HAPPY FATHERS' DAY TO ALL FATHERS

It hit me that today is fathers' day and I thought I should write something small about my daddie😊😊, Mr. Ndumba Mwirichia, a.k.a Baba Vene😀 a.k.a Ikandu, hahaha. That's the name I use to cheer him up and joke about everything including those hard moments😅😅.

Mr. Ndumba is such a prayerful daddie, resilient, hardworking and the most loving father I know. He got a supportive wife too😁. Anaitwa Liz, a.k.a Lisa, Elizabeth, gerrit😂. (Huyu angojee mothers' day tuandike kumhusu, haha lol. I love you mommy.) I grew knowing that my Daddie is the strongest person on earth. I was not afraid of thieves, my daddie will deal with that! There is a time he took my sister Fridah to Bondo TTC and I missed him so much. I was afraid that thieves would invade us and when I saw a gathering of a few men at Amugaa Coffee Factory, I grew confident because I thought they were planning on how to offer security when dad was away. lol😂😂😂😂.

Growing up wasn't easy, but having dedicated parents who always gave us hope that things would be better meant everything to us. I grew up knowing that my dad will buy me a bicycle and a toy car. Clearly that wasn't affordable back then but my dad did not show us that its impossible, no, it  may take time but it will come to pass. I missed school trips due to lack of money but daddie made me feel like, that wasn't enough, we would plan one to Mombasa and am goner love it. It has never happened but I think it will happen soon but now organised by me😊😊😊.

Daddie would leave at 4am and walk all the way from home to Igembe Boys to attend to my elder brother's academic meeting. You may think he walked because he wanted to be healthy 😣😣but its because he didn't have fare, yeah. In this meeting, they are told that the students with fee balances would go home with their parents. One of the parents, Nkoroi Makena (such a prayerful and hopeful woman) a mum who happens to be from our place, lifts up her hand, and she speaks in Kimeru unlike the rest of the speakers, " please mwalimu, don't let us leave with our children. The millet harvest season is here with us. Give us some sometime and we will sort the fee issue." everyone laughed but their request was granted. But wait, how many millet farmers were here?! even our mum is a tea farmer just like my dad but God gave her wisdom. They had to walk back home, got home late but with much peace. God is good!

A picture of my father and I during my undergraduate graduation

Most of my siblings if not all, went to boarding primary schools which was a bit expensive. Not because my parent were rich as you may perceive but he wanted to give us the best! People would talk including some relatives. "Mtu anapeleka watoto boarding na hana pesa. watoto wanafukuzwa shule kila wakati! si hata ajengee😒😒😒😒." Believe me, back then, we lived in a muddy house with white walls. My mum would maintain it with white sand during sunny seasons. It was beautiful for archives but not for living in!😂😂 I am giving a testimony today that my parents have a beautiful home, a three bedroom house, not bad. It is a great milestone, wadau, the Lord we serve! wacha tu!

Guys, at Ametho Boarding,I would be sent home for school fees any other time. Which miracle would happen that I missed in the list? which one? maybe because I was headteacher's favorite?! Well, and so you think I will get back to shool with the money? haha, dad will get a way to talk to the teacher, but who is God, I would get back to school and top in my class. Maths was and is always my best subject, kuna time nilikafunga 100% wadau, I was so happy. The headteacher then, Mr. Athinya gave me 100 shillings as payment for each mark.😀😀.

One day as the visiting day was approaching, I did a letter but I didn't send it home but I was depressed that some pupils came across it. "Dadie, please put on a different suit when you are coming for my visiting day, you have put on the grey one too much. Even mummy, please tell her not to put on the black flowery dress. please😔😔😔😔" I was in class five and I thank God that I didn't send this letter home. It would break them down. That was their Sunday best, how would they get extra suits and I needed school fees? Wadau, I can't resist my tears as I write this. The memories are so heavy😥😥😥😥.


When I received a letter to Limuru Girls' School, I was so happy since I really wanted to join a national school and make my parents happy, but there was no money! My big sister and brother would talk behind my back on how they would secure me a place at Kaaga Girls', a good school too,  since we would not raise that huge amount to Limuru Girl's. When I checked the letter, I joyfully called daddie who was away, "Hello Daddie, I have been called to Limuru Girls and their fee is X amount!" "Congratulations my daughter! Even if you were called to Alliance Girls' and they asked for 100 thousand, I would still take you there!" my dad answered joyfully. He didn't let me know that he didn't have money but his words assured me of a brighter tomorrow. By God's grace, I reported to my dream school and he bought me everything that was needed.

My dad would visit me back in high school during visiting and academic days when he was in a position to. He was among the first people to arrive, he would travel overnight with the famous "Kensilver" from Miiru and bring me goodies. He never missed a thing in my shopping list, he would rather kopa and make me happy. Such a daddie💕💖💖. My dad hugged me when I was in high school. You know African men😂😂 but I think the joy of seeing how Nairobi dads hugged their daughters, he would hug me once in a while and I was happy😁😂😂😂. He always brought a certain cake baked at Uchumi supermarket Meru, it was yummy! My dad loves cakes so much btw.

My dad , friends & I enjoying a boat ride at Lake Victoria

One thing I will never forget about is how we would walk to the school chapel before he left for home, share about how everyone and everything is at home, tell him how I am doing in school and we would hold hands and pray for each other. Aaaaww!  I vividly remember how I used to pray for my parents. I would tell God to keep them longer to enjoy the fruits of our education and see our children' children. That would pay their effort! I pray that this will happen. It has started happening yes, but we are not yet there! Greater things on the way, brighter days to come. Singing along Sauti sol's Brighter days song.💕😉

I may not have made him so proud but I could tell from how he introduced me to his friends. "This is my last born Venecity, she is doing Mathematics and Economics in campus"😁😁 wooh!
When God gave me  a chance to work at CRA a year ago, I had a chance to meet dignitaries and have flights to the field. My dad was the happiest. He would call me and ask the next county we would visit, you would think he is my boss, lol but that made him happy. "Uliniambia mnaenda wapi next? Mombasa? pia uko mnaenda na ndege? ooooh." My dad would ask. From the tone, I felt like he was at the middle of a conversation with his friends and he was updating them about his daughter Vene.😂😂 He didn't differentiate KRA and CRA as he told the stories, but you would tell that he was a happy father. I believe that greater things are on the way and I will make them more proud.

I have had plans in my mind of how I can organise a beautiful adventure to a dream place, secure a flight for them, get them some designer clothes, yeah. This will come to pass, but before then, lets give them a call and get to know how they are doing. Break the taboo and visit their bedroom and change their 1997 matress they have been using. Lets give them hope, surprise them with some mpesa message, a tailormade suit.  Write notes or messages to them as well. If you visit my parent's home, I have hanged printed messages about mummy and daddie. I asked them to read them whenever things get rough. Yeah, small things that will make a big difference.

Happy fathers day to all dads both on earth and in heaven! If you are an aspiring dad, be the best dad you can to your princes and princesses and they will tell  good stories about you in future like I did.
I love you all and Psalms 27:13 is my encouragement for you. "I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord  in the land of the living."