Inspire and change the world.

About three months ago, a close friend shared a page (inspirationalfriday.com) that was calling for women to nominate other women who have/had inspired them. With unexplained enthusiasm, I wrote to the team and nominated two inspirational women. Women who had drawn me to myself. Who, in the first 10 minutes of meeting, I felt like I had known them for a lifetime. I nominated Aya Chebbi and Delphine Konda. I have been inspired by many great women, my mother being the greatest one. But I wanted the world to meet Dell and Aya. They exuded an energy that I wanted others to draw from. Their stories have been featured and many have been inspired.

On days I feel like abandoning the things that matter to me, I think of these two women, draw from their inspiration and remind myself that service runs not on easy wheels and that inspiration lubricates the wheels of service. These two remind me, just as Leymah Gbowee in “Mighty Be Our Powers” that you can tell people of the need to struggle, but when the powerless start to see that they really can make a difference, nothing can quench the fire. The powerless being the uninspired and the fire being inspiration.

Inspiration comes to us, takes a grip of our entire beings and runs the show. Perfectly and in direction. The greatest misconception is that inspiration is only drawn from casts in our television sets or acclaimed influential persons. Inspiration comes from ourselves, our surroundings, our employees, our situations. It comes when sought. It comes when needed. It works when let to work. It is effortless. Yet it is the one thing common in everybody who has made a difference. Its use synonymous with change and after, the world...

I am inspired by my continent. Its vastness and diversity. Its creativity and impossibilities. I am inspired by nature, it calm self healing powers. Its power to sustain. I am inspired by mothers who in their situations of poverty set their children to school and ensure that they are fed. I am inspired by my grandmother. Who even in her old age has the time to care for my invalid aunt and bed ridden grandfather. Ensures they are bathed, clothed and fed everyday before she goes to sleep. I am inspired by her relentless energy, characterised by her  dozing spells by the fireplace as she waits for their food to cook. Her sheer love...

I have met a new breed of people. Who refuse to make excuses in fulfilling their ambitions. Who refuse to sit and watch their communities waste away. People who look to the front and see the pasted mountings of their future and those of their countries. Work out the solutions in their heads and get to work. In most cases, those I have met look back and wonder how they did it. They always run to "inspired" as their source of energy. Whatever inspires them...makes them better people and changes the world. Inspire, it is the easiest way to change the world.

Giving water where the earth cracks.

Mentoring: Creating a better me, for a better you.

Nine years ago, I was a lot younger and impressionable. I had a clear mind of what I wanted to do and the path I wanted to take.  All I wanted to do was pass my O levels. The path I wanted to take is that of making my parents proud of me. That was it. I assumed I would figure out the rest later. In the meantime, my goal was to master chemistry and add it to my A-subject list and my course would be accomplished. With the passion of young love, I accomplished my course. Then happily went home to await the results. For two years after High School, I stayed home, farming for a year and doing an accounting course I hated for the other year before joining the University to study Law.

For eight years I thought about the High School students who, like me, would leave High School and stay home with nothing to do. Not because there would be nothing to do but because they would not know how to do it. I identified the need to mentor them. Teach them the values of volunteerism. Build their confidence and open up their minds to a world of possibilities. Change their attitude from competition to cooperation.

I started doing it.

Why Mentorship?
Young adults are impressionable. They make decisions not because they have conceptualised the future but because their decision is in with the times. We cannot blame them. We have been there. So we cannot afford to sit and watch while we can actually influence some of these decisions positively. Sometimes even influencing them to be made, out with the times.

Investing in young people is a commitment that is receiving attention from all quarters. Even by the highest institutions such as the United Nations and national governments. Indeed as they say, there can be no future without young people.

But how do we ensure that young people across the board continue to take part in crucial decision making processes? by scrambling for the minimum travel slots granted by conference organisers? by locking in the information we hold so nobody else benefits from it? by regarding ourselves as too important a people to do community service? by living in the deception of mind that we shall hold our youth forever?

We need to have some facts in mind; youthfulness like age is for but a limited time. We should therefore strive to be the best in our time,  make the best of our time, have the best in our time and leave the best for other's time. This means sharing, mentoring, progressing and impacting.

I believe that we are quickly moving to the age of intellect. An age when investing in people's intellectual capability will yield the most benefits. This mean tapping and nurturing talent. Entertaining even the most crazy of ideas. In other words; giving water where the earth cracks. Creating a better me, for a better you.

Mentorship; defining her face
Opportunities abound that need to be shared with others. Life lessons and experiences only manufactured by time. By living a certain age. Visualised by looking back at our own experiences. Actualised by looking forward, to another's future.

Mentorship is a two faced beauty. Feeding the nostalgia of a past leading to successes and failures. Resting on the ease of a shared vision for another's less troubled future. There is no justification to allow a person trend a path, explored by ourselves and found to lead to a bitter end. Yet, we can redirect that person, save them time and precious energy and lead them to a path that brings worthy experiences.

The only face never aging, moulting of phases and diversified in breadth is that of mentorship. It cuts across generations. Adds value and is kept young by the unending acts of generations mentoring others and mentoring their own. It knows age but surprises by reciprocating the wisdom of old with young experience.

In my mentoring younger people, I find myself learning more than I teach. Its a beautiful thing. One whose face we must always seek to cup.

The hummingbird generation

Today I have a reason to post. I have a reason to sit and ponder about the little acts that I do to improve my circumstances and of those around me. I post in honour of the late Nobel Laureate Prof Wangari Maathai. Exactly a year ago, the world lost this great woman to ovarian cancer. Her spirit and her legacy lives on. Nature celebrates her as I do every single day.

A friend asked me how I manage to juggle a full time government job and global youth work. Without hesitation, I told her that global youth work keeps me alive. Knowing that I make a difference however little, feeds my zeal. It satisfies me to know that even though I do not have enough time to do all the things I would like to do, the little I do, makes a difference. The late Prof. Wangari Maathai challenged us to be like a hummingbird. That even in the face of great risk, danger and situations that seem impossible, personal effort and sacrifice matters a great deal. 

Nelson Mandela said that sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. I believe that we can be that generation. I have observed with admiration as young people refuse to be used as puppets to cause strife. I have seen them assert their rights only after elaborating their duties. I have watched as young people born in poverty rise beyond their limitations to create better livelihoods for others. Young Ugandans assert equal rights for all. Young Senegalese foster democracy. Young Nigerians speaking the language of sustainable development. Young Kenyans rewrite the slum story. Young Europeans speak out against the curtailment of the freedom of expression. Young North Africans topple dictatorships. Young Togolese shed their dignity for better governance. I have seen them be the hummingbirds. Doing the little they can and collectively standing in the gap for their nations.

Can you imagine a world where everyone feels responsible to ensure that people live in peace. That the hungry are fed and the poor taken care of. That human rights are respected and duties honoured. A world where selfless service thrives and capital gains thrown to the periphery? Can you imagine? If young people can live it, so can alot of others. 

You see, it does not matter what position a person holds in society. It does not matter how much time they have to spare. I have discovered that you can push yourself to any length just to see a passion fulfilled. Time is never a challenge. It is an enhancer. It should never be an excuse not to do. 

We can be that generation. We can be the hummingbird generation.

What about African Youth?

Is it? living through a chosen lens

There I was, in the middle of that vast warm land

There I stood, expectant and full of bliss

Warm, green and magnificent in the face of that yellow sun

I watched

As they traversed my space and gave me an identity

Not allowed to react to that Identity, there I lay

I chose to allow that identity upon my frame

Troubled and deeply in pain,

I focused on my priority

To give my branches a new green

Then came those who looked upon my height in awe

Those who thought I was extraordinary

The source of their thoughts not defined

Rather cast upon a glance at a branch, at some branches

Those that resisted the unkindness of the undefined sun

Those that retained their green

Then I began to bear a new kind of seed

A different kind of seed

One whose dispersal was uninhabited

One whose skin was hard and resistant

One that gave me a hope of universal influence

The lens slowly tilted

A new identity I got

One awash with word on my new kind of seed

One influenced by the resilience of this new seed

Some dispersed never to return

Some dispersed and finding their way home

All I loved with one embrace

Senegal; the sky that bears the vision of democracy

People who have met me can attest to the fact that I love my country. I am deeply and madly in love with Kenya. I take pride in my Nationality. I take pride in the excellence of my country men and women. I am what they call, Mkenya Halisi (Truly Kenyan). This love for my country informs my identity, it cannot be displaced, it cannot fade. Kenya is my one and true love.

But a funny thing happened. In May, 2011, I met Senegal. I was on transit to Cape Verde for the 3rd African University on Youth and Development organised by the North South Centre of the Council of Europe. I had tried to get a Senegalese visa for the 36 hours I was going to be in on transit through Dakar. However, the French Embassy in Nairobi could not process the Visa for the reason that the notice given was too short (not to mention that it was over five days). So here I was, staring in awe at the expansive exotic city of Dakar protruding beautifully over the clear blue Atlantic waters. I felt a tiny spark of love, mid air, for this city. I thought it was magnifique.

I looked in awe from the KQ aircraft at the African Renaissance Monument. I couldn't help but notice that the representation of the male figure of the monument, was supporting and leading the female, and carrying the child sitting on its shoulders. I immediately thought of how much I would have loved to hate that depiction of patriarchy, (atleast to my eyes), and in turn dismiss the city of Dakar, quietly wish away the 36 transit hours and embark onto the culturally rich country of Cabo Verde.

(I shall not delve into a discourse about this monument at this point)

The first 24 hours went by rather fast I must admit. They say first impressions last, well I didn't get to feel Dakar outside the confines of the Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport, but I had ideas of how it could possibly be. An Airport police Officer, (I did not get his name, I wish I did!) out of the kindness of his heart ensured that we (my friends Cate and Job were with me) were fed and comfortable in the tiny holding space at the Airport. I was thrilled at the gesture. I was humbled and wondered if the Kenyan Authorities would do the same. Well, I think I'm pushing it....

In March 2012, the 3rd Congress of the Global Young Greens and 2nd Congress of the Global Greens were set to happen in Dakar. I was excited about two things; that I would meet most young green advocates at this congress and secondly, because I would actually get the chance to tour Dakar and explore the spark I had felt mid air close to an year before. The notable thing to mention is that I arrived in Dakar on 25th March 2012. This was the day of the Presidential run-offs. With a mixture of excitement and fear of the unknown, here I was, having chosen to focus on the greater likelihood of a peaceful election. I wasn't alone, hundreds of Green advocates had come to Dakar for the congresses.

Later that night and into the morning of March 26th, courtesy of the Honourable Minister for Environment in Senegal, Hon. El Ali Haidar, we got out to the city in a convoy to celebrate the victory of the opposition in the elections. On the streets I noticed that different people had different expressions. Some gleamed with great excitement, others looked solemn. Yet there they were, on the streets openly sharing their feelings without fear of being attacked.

That will always be one of the most powerful experiences in my life. To see a country with diverse political preferences choose to respect this diversity. It was a powerful message for me, a peace advocate. I swore to document it. It reminded me of the change of regime in Kenya in the year 2002 and the united celebration of the victory of the opposition. I was young, I couldn't vote and may not have appreciated the unity as much I did in Dakar. It reinforced my hope and love for African States. It symbolised the possibility of a united Africa.

I experienced the power of a peaceful relegation of power. The hope of the fruits yielded by a constant struggle for democracy. I was moved to tears especially because I only qualified to vote in the Kenya General Elections in the year 2007. I had blamed my vote for the thousands of people who had been displaced in the post election skirmishes. I needed reassurance that democracy, peace and elections could indeed be bedfellows. I felt the joy of the Senegalese people. I felt proud. My friends coming from other parts of the world looked on at the magnificent show of democracy in a continent they had possibly read negative literature about. I fell in love with this democracy and with it ignited the spark into a flame of affection for this country, for the Senegalese people, for the democratic values they demonstrated.

During the congress, I witnessed selfless service from young green Senegalese volunteers. They brought with them rich discussions. Within these discussions, a constant reminder that progressive decisions could only be made by people ready to listen and accommodate one another. These lessons saw the re-birth of the Federation of Young African Greens. This Senegalese spirit breathed democracy into its processes and a sense of unity we Young Greens from Africa share.

I made special friends at this congress. I struggled with the little French I had picked up along the way and learnt a few Wolof words. I returned in July, en-route to Cape Verde and re-affirmed the strength of my affection for Senegal. I am still exploring this affection, I am learning the language of her people,the language that she inspired me to study. I am hoping I can get time to stay in Senegal for no less than half a year in the future, volunteer as an English teacher and discover the special things about this African State. I am hoping that the tears shed in Dakar can flow to Nairobi and reinforce the strength of Democracy Kenya almost lost in the years 2007/08.

Olympics reinforcing the pride of my Nationality

Every four years I watch in awe as the Kenyan Olympics team sweeps the medals in various track events in diverse cities around the world. The best part comes when the Kenyan National Anthem is consistently played during the medal conferment ceremonies. I stand at attention, I sing along, taking time to internalise the powerful words of that National Anthem. I pay tribute to the excellence of my Nation and the dedication of my countrymen and women. These moments consistently remind me how proud I am to be Kenyan.

 The London 2012 Olympics have reinforced the power of togetherness as a Nation. As Olympics and World Record Holder and Kenyan David Lekuta Rudisha crossed the finish line in the 800m race, the Nation was ecstatic of his win. He did not just represent the uniqueness of Kenya's athleticism, but also had the whole Nation united in this moment of pride.   

It is worthy to remember that when we choose to disregard each other, we disregard our Nation, its future and that of its future generations. When we choose to turn unto each other, we kill the unity that has defined us for so long. We dim the chances of raising a generation of Kenyans that not only shines in athletics but in many other fields in Africa and the world.

 We need not forget where we come from or the tribe we belong to. Having 42 tribes in Kenya reinforces our diversity. What we need to do is rise above definition by tribe. We need to stop allowing a select group of politicians to polarise our oneness. We need to embrace this diversity and make it work for the glory of this African giant we call home.

I tell a story of a girl who set out of her home in central Kenya and out of her comfort as a Kikuyu into the rich and beautiful valley in the Rift for her University education. There she experienced the unparalleled friendliness of her Kalenjin countrymen and became fascinated by the Luo dialect.  I tell a story of a girl who refuses to part with these good things because of a single unfortunate incident of tribal politics turned nightmare. She believes we can rise above this tribal curse and learn to enjoy the vastness and splendor of our Kenyan soil.

Let us always remember as stated by the late Hon Prof George Saitoti that there comes a time when the Nation is greater than an individual.

 My fellow countrymen,

Let the consistent message of our National Anthem playing in London this year remind us that the excellence of our countrymen and women comes to all in our Nation, regardless of our ethnicity. If we dedicate our lives to bringing pride to our Nation, we dedicate ourselves to a course that reinstalls pride in our Nationality. The athletic excellence has been with us for generations, it reinforces our oneness with the wild, because we run in the wild and shine in the world. 

We are Kenyan!