The pride of Ikumbo Secondary is the first class of graduates. This group is incredible! They started their high school studies in 2007 when there were only two unfinished semi-permanent classrooms. As Harambee for All Children worked each year with the community to construct facilities, the students advanced. With their graduation in 2010, the community formed the Ikumbo Education Trust, a body designed to support the continuing education of Ikumbo graduates through a combination of savings and scholarships. In early 2011, 17 students from the inaugural class enrolled in 5 technical colleges around the country. I had the chance to meet most of this group while they were at home in the village following their first term.

First, I have known many of these students now for 4 years and it is incredible to see their growth. They have become mature, intelligent, well-spoken, young men and women. Each student shared their experiences over the past few months in technical college. They talked about coursework, meeting classmates from all over Kenya, and living away from home. Though they experienced challenges with finding housing at the crowded campus hostels, and having to share textbooks for their courses, they also talked about the opportunities these degrees would create for them whether in the village or in the region.

I also had the chance to visit 2 students, Patrick Mbae and Isaac Marete, in their new home at Meru Technical College. Patrick and Isaac proudly showed me around the campus, sharing their experiences halfway through their first year of the Diploma course in Accounting. Both had scored exceptionally well on their first term exams and are well on their way to becoming Certified Public Accountants in the next 2 years. Equally important, they are growing into community leaders. Future Davis’, who will guide future generations of students in Ikumbo through their education.

(L to R): Isaac Marete, Kibara Karambi, Patrick Mbae

(Note: Kibara is Davis' cousin, who attended Igwanjau Secondary and is not a recipient of an HFAC scholarship but is attending the same program)

In addition to the graduates, I also met with their parents and grandparents. In a half-hour meeting they shared their hopes for their children’s future in college. They also voiced concerns about continued funding, not only for the first class but for their children coming up through the Ikumbo school system. In a moment that was incredibly special to me, I had the opportunity to share a printed “yearbook” of the first class of graduates containing photos and profiles of all the students. The parents passed the book around, smiling as they pointed out their kin. At one point, a grandmother likely in her 70’s read the passage in English to the woman sitting next to her. In a group of farmers, most of whom did not have the opportunity to complete even primary school, this was amazing to watch.

The Wedding

September 31, 2011

My whirlwind trip to Kenya is coming to a close. One week after my brother’s wedding in Seattle, WA I was at another brother’s wedding in Kenya. Three days in the village were far too few. Now a relaxing public holiday (Eid al-Fitr) in Nairobi to catch up on some sleep and reflect. Here, in a few parts, are some brief stories from my hectic five day stay in Kenya:

Arrival
Touching down in Kenya was like coming home. Pulling out of the airport I caught the familiar smell of red clay and it was like I hadn’t been gone even a day. It’s amazing how smell has the most vivid association with memories. Of course my driving later on the in the trip would call into question just how strong my memory is, but at that moment I was feeling good to be in my former city.
The first evening was the eve of Davis’ wedding. Davis, Rufus (one of Davis’ groomsmen), and I ran around until midnight getting things in order for the morning. Finally, Davis and I crashed at his new apartment in Nairobi.

Wedding Day
Davis was up at 5am in anticipation. I was up at 6am to drive Davis to the church. Though I was sad to have not been able to spend time with Davis and his wonderful bride Lucy in the months since they met, I had the privilege of sharing a few quite personal moments with the pair throughout the day – the final minutes pre-marriage with the groom, the drive with the couple to their honeymoon hotel, an evening chat with the pair as I dropped off their luggage for their journey to Mombasa. I am very grateful for the alignment of the stars that allowed me to drop into Kenya for the wedding on my way to Zambia.

Davis prepares for the wedding

Lucy arrives

Davis with his groomsmen

The wedding service took place at a church in Nairobi West. The highlight for me was watching Davis and Lucy’s faces throughout the service as they shared beaming smiles and frequent laughs from their overflowing happiness. Lucy looked amazing in her beautiful wedding dress.

Stunning and happy

Though the service included lots of ceremony, particularly involving the couple’s families beyond a traditional American wedding, it still felt quite personal because of the magnetism of Davis and Lucy’s love for each other. Otherwise, the ceremony was very similar to what we are used to in the US. Exchange of vows, rings, and signing of the marriage certificate.

The reception afterwards was also a mix of familiar and new. Three hundred and fifty people attended the party. It was held in an open field and several tents were put-up with seating. When the bride and groom entered about half the group greeted them with ululation (that high-pitched li-li-li-li sound women make with their tongues) and dancing. We danced in a parade-like fashion around the tents for a half-hour or so before taking our seats again. Then the There were a few more traditions as we know them. Cutting the cake, speeches from parents and family. They invited several important people and organizations to give gifts and (long) speeches during the reception as well. The afternoon ended with lots of photos with the happy couple.

Post reception the couple is relaxed

Finally, I had the privilege to drive Davis and Lucy to their downtown Nairobi hotel in Davis’ car. I think this is an amazing reflection on how down to earth they are. They don’t need limos. They helped clean up and organize rides for all their families. They only needed each other.