This past week I have thought a lot about Bernard Otsieno - a primary school teacher at Mumias Central Primary School. It so happens Bernard was my mum's student 'n' years ago when she had moved to shaggs to create a place we could call home aka 'litaala'. Bernard's family is from Marachi (Busia County). His family bought land in Shibinga which was how he ended up as my mum's student.
Fast forward...This lad has fee issues and moves from Bulimbo Primary to Mumias Central Primary at the beginning of class seven. At Central, he hitches rides on trucks each day from Harambee Market where his mum & step dad live. In his penultimate year he decides this is not sustainable as kids get to school early & leave late. The lad then decides to seek for an abode in the school dining hall - without permission. He cannot partake of the lunch & 4 O'clock tea served by the school because his mum has not paid for it...so scavenges from his mates. In the evenings - after prep - he knocks on teachers' doors asking for left over food then returns to sleep in the dining hall on a mattress he smuggled from home - without a blanket or bedsheet. (Mumias is not exactly the desert so he is against the elements). In the morning the lad is in class...determined to learn.
One fateful day, the lad knocks on Mr Otsieno's door and asks the Mrs for some left over food. Mr & Mrs Otsieno who have a kid in the same class as the lad discuss among themselves. They had heard that there was a 'poor' student living in the dining hall. (I am not sure whether the Otsienos are Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, Agnostics or Atheists - 'saved', practicing or lapsed.) They get an epiphany and decide this kid cannot go back to his diggz in the dining hall. Instead, they make space for him in their home where he has breakfast and dinner plus a bed & a study-mate. The headteacher also decrees that henceforth the lad should have lunch & tea 'on the house' together with the other students without having to pay. In the year the lad lives with the Otsienos, his mother visits thrice and his step father never comes to claim the lad. This does not concern the Otsienos much as the lad is polite, humble & works hard at school. They don't even bother to ask his clan which is a big thing in Mumias.
Early in the week, I am chatting with Robert of Standard Media Group & he tells me about this kid who scored 405 points at his KCPE. Unfortunately, the kid doesn't fit my bill on the basis of gender & constituency. I however ask Robert to send an SMS to 20042 to confirm which school the kid has been admitted to as I do some sleuthing through my friend Constance knowing full well my set requirements. One thing leads to another and I learn that the lad's mother worked for my dad for 8 years in the 90's. I ask my siblings if they remembered her. Hillary, Pauline & Amunga remember her well enough, while Kenneth only vaguely. Sa Elon doesn't recall as too much time has passed. Mum agrees to meet the lad & his mum although she cautions that I have too much on my plate already...I call the Kid and I am impressed with his confidence and command of the Queen's tongue. He wants to be a Surgeon although I wish he had said a Public Financial Management Specialist.
On Friday - as part of the vetting - my mum visits Mr Otsieno at Mumias Central. Mum is amused that Mr Otsieno keeps referring respectfully to her as "Mwalimu" - many years after her retirement. I guess teachers put the fear of God in students... a fear they never quite get over. She chats with another teacher at the school Ms Emily Osundwa -
my kinswoman - to corroborate the information.
Bingo! Thanks to Bernard - who believed in the lad and gave him a home when he needed one - this kid is my choice for 2016. On Wednesday he joins other kids at my dad's alma mater. I am certain my dad would be happy. This one is for him....
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