Dear Nanny/DM

In your care I place my son, in your care I lay my worries of his wellbeing, in my home and heart I welcome you.

It’s been 6 months of nothing but bliss with him, it’s been 6 months of continuous bonding, of building love and trust, of nurturing this purity and feeling and it has been great, it’s been uplifting, saddening even sometimes but mostly it has been a changing feeling.

My boy does not understand much for now, but his perception in life will majorly be shaped by the world we give him, the foundation we lay now, the love we offer now.

My time with him is somewhat limited given the demands of my work and the need to give him – and you – a good life, you will therefore be a great source of influence in his life, his wellbeing will majorly be anchored in your treatment and care of him. Am trusting you with part of me, am trusting you with my very blood, am trusting you with my world, kindly be gentle with him.

If you allow him, he will teach you the wonders of life as he has mine, he will open your eyes to the beauty of simple things, he will teach you how to love, how to trust, how to submit and how to find pleasure in simple things like toys, shadows, colors and even sound.

If you allow him, he will mold your perception in life and open your heart to the joys that liveth in giving, in caring, in shaping a life – he will reward you with a smile and that smile will be curved in your heart.

He will have his days; days when you feel he’s too exhausting, he will throw tantrums, soil his nappies, cry uncontrollably, refuse to be fed and even to sleep, these times will be trying dear nanny as they are to me, but in these difficult times, I beseech you to be gentle with him, lovingly firm with him, teach him the power of self-soothing in these moments, show him love, bring back his smile.

Am alive to the heart-wrenching stories of inhumanity that has been meted in some babies by their caregivers, but am appealing to your humanity, to the inherent goodness that each one of us is born with, am appealing to your emotions, kindly, treat my baby as you would yours -  we are all he has, let’s make that count for something.

Do not be the one to puncture his belief in humanity, do not be the one to take away his innocence, do not be the one to clip his wings even before he blossoms into a butterfly, do not be the one to cocoon him and kill his sense of wonder, of curiosity, of exploration, do not be the one to sow seeds of hatred into his tiny beautiful heart rather be the one to guide – as I will – his first adventure into this journey we call life.

He is such a sweet boy this one, he will brighten your days if you allow him.

When you feel overwhelmed, feel his little fingers on your forehead, allow him to bless you, allow him to feel your sadness, his emotions will synchronize with yours, he will empathize, if you allow him. Allow him in your world, in your sadness and joys, let him know that it’s okay to be sad but most importantly teach him to lean on his strength to overcome any discomforts in life.

In your conversations with the Most High, allow baby to stand in the gap for you, his little hands hold, in supplication to Abba Father, because of his purity and sacredness of his thoughts, tell him to join you in prayer, ask him to intercede for you, ask him to pray with you – he will.

They mimic our world- these little ones, what we do and say impact greatly on them. What we watch and listen to shapes their world a great deal. Dear nanny, I implore you, may my baby’s holistic development be of paramount importance to you as it is to me.

I’d have loved for you to stay with us for as long as you possibly can, to be part of our family, to have such a strong bond with him, that he may have great stories about you when he comes of age, I’d love for us to come pay you a visit someday and for you to see him once more and be proud of the man you helped shape.

But for now nanny, teach him how to enjoy and marvel at his milestones, allow him to enjoy being a baby and only know love in his life, for to live this life will require faith, love and courage.

Be gentle with him, be a good influence in his life

He’s such a sweet little boy, he’s my son and he’s all I got.

CHRONICLES PRECEDING NULLIFICATION OF ELECTION RESULTS – MINTO’S PERSPECTIVE

                                               AM. HAPPY. AMOR

9:07 am: (My Jubilated Omera (JO), he warms my heart this one J)

Mc’Obor: How do you see this ruling?

JO:  They are going to uphold Kamwana’s win but will not compel NASA to shoulder all the legal fees, they are going to sympathize with your situation since you are already reeling from an electoral loss.

We then talk about a myriad of other issues, touching on politics mostly. He passionately supports Kamwana. I passionately support Baba. I ‘force’ him to apologize for calling me, a Baba supporter, insane. He begrudgingly does.

He’s a good soul this one.

10:30 am:

I get out of bed (Am Fatuma today J, and it’s Ul’Adhi, we are on holiday) I flip through different local channels to get their analysis on the impending ruling. I ready my son (5 months) for breakfast. He’s on my lap (he’s my world this one)

10:40 am:

We settle on KTN NEWS (Baba said NTV is biased, we rarely watch it J), they are now showing lawyers streaming in plus a couple of other guys who are allowed within the supreme court surrounding. I introduce them all to Baby, I tell him their names, their roles, and my, maybe, biased leaning e.g this is Orengo Jim, my Senator, Baba’s Chief Counsel. This is Otiende Amollo, Ja’Uyoma. Mummy is NyaUyoma, Uyoma has produced a number of great minds. He was once an Ombudsman but now he’s my MP, he’s part of Baba’s legal team.

Then Baba walks in, flanked by the likes of Sultan, Muthama and others, I watch him in awe, in reverence, with profound love and somehow I hold my breath because I don’t know how upholding of Uhuru’s win will affect him. I wish him well. We do breakfast in silence.

The Supreme Court judges walk in. Maraga is brief. I know the ruling will not be in our favor, but I follow the proceedings nonetheless.

Somehow I hear Maraga say, 2 judges, dissented. My heart sinks. I quickly assume that they are the ones who felt the election was marred by irregularities that the other 4 upheld Kamwana’s win. I inform my DM that Kamwana’s win has been upheld. Her heart sinks. She’s a Baba supporter but even a Rasanga (she calls him Ras) die-hard. Am team Gumbo.

Njoki Ndung’u is asked to read out her dissent, and so is Ojwang. I get confused.

The TV briefs read “Election was marred with irregularities”. 2 judges dissented. Am confused. Part of me feels this is going our way. Part of me can’t believe the judges had the cajoles to overturn Kamwana’s election. This is Africa I say. This is Kenya. They don’t have it in them to do so. I remain partially optimistic and partially pessimistic – this is to shield my heart

.

I get out to catch some air. My neighbor passes.

Neighbor: You are still here?

Mc’Obor: Yeah, watching the Supreme Court proceedings

Neighbor: Why would you torture yourself with that? Don’t you already know the outcome?

Mc’Obor: It does seem it’s going in our favor

Neighbor: Never, not in Kenya.

-Back to the house-

Maraga takes over from Ojwang’. He reads the court’s decision. I hear only three words. “Has been nullified”

Canaan spirit enters me; I sing. I dance. I talk in tongues. I whistle. I sing adage songs, patriotic songs, I Tibim. I Tialala. I am possessed. I am ecstatic. I am HAPPY. I am tearful. I am humbled. I am justified. I am validated. I matter. I go back to dancing. I shout.

I get out of the house to de-steam. I find 5 kids playing, actually arguing. They are about 6/7/8 years.

Kid 1: NASA ni Wajaluos

Kid 2: Hapana, NASA si Wajaluos

Kid 3: Basi Jubilee ni nini?

Kid 4 & 5: Following but confused.

I approach them. Am grinning

Mc’Obor: Haya, kujeni ni waelezee…

Kids: They come closer, very attentive, uncertain of what I will say, some look at me apprehensively, some shyly.

Mc’Obor: Nasa ni coalition ya wakenya wote Kama mimi na wewe

Kid 1: Nasa si ODM? I grin. Am happy ODM is known even by kids her age. I correct her. No, ODM is one of the parties forming NASA coalition.

Mc’Obor: Kuna mtu wa Jubilee hapa?

Kid 3: Looks like he wants to respond in affirmation, but afraid. I encourage him to respond. Yes, he says

Mc’Obor: Great, usiogope. Jubilee pia ni party kama ODM and usiskie vibaya wewe ni wa Jubilee

Mc’ Obor: Nani ni wa Nasa?

Kids 1,4&5: Mimi?

Mc’Obor: Great, lakini mcheze nyinyi wote pamoja, kwa amani na furaha

Mc’Obor: Nani president wa Nasa?

Kids in unison: Raila

Mc’Obor: Good, Great and soon, President ya waKenya wote.

I leave, still feeling happy. I look back and ALL of them are dancing and chanting. NASA TIBIM!

ISSAWRAP. I say to myself.

ISSAWRAP!

My little one, you are here at last, Africa is blessed to have you.

A month or so before you were conceived, my womb kept calling, I could cross a busy road just to go and carry a baby on the other side, I knew I was somewhat ready for you.

We talked about you, preconception, but for irreconcilable reasons, your father and I had to go our separate ways.

Then a month came and passed, listened to my body for the usual “that time of the month” cues, I wasn’t sure my body was telling me anything, so off to the chemist I went  - the lines came back 2.

My brain has a weird way of processing news, both good and bad, the magnitude of the news normally hits me much later, way later…and so, did the news of your arrival.

It was on a Saturday.

Those who know me will tell you that you changed me for the better; I became happier, still am. Bad news never seem to get to me, not anymore, I became more tolerant to divergent views and opinions even to actions that would initially get me all worked up, became patient and hopeful, you brought positive energy into my life.

You were a calm one, from the word go, no mood swings, no cravings, just a bigger belly and a happy soul.

You make me happy.

On October 22^nd at 10:47 am, you kicked, on a Saturday - it was your first.

That feeling remained with me for days, I looked forward to more of your kicks.

 We talked a lot; you became my constant companion, we started mulling over how our future would pan out, I started making plans on how our weekends will be our bonding sessions, the way we would go to Arboretum and soak in the peace that nature brings, how we will go to church and adore Jesus with you in the chapel, how we will visit relatives together, how I will introduce you to the world of computer programming, how I will ask you questions; not to get an answer but to pick your mind how you approach questions, to understand the logic behind your answers, how we will farm together , how we will find satisfaction and comfort in each other.

On March 7^th at 5 am, you came; your cries filled the theater, they showed me your balls before I saw your face, the heir apparent, the one who would perpetuate the Minto Dynasty , I knew I loved you already, I had carried you in my heart and womb for 39 weeks 2 days, I was ready to carry you in my arms and heart.

Watching you is my new hobby. Until I met you, I did not know love this intense existed, am intoxicated and obsessed with you, dangerously in love with you, you are my world.

Sleeping next to me so tiny, I already see a man developing a mind of his own; very active, very loving, rejects not anyone, allows every visitor to carry him.

Listening to your baby talks- your abujubuju buju :-)- fills me with so much joy, you fill my heart with so much love, hope and positivity.

Sometimes, I wonder what crosses your mind, I wonder what wags your soul.

When our eyes lock, I see heaven, sometimes when you look at me, direct and tender the way you lovingly do, I feel as though you can read my thoughts, my mind and heart. When you trace my facial features as you frequently do, I want your small fingers to never leave my face, when you go into your corner and switch yourself off to the noise of the world, sometimes you look sad and in that moment, my heart breaks.

When you kick your tiny legs to the recognition of my voice, when the touch of my hand calms you down, when you hold me as though your life depends on it, you enrich my life in ways I never knew was possible.

Because of you, I have met some of the most incredible people

Because of you, I have experienced love from total strangers

Because of you, I have become more considerate and understanding to people I meet

Because of you, my life is full of possibilities

Because of you, my life is rich and full of hope

Because of you, my dreams scare me

Because of you, I have learnt to reach out to others when I feel like am drowning and be there for others who are hurting

Because of you, my life has a purpose

Because of you, I let Go and let God.

Thank you.

“He will be one great man”, my uncle quipped when I told him I have named you after him, the love in his voice moved me to tears, and great you will be, because I believe him.

Our journey has just began my dear one, a lot still lays ahead, through it all, we will soldier on and keep each other grounded.

Welcome to the world once again, be a man of character, of principle, of integrity and open your heart to love.

May the world be kind to you, may your life be rich.

                                           <3