Hudson's autobiography

I have been so busy this past week that I had no chance to write of post the blog entries. I’ll try to catch up over the next couple of days.

Many of you support our work by helping various young people go to school.
This was sent to many by Marie, our Kenya Liaison
KEEF INFOMERCIAL

The situation in Kenya is not good. The August harvest of maize was significantly reduced due to poor weather and the fact that many farmers could not afford fertilizer when they planted. The cost of food has risen three fold and many children will not only lack school fees they will go hungry.

After reading the following I hope all of you understand how much your support means to the Kenyan students.

Autobiography

Born 24 years ago, Hudson Wereh Shiraku are the names I was assigned. Wereh is my father’s - so they said, but he declined responsibility. Being only sixteen, mum could not get a job as she had dropped out of school in standard four – this was because grandpa did not value educating a girl-child. It was also said that am not the first born as I think; at fourteen, mom conceived and aborted a baby girl. Given her status; age and level of education, mother could not take care of us - herself and I.
One day, it is said, she set off with me and went to Kakamega town. Here, she left me on the street and went to stay with a relative for six months. She then went back home and when asked where I was, she said I was dead and buried. – She hoped I’d either die or land in some good custody. She feared seeing me suffer. So I became ‘past tense’ in these people’s mind. Fortunately, while strolling in town, a neighbor recognized me playing amongst my fellow street kids. He took me back home and life continued as normal with no step being taken against her.

On another occasion, she wanted to kill me and commit suicide but her plot was foiled. She wanted us to die like rats do after taking poison. It was at this point that an aunt took me. That’s her sister. Having lost face, Mum left, never to be seen again. I remained at my relative’s. I joined a local primary school and coupled as a herd’s boy. Despite my irregular visits to school, I can hardly remember missing among the top five. It was because of this that they became insecure – it is said that here that if you stay with a child full of problems, he/she takes blessings from your children. They believed this because their own children were not performing well in spite of having all the literature. They had to act and fast enough to salvage the situation; I was thrown out of the home.
I landed at my paternal uncle’s who was equally hostile but compelled to accommodate by the fact that he was the only son in the home and was the one charged with the responsibility of taking care of my mother plus her luggage – me. In fact he’s the one to blame for my mother’s waywardness. Here, they were too poor to own a cow but this did not mean no working for me, many are the times I went to tend crops while my cousins ‘ate books’ but this did not deter me from showing them dust at school.
In standard eight’s KCSE; I missed by only nine points to scoop all the eighty four points. But another boy who got 72 pts got 555/700 against my 545/700; he had more marks than me while I beat him with points. Up to now we haven’t agreed who was really number one. We had two number ones, so we agreed. I thank God for this situation for it is the one that landed me at ACCES. When he went to seek a scholarship, this other boy -Edwin, whom I owe a lot, had trouble telling Nora exactly what his position was. So he had to talk about one leading in points and the other in marks. Nora asked if I had managed to go to secondary school – because only one student from a rich background at my primary school had managed to, and the next thing is, we were at the gate the following day at 6am – having ridden on one bike for 20Km. At the gate, we had to cheat our way in because the gate keepers had been instructed to let in only college students. The next thing I remember is going to Shikunga High School by myself to ask for a chance to school there, - I had been called to a provincial school but no one was willing to take me there.
One year after other students of my class had joined secondary; I also did the same after acquiring some skills as a barber. (I have one year experience.) At this point I had acquired some autonomy and therefore I moved to another relative who seemed more understanding - during the holidays this is where I could go. They only gave me a place to sleep and for the other stuff I depended on the little money I saved from my pocket money – this was partly because of the wayward notion that Mzungus give lots of money to people. These problems did not discourage me from performing well but rather they motivated me.
I qualified to join university. My friend – Edwin fell out with ACCES and is now languishing in the village, I thank God I made it this far.
At this point people started appreciating me and pretended to be friends, but when grandpa was dying, he partitioned a piece of land for me, uncle was not ready to see me posses it. He decided to go against grandpa’s dying wish for his selfish interest. This was like an eye opener to me. I have tried on several occasions to locate my father but all my efforts have been thwarted by his reluctance to see me. As I say now, I’ve never set eyes on him. After staying in darkness with regards to my mom’s whereabouts for all this time, I recently learnt that she’s actually here - in Nairobi.
I managed to locate her and she’s not doing well. She is sick. She is living in some slum here called Kibera where she has found solace in illicit brews. I forgave her when I found her and am trying to help her and I forgot all to do with my father.
Right now, am staying by myself, - during the holiday I rent a room in Kakamega where I stay doing some odd jobs. Am really focused on my future and am planning well for it.

Hudson

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH KENYA A FEW COMMENTS.

Luhya (the tribe Hudson belongs to) children belong to the father which is why his paternal uncle was forced to take him in.

I first met Hudson when he came to the ACCES office with Edwin Endoshi looking for help to go to high school. Both boys had been out of school for a year because of lack of fees. ACCES did not take high school students at the time so Nora Harrison sponsored the two through the Unitarian Church.
I remember well when Hudson received his marks from the KCSE exams which determine if you will go on to University as a government sponsored student or have to find your way privately. Hudson had the required grade B but he lacked one mark! He was devastated.
Fortunately the universities lowered the requirement and he was admitted to Environmental Sciences. Throughout his term at Kenyatta University he has been sponsored by the Wilsons though KEEF.

Hudson and my mother have a special bond – I gave him one of my late father’s watches when he was in high school and he wrote a lovely letter to my Mom to thank her. He never misses an opportunity to ask about the health of “granny”. She in turn sends him sox and other necessary items!

It is getting close to the time that fees will be needed for students in High School. The Kenya school year starts in January.If you have not already sent your donation please try to do so soon as we like to be frugal and send only one money transfer. Cheques should be made payable to KEEF and sent to Margaret KlesnerSuite 9042135 Argyle AvenueWest Vancouver, B.C. V7V 1A5

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.


Marie