shall pass is one quote thats got me through a lot of tough times. No matter what’s going on in your life, no matter where you are and how horrid it seems - It too shall pass.

Unfortunately I can’t say how long it will take but the one thing you shouldn’t do when going through a tough patch is lock yourself up and stop living your life. Spend time with your friends, have a good ol’ cry if you want to , down a few drinks if you’re that way inclined and if like me you love to dance get those those dancing shoes on and fukuza the uzee……

I know its easier said than done- I’ve been through a few tough patches myself thinking, this is too darn hard, too painful but you know what? It passes or at least it fades. In all honesty, what’s the point of dwelling on a problem? If there is something you can do to solve it then do it. If there is nothing you can do about it, then accept the situation as it is and move on.

So, If you’re having a rough day take a few minutes, pause, and know that it too shall pass.

High Heels

I’m not one of those girls that wears heels. Don’t get me wrong- I would love too but it just hurts so much and walking in them is a nightmare. I love the way they look and I see all those fashionable women in magazines and in clubs looking gorgeous with their heels and I think to myself I would love to look that good. Can anyone out there tell me how they do it? If you’re a heel wearer how do you do it?

I thought maybe its an acquired skill and for a few weeks wore them faithfully in the hope that it got easier but nooooo - It just got more painful. I guess if I had a car to whiz around in; then it wouldn’t be so bad but for now I’ve got to walk everywhere in my comfy sneakers. If I have to wear heels at work then I pull them out of my bottom drawer where a keep a few pairs. Ideally, I want to be able to look good while dashing around this lovely city ( not looking silly in my office gear and sneakers.)

Girls, if you have any suggestions on how I can painlessly pull off the high heels look (I’ve tried those gel paddings - they DON’T help). Let me know….

Sadly - Not yet UHURU  

By Njeri maina www.semaniseme.com

 
Decades ago our freedom fighters who gave up their lives and in whose shadow we stand today signed the declaration of our independence – the republic of Kenya was born. This momentous decree came as a great beacon of hope to millions of Kenyans who had been seared in the flames of colonial injustice. It came like a cool glass of water at the end of a long desert trek.

But almost 50 years later the ordinary Mwananchi is not free. Almost 5o years later the ordinary mwananchi is crippled by the manacles of a man eat man society. Almost 5o years later mwananchi lives on an lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. Almost 50 years later ordinary mwananci is not free.

When our freedom fighters united as Kenyans, fought for our independence and signed the declaration of independence, they were signing that every Kenyan shall reap the benefits. A promise to all Kenyans was made regardless of tribe, social standing or political affiliations, the guarantee of infallible right of life, peace, love and unity.

It is very obvious today that our government has failed on this promise as far as the ordinary mwananchi’s basic human rights are concerned. The ordinary mwananchi has received a raw deal. But we refuse to believe there is no hope, we refuse to believe that there is no love, we refuse to believe that there is no unity, we refuse to believe there is no security of justice. Yes, we refuse to believe that the common mwananchi is meant to exist and not live. Yes, the common man has a voice, the Voice Of Kenyans (V.O.K).

We demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We want our politicians to know of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of political drama or parochial politics. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to make real the promises of freedom. Now is the time to make real the security of justice. Now is the time to lift our beloved nation from the quick sands of tribal injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.

My dear Kenyans, let us remember, in the process of gaining our freedom we must not be involved in evil deeds. Let us not drink from the cup of bitterness and hatred served to us by our evil politicians who behind closed doors wine and dine together but preach hatred in public to divide and rule us.

We must always pursue our freedom with dignity and discipline. We must not let our peaceful protest degenerate into physical and unreasonable violence. God forbid that we should have a repeat of the hatred and violence witnessed after the last general elections.

Mwananchi yes, together we can.

Note: This debate carries on visit www.semaniseme.com/blogs

Kenya is not all about Kibaki,  Kalonzo, Raila, Karua nor is it about all the other 210+ waheshimiwas. It is also about Mary Anyango who lost her life as relatives struggled to transfer her form Siaya to Kenyatta hospital for emergency medical attention using public transport because there was no ambulance available at the local hospital. Mheshimiwa  Raila and Kalonzo instead of wrangling about whose package is whose consider taking 1% pay reduction which is enough to buy a few ambulances.

Kenya is about Amos a student at Maseno University who waits for his students loan divides it into two, half for his family starving in Lango location and half to buy himself  Uji and Mandazi  to see him through the academic year. Yes, it is about  8 year old Aisha in Kilifi who lost his Mum and now has to fetch water for neighbours and local businesses for  a fee to feed her 4 younger siblings.

Kenya does not belong to the big horticultural farms in Juja and elsewhere who takes it upon themselves to re-direct the water leaving Nekesa in Muchatha slums to make do with malaria infested drainage water running through the slum from Jomokenyatta university.

It is also about  7 year old Njoroge and 8 year old Kiprono who have lived as neighbours all their lives, spoke the same language, occasionally shared their beds, clothes and lunch. But all that changed in December 2007 when Njoroge’s family was burnt while sleeping and the reason Njoroge survived was because he had spent the night at Kiprono’s. Kip was not lucky either for a few days later his family all perished in what looked like a targeted attack because they belonged to the ‘wrong tribe’. From their camp site all Njoroge and Kiprono ask of you Mheshimiwa is to provide a light at the end of the tunnel - some Peace, Love and Unity.

Mheshimiwa all Kamau asks from his humble home in the beautiful slopes of the Aberdare’s is a working health centre so his ganglion ridden wound that threatens his life can be attended to.

 Karua next time you think of destabilising the country because a few people were appointed without your prior knowledge or approval think about the orphans Wacera and her 4 siblings living in Kutus whose rich uncle took the only piece of land their late father left them. They wish they could fight back but without any legal representation they can only watch.

Raila don’t destabilise our country because apparently your pay package looks something like Kalonzo’s. Instead think about the statistics that show an extremely high number of Kenyan are unemployed and live on less than a dollar a day.

Atieno’s dream is not to drive a posh car, neither is it living in leafy Muthaiga nor joining Daystar university. Her dream is simple that someone should take away her pain. Mheshimiwa let me give you a little background. 10 year old Atieno lost her parents to HIV related diseases so lives with her Uncle, Auntie, 5 cousins and 3 of her younger siblings in a single room which they are proud to call home for lack of a better choice. Their toilet happens to be the drainage passing outside their home as is other residents of Kibera, but that is not  Atieno’s pain. Uncle Onyango has been sexually abusing poor Atieno for the last six months and rumours has it that he is HIV positive.

Mr president you have  Lucy, Odinga lovely Ida is there for you, Kalonzo give thanks for Pauline and all other beloved waheshimiwas give thanks for your stable families. Stop mourning about issues that are driven by Pathetic parochial politics but endeavour to make our lovely country a habitable and safe place for Atieno who is dying from syphilis and AIDS passed on by her unrepentant uncle. What Life line can you offer Atieno Mheshimiwa?

It is also about Mwema a 5 year old who do not understand why mama is not coming home. What he does not know is that mama could not take it anymore and her lifeless body was found in her room last Tuesday. Mama a form four leaver toiled in the farm day in day out. If only the water had reached her area and not been diverted to the horticultural farms maybe the land would have been more productive not to make her rich but to feed her 80 year old invalid  mother and her young son. Most of all it would have given her hope to face another day. Mheshimiwa does Mwema dare to dream of a brighter future?

Kenyans have been to Pastor Wanjiru’s , Muiru’s, Holy family and name it church. Paid our tithe in the hope that tomorrow  brings better tidings. We have cried, cried or selves to bed and our eyes dry. Wipe our tears Saitoti, give me hope Uhuru. Yes all you need to do is be a dutiful and accountable servant of your people the beloved people of Kenya that is all we ask.

Mheshimiwa ensure that your constituents have the basic FOOD, SHELTER, WATER and accessible HEALTHCARE. Most of all PEACE, LOVE and UNITY.

Ni mimi wenu,

Njeri Maina

When I was young, I had big dreams.
I wanted to be an airline hostess, a TV presenter, Carolyn Spencer from the Bold & the Beautiful - name it, I wanted to be it. Ok, I didn’t want to be a doctor or nurse because I couldn’t stand the sight of blood (still can’t as it goes) but anything else, I could be. I was going to be rich, live in this huge castle with servants attending to my every need. Even more importantly, I would have this handsome, rich, successful husband who loved me more than anything in the world. A playboy who all the girls wanted but one look at me would tame him and he would change his ways and live the rest of his life pleasing and loving only me.
I guess I was influenced a lot by television and the movies and the countless number of Mills & Boon books that I read voraciously - under my text books, covered in newspaper – as my history teacher droned on about the 2nd World War.
Either way, I believed in myself. I believed I could do anything and every thing I wanted. Nothing was going to stop me or stand in my way. Forget the Stars, I was shooting straight for the Sun.

Then I grew up.
I discovered that I couldn’t be an air hostess (too short), a TV presenter (had a face for radio), Carolyn Spencer (hahaha). I couldn’t even change my feelings towards blood and so could not try my hand at being a doctor or nurse. Even worse, I discovered that there was no such thing as a handsome, rich, successful playboy. None anyway who would be interested in me. There were no castles in the real world and money didn’t grow on trees – it had all been a fantasy!!
Adult life sucked. Gone was the bright techno-colour, life had been in my youth, I now saw that everything was drab and grey and grotty.

It has been a while and I am still trying to make the adjustment.
I still get seduced by the fantasies of my youth – I date men who start off liking me but then don’t, I work at jobs that promise me potential for growth but end up stifling my creativity, I buy clothes that look good on the models but make my ass look too big, it’s a constant struggle.
I am beginning to question why I even try.