Mama Prosper had no idea what awaited her as she travelled back to the city. It had been an amazing Christmas holiday break for her and the kids. She recalled the wonderful moments in the rural home with her aging parents and her siblings who had travelled from various parts of the country. It was a rare occurrence to be home with all her siblings and their children—the laughter, shared meals of good food, and the warmth of family.
She arrived back in the city a few days after the New Year. Nairobi is a fast-paced city; people had already started selling back-to-school items, and the festive season’s happy mood had been switched off. Thoughts of how her three boys would go back to school flooded her mind. Being a casual labourer, her income was not guaranteed. But the Lord had been gracious to her. She made her way to her shack, a tiny one-room house. It wasn’t much, but it was hers—a place she had poured her heart into.
She had purchased books for her boys, school uniforms, and the new shoes ICCM Kenya had given Prosper during the latest food drive in October. She knew the kids were set to go back to school, and that made her heart glad. She looked frail and sunk in thought, her hair tied back in a scarf, with sandals full of dust on her feet. She had been looking for a house she could move into to start afresh on the day of our visit.
The rubbleShe recounted that very day, narrating to us the ordeal that befell them. The night was beginning to fall. Despite the late hour, the slum buzzed with life: the distant hum of radios, muted conversations, and the occasional humming of a generator. Her shack was right across the road near a petrol station that was operating illegally and had been closed down time and again. The operator had always dodged his way to continue running the business despite the numerous warnings.
A tanker had pulled up and was siphoning oil into an underground tank. Mama Prosper recalled that they had just finished eating dinner, and the kids were ready to turn in. In the blink of an eye, they heard a loud, deafening explosion. The house was filled with smoke, and she immediately realized it was their shack that was on fire. They all ran out through the back of the house. Shouts and screams filled the air. As people ran for their lives and tried to salvage their belongings, others were busy looting.
She paused, stared at the floor, and gently shook her head. Joy, a kind neighbour and friend, had taken her and her kids in for shelter as she figured out what to do next. She told us she hadn’t managed to take anything from the house. No one was hurt during the inferno, but all their belongings were lost. The school that the kids attended had an option for boarding. The headteacher had been kind enough to let all the kids stay in school as their mother figured out what to do. We made our way to the school. Prosper and his brothers were doing great. They really liked staying in school; it felt safe and comfortable.
Prosper New school
As Mama Prosper journeys on, she has great hope and is optimistic that things will get better. She doesn’t know how, but the faith in her heart shines through her eyes. Late in the afternoon, we made our way to a convenience store and purchased food items and essentials they would need in the coming days. We have been in communication ever since, and she recently got a new house—a stone house! We echo Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Family Portrait
