MASAA NI YA MUTUTHO

Gilbert Wafula Otieno

MASAA NI YA MUTUTHO
Weita nimeingia, ili nipate tulia,
Muda umeshatimia, mwafaka wa kubugia,
Jegi mbili nitilia, na mziki fungulia,
Masaa ni ya Mututho, fungua hiyo milango.

Leo mimi natulia, pombe sije nilalia,
Kesho nitaraukia, nisiwe wa kusinzia,
Nizose na hisia, nibaki kujilizia,
Masaa ni ya Mututho, fungua hiyo milango.

Chupa mbili kwa Rukia, mimi hapa ‘talipia,
Pesa zilizosalia, hizo nimekwachia,
Nyama utanunulia, ifurahi familia,
Masaa ni ya Mututho, fungua hiyo milango.

Masaa nayo yakimbia, raha sijafikia,
Niongeze hizo bia, deni nitamalizia,
Nisiwe wa kujutia, nikiivunja sheria,
Masaa ni ya Mututho, fungua hiyo milango.

Mshahara ‘meingia, kwenye benki ‘takimbia,
Apewe Taska pia, juzi aliniachia,
Wewe nawe vumilia, kesho nitakurushia,
Masaa ni ya Mututho, fungua hiyo milango.

Kuro amenikwamia, hapa nitasimulia,
Anataka mia mia, baika kunivulia,
Anazidi nizushia, yeye anafaidia,
Masaa ni ya Mututho, fungua hiyo milango.

Mke nimemkimbia, makonde anirushia,
Chakula anajilia, nami kunimalizia,
Kibeti kuniwachia, pesa amejitwalia,
Masaa ni ya Mututho, fungua hiyo milango.

Kama si mama ntilia, mlowe kufatilia,
‘ngekuwa kiangalia, hii pombe ‘kijinywia,
Mtura ninalalia, huku najitapikia,
Masaa ni ya Mututho, fungua hiyo milango.

Beti tisa nakwama, nyumbani kukimbilia,
Saa tano ‘metimia, giza nalo kuingia,
Sitaki kiruka njia, mke wangu achukia,
Masaa si ya Mututho, fungeni hiyo milango.

GILBERT WAFULA OTIENO
“mkosa kabila”
MMUST, Kakamega.

The Burial of an alcoholic in Western Kenya By Gilbert Otieno

OUR GUEST WRITER TODAY IS GILBERT OTIENO WAFULA..A FAST AND FURIOUS ONE FROM HIM...
An unusual burial took place at Bilibili village, Mukuyuni Division of Bungoma North District, when touts gave the dead local brew, chang’aa. In paying their last respect to their colleague who succumbed to death after a short illness, they also put a five-litre jerrican of chang’aa beside the body in the coffin before burying.

The touts arrived in large numbers in matatus crippling transport services on the busy Webuye-Kitale Road. The convoy stretched for more than two kilometres from the deceased home.

Normal activities came to a standstill as villagers came out to witness the vehicles decorated with twigs snaking their way to the funeral.

The touts, who operate at the Kamukuywa market, made contributions through their chama where some of the money was used to provide ‘human petrol’ (chang’aa) which was in plenty.

They tasked local mama pimas (women who brew alcohol) to ensure everyone was sufficiently supplied with the brew and the women did not disappoint, knowing the touts are their most loyal customers.

On reaching the compound, they alighted from their vehicles and it was evident they were drunk. Their wailing broke the sombre mood interrupting the pastor who was delivering the sermon.

The mourning was well rehearsed to convey their feelings. While some threw themselves on the ground, others tore their clothes, run through the compound singing dirges and praising the dead.

Alcohol was taken in good measure oblivious of the strict Mututho laws and by noon, everyone was tipsy. One of the tout’s leaders hijacked the ceremony from the African Devine Church pastor, who was making his speech before the dead could be laid to rest.

"You clergymen don’t know what our brother went through. Go take tea with women in the kitchen," said the red-eyed leader as he sipped chang’aa from a gorogoro (tin).

They took over the ceremony with each tout getting a chance to eulogise the deceased until 6pm, leaving the church leaders in shock. The church leaders had planned to conclude the ceremony by 2pm but they could do nothing to salvage the situation.

"Wacha tumzike na hii chang’aa akunywe kwenye safari yake kuelekea mbinguni, kwani aliipenda sana (let us bury him with chang’aa. He can take it on his way to heaven because he adored it)," said their leader adding that this was to appease his spirits as he was brotherly in drinking dens.

The deceased’s parents hold senior positions in the church. Villagers say he was unique and the black sheep in his family. He was the only one in the family who took alcohol.

A week after the funeral, the compound still smells of alcohol and human waste as the touts soiled the place recklessly in the name of paying tribute to emboko ya Kitere (the lion of Kitere) as he was widely known.

Cancer or no cancer we are still soldiering strong, say survivors

Cancer or no cancer we are still soldiering strong, say survivors Written by Amugasha Kalengeka 2011-07-12 20:08:00 Read 584 Times Medical service Minister Professor Anyang’ Nyongo, a fiery cancer activist, Tuesday officially opened the Africa Cancer Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya. Graced by a host of dignitaries, cancer survivors and their families, the launch of an African Cancer foundation reflected a message of hope in the middle of pain, challenges and despair associated with the disease that kills about 50 people a day in Kenya. Margaret Oluka, grandmother of the youngest cancer survivor in Kenya -Alexandra Ajoy tells a story of family battling out with leukemia –the cancer of blood. Alexandra fondly known by the family as Alexis was diagnosed with the lethal disease in December 2010 at age 3. Having no state of art facility in the country to handle her case, Alexandra was quickly ferried to Akolo Speciality hospital in India for a bone marrow transplant where she spent 6 months fighting for her life in an ICU. Baby Alexi has been in India bravely fighting Leukemia that was diagnosed in September 2010. Photo/ Courtesy/ Africa Cancer Foundation. But cancer treatment is no bed of roses; Sh 4million was required for the exercise forcing the family to seek support from relatives, friends and well wishers. As fate would have it, the little Lexis suffered organ rejection and she had to be again transferred for stem cell transplant in the United States where she was recuperating till yesterday. According to Oluka,Alexis is now acclimatizing to the new organ with a few problem here and there like high toxicity, lose of hair and walking capability as a result of the steroid and chemotherapy . Alexis came out of the ICU yesterday and she is still upbeat despite suffering from graft verses host symptom and her live on hope that she will survive the attack. The most adored case of resilience is that of the 9 year old Rose Wekesa a.k.a Princes.   The 9 year old is a true cancer victor oozing with umpteenth vigor, brilliance, and steadfastness that is rare of a nine year old. She entertained the gathering with her resounding, strong character and message of her song- I believe.  I believe is a moving, heartrending, story of a little girl battling with cancer. “I believe, I will live to see another…”  It reflects the strong will of someone who would rather not sleep down and wait to die but encourage others to stand up and fight. Battling hair loss from the effects of chemotherapy the visibly jovial Rose does not look like someone dying of cancer. Rose is a flower that cannot be withered; she nurses a dream to be an oncologist to help fellow cancer victims.   Diagnosed of cancer in December last year Rose has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy, and has six more to go. Another survivor Francis Kariuki called for information to be availed on cancer to help early mitigation and create awareness, the need to seek medical guidance from doctors and not to shy away from a second opinion for surety. Mary Onyago 48, the wife to the late Aggrey Ngong’- brother to the Medical Service Minister Peter Anyang Nyong   who also is the vice chair of TJRC, recounted of her fight with breast cancer. An advocate for a culture of annual screening Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 during a routine mammogram. She called for the public to treat cancer victims with great compassion and urged for the corporate society to take part in campaign to perpetuate the cancer message. The battle for cancer has attracted compassion from both survivors and right thinking members of the society. Doris Mayoli founder of Tukuza trust was diagnosed of breast cancer in 2005 and doctors gave her 3 months to live. But Doris won’t just die. She still soldiers on and uses music concerts to collect funds to cater for treatment and care for cancer victim. According to statistics read by Dr. Fatuma Abdalla, said cases of cancer infection in Africa are disturbingly on the rise. She speculates that unless urgent redress is done it could easily increase by 50per cent in 2020. In the battle with cancer various challenges crop up significantly among them lack cancer treatment and care facilities and lack of access to treatment due to chocking poverty levels. In fact, only 15per cent of all Africans can foot the cost of cancer treatment with most developing countries like Kenya lacking adequate trained human resources to help fight the scourge. The foundation launched today (Tuesday), the largest of its kind in Kenyan history, marks a great milestone towards a cancer free society. Amongst those who turned up are Safaricom’s CEO Bob Collymore, former Vice President Moody Awori, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and Ingrid Moroe the  country’s longest cancer’s survivor who has braved it for the last 38 year.

Read more: http://westfm.co.ke/index-page-news-bid-2762.htm#ixzz1RzSQK434