Family day: Sara & Jyri

A day in a Kenyan family  

We were led to the house by a 16 year old girl named Grace Wacharo Mwakio. We then introduced ourselves and got to know the family. The family existed of a mother Tinah, her four children Jane, Grace, Timothy and Huntly, and Janes son Bless.

Then Grace showed us the farm and the river running trough their land, she then wanted to show us where the river widens so we walked there. It was beautiful, the water run down some cliffs creating small waterfalls and the scenery was amazing. We then ran into another group, Emma and Fredi. We then met a guy who wanted to show us the water supply and the “cold stone” which turned out to be a place with a great view. The walk was rather long and tiring, we had left our bags with the water bottles at the house. Still it was fun and we saw lots of nice places and were told more about the living style and different places, it was really nice talking with the other group as well.

When we came back to the house after such a long walk we were a bit tired but glad. Next we carried some water up to the house from the river and were served some tea. We asked them questions about their lifestyle and told them about Finland.

We then proceeded to mark some places on the GPS and were shown all the rooms in the house. Then we accompanied Grace to the small store close by where she bought some sukumawiki. They asked if we know how to cook and then Jyri cut the sukumawiki while the children laughed at him. After that we sat in the kitchen talking about Finnish vs Kenyan education/school whilst watching as Grace prepared the lunch. She cooked the food over an open fire and there was no chimney so the room was very smoky. Then we ate, the dish was a traditional meal: ugali and sukumawiki, it was tasty (not really) but filling. While eating the teachers came by to check the place but then quickly continued to the next place.

After that Grace took us to look at her school: Mwambonu secondary school, the school was actually closed because of this strike that was going on. There we met some of her teachers and we got to see some classrooms. On our way back we visited the church.

Back at the house Grace showed us her schoolbooks and some old tests. Then the teachers came to pick us up.

Family:

Tinah Mwakio Tailor

Jane Iukindo Mwakio

Grace WacharoMwakio 16

Timothy Karingo Mwakio 9

Huntly Mwakio 2

Bless Njoroge 1

Father passed away 2 years ago

Crops:

Mais

Banana

Pipa

Guava

Sugar cane

Passion

Sweet potato

Sukumawiki

Some they sell, and some they keep themselves.

Animals:

3 goats

3 bunnys

Some chickens

Turkey

Cow

Several dogs (security)

Cat

River:

Drinking

Preparing food

Washing

Bathing

Watering the crops (if no rain)

(long ago fishing)

Other:

They use dry cypress trees as firewood

They have solar panels