Peter Kibe teaches......

Kibe: Maboyz, nani anapenda kunyeshewa aki lala? (Boys, who likes to be rained on when they are sleeping?)
Kwetu Boys: Hakuna (None of us)
Kibe: Si, mukienda base, mtanyeshewa mkilala? (When you go to the streets, won't you be rained on when you are sleeping?)
Kwetu Boys: Ndio (Yes, we will)
Kibe: Hapa mukilala, mnayeshewa? (Here in the rehabilitation center, are you rained on when you are sleeping?)
Kwetu Boys: Hapana (No, we are not)
Kibe: Kwa hivyo, sitaki kusikia story ati msee amehepa (Therefore, let me not find out that one of you has gone back to the streets. Okay!!)


These words oozed out of young Peter Kibe on the 24th of May 2012, having spared time from his busy attachment schedule, to cheer-up and challenge the boys at Kwetu Home Peace Rehabilitation Centre. I admired every bit of his counsel, and spoke to myself, admitting that there is nothing more for me to add, because you had said it all. *can't believe I am referring to you in past tense*


I must admit, it has been a long time since I shed tears, and the news of your demise totally opened up the tap in my eyes, and as the tears raced down my cheeks, with every eye shutter  commanding a larger flow of eye-liquid ,  I collapsed to my knees. I found myself not questioning God's will but simply giving Him thanks. Thank him for gracing us, COP and Kwetu, with you in our lives. I believe, that no one dies 'too soon' in this lifetime, but only upon the will of the Almighty, and when I look back into your life, you served well my brother. I salute you.


I recall the day we were sent as representatives of Strathmore University, to the Sankara Hotel, and sat among the crème de la crème of society. They wholly admitted, for such a small bodied man, you embodied a very huge voice and oozed off plenty of confidence. We did well, I believe, and I recall you dishing out your personal-cards with much gusto, affirming to them you are an asset they should all be willing to invest in. Our hour to depart came, and they insisted we should not leave without having a small bite. Aiye, we ended up eating breakfast and lunch combined, with you telling me, that no one knows us, thus we should not waste the grand chance. Mtu nguyaz, tuliswallow vi-ajab. You taught me not to worry much about what people think, for as long as I undermine them not.


First time you vied for a seat in the Student Council, and many times we shared counsel. I told you where your flaws lay as far as public speaking was concerned, how best to improve them, and you took each word to heart, not troubled by the defeat, but assuring me that you will be better next year. Oh, yes you did. And you served well when you won the next election contest. You taught me that learning never stops and never to give up.


Come the epic tales of ladies, and we shared them a lot also. I recall asking you a thousand times, how you manage to attract and get the cute and beautiful ones your size, and you humbly laughed it off. It was and still is a mystery to me. They shall miss you without doubt. You taught me that no lady is impossible to sweeten


Yet peace partially engulfs my heart, because I know I told you so when you did good, and when you could do better. I wish I told you more. Thus us we embark on our life-journeys, knowing that the sight of your smile is with us no more, I would like to share with the world, more lessons you taught:

1. It is never too early to start giving, thus in our own small ways, we can be a difference
2. A past defeat should not define our tomorrow, cause tomorrow brings with it hope, that we can do better, and defeat offers lessons, that we need improve
3. We can make time, and that 24 hours is more that enough for us to be impact-full in society
4. No one is unworthy of our time, and that we should learn to give, and give to learn
5. That we should learn to say thank you more, and appreciate people when we still have them
6. That yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, and that is why it is called the present

Your Message: I am certain, that you want us to celebrate your life, rather than mourn you. To fill the void you left better, than you lived it. That we counsel the Kwetu Boys more often, than we already do. To make more hearts smile, than we always have. To bond more as a family, than we ever have. We shall try. 

As I sign off bro, for the three years I knew you, I hope and pray that you are in God's embrace, and He is saying to you "Welcome home my child, you represented me well, during your visit on earth." You have challenged us to be a better people, and with each sunrise and sunset, we shall work towards being our best. Thank you.

Rest in Eternal Peace

Peter Kibe

LESSONS FROM THE STREETS

For the couple of months I have been in absentia, life has been intriguing. So much has happened in such a short time, and life has given me plenty lessons. Buried in this six feet hole of experience, I managed to resurrect better and smarter, expectant of less, yet giving of more, thus I share my lessons from the streets. My work entails empowering university students with an opportunity to serve society. Through this just cause, we mentor street kids who are open to rehabilitation. The humbling encounters starts here.  

Its the middle of night, and your father has left you to sleep. Six hours earlier, he had scorned you for loosing his bicycle without a beating, which, with you being an 11 year old, was easily robbed off by a group of 10 , rowdy 20 to 25 year old boys. As the sleep creeps in gently, and you toss and turn in oblivion, the lash of the belt takes your skin hostage, making you wail in pain and even you pee yourself. Your body is in total shock. Out the off the door you find your way, into the midnight light, to start a homeless life...

Just twelve years old, and you simply find it unfit to wear a shirt that is not long sleeved. Scars of burns by a hot knife, inflicted on you by your mother, are screaming truths of the torture you went through. Reason being, you came back home without change. Whether it was robbed of you, and you are okay, got lost while you were walking home is no excuse to your avail..Thief becomes your birth right, and pain escorts it.   

With many more tales of grief, which I choose not delve into, I seek to draw lessons of life and love from them and share my two cents. 

With all the cruelty these children face at a tender age, they somehow manage to find a way through life and somewhat be optimistic. Secondly, whenever we loose loved ones, we get torn apart, knowing we shall never manage to see them again. The pain slowly fades away, and we live our normal lives again, only to remember them once a year. Now, what I find interesting, is why we give too much control of our lives to those who hurt us, yet still are breathing. Yep, our Exs. They scare us from loving again, scare us from trusting again, at times making us miss chances in life that only knock once. They make us look down upon ourselves, and feel sorry for ourselves, feel ashamed to being who we are etc.. If we are on the wrong, then an array of apologies we send, but somehow, they will always find a way of clinging the mistake to you, like a shadow. Bullcrap to that!!

That it hurts when you err someone you love, willingly or not, or are hurt by the same, is perfectly human. Perfection is relationships is a façade. My problem though is when we  cling to the pas or the pain, letting your present be torched up, smoking away your future. What the kids taught me plain and simply is that, life has to much to offer to be left clinging on to straws, yet you were never meant to drown. Simply leave the straw and start swimming, cause you may find your way on to an island, hehe. Therefore, be upbeat about life, beat the crap out of clinging straws, and caress the waters of life with gentle strokes onto peace and paradise. 

Simply don't be expectant of a thank you after doing good, or expecting forgiveness in the equal measure you give it. Life is much simpler and interesting, whenever you get surprised by the kindness of man, than when you get down trodden by the cruelty in people's acts, leashed onto high expectations. I dare not say be hopeless, but simply state, be hopeful, be hopeful to the one person you can control. You. The young boys, have faced life's wrath, being chased away by the same people who teamed up to bring them to earth. Harsher than the loved you met. That they can spare time for prayer, for a hearty laugh, and give thanks, gives me more than 1000 reasons to keep my faith buzzing and be the best I can be. 

Wishing you all an insightful weekend, full of moving on, than clinging ons!!! Yet I know, it is easier said than done, but fact has it, its not impossible.!