KENNY THE MAN THE MYTH THE LEGEND

THE MILESTONE

In January the year 2005,a young man now around six years was enrolled in Muthangari primary school-lavington and given an admission number which I didn't even know what it is.All went well until my mother and teacher took me to my new class..

I was excited to see new faces but when it was time for my mum to leave,I gave out a yell that almost the whole school could hear.This made the teacher angry that you could see the voice depicted in her face saying "Wait till your mum leaves you will see.." I was appeased with a five shilling coin and promised more later during the day.To me that was a lot of money to buy sweets and all sorts of stuff.

Two weeks later my stay there became a memorable one since Marvin my cousin was also enrolled in the same class.He was tall,dark skinned and one hell of a chabby but strong guy as compared to me.With family around,I felt some relief because now I had a "body guard".

Days came and went and years came and went also with Ken now not an excellent student but an above average one that I was able to get scholarship even at my lower primary level.Without realising it,I was already in class six.This was like the best class for me but to some it was time to complete school.Others dropped out of school,others expelled but some remained strong and managed to cope up with the situations.

In this class is when most students start showing signs of adolescence.This was taught by our deputy MRS.Okello who was the science teacher.She constantly warned us to keep away from pre-marital sex and could engage us in frequent talks with mentors and other speakers.One of them was called Janice,a white lady from Ireland who came atleast twice a week to talk to us.No one knew we would become very good friends later.

In school I had made a lot of friends until one day a girl was enrolled in our class.I felt something in my heart as if she was an extra ordinary girl.I didn't waste any time,soon I was on her kneck asking her all questions.Believe it or not Lucy Njeri became my first girlfriend.

Our relationship was evident even to the teachers and even one day I engaged In a fight with a boy called George because of messing with her.I protected her with my whole life.Though she was a Kikuyu while I was a Luo-luhya,

I didn't mind because as they say "love is blind."

The same year in 2010,one day as I was walking with lucy home,I felt something in my chest like thorns.Lucy helped me walk home with her hands around my waist and even went ahead to a gate and asked for water from a watchman named Omari whom we had become friend due to our frequent passing infront of his gate.

We walked slowly till we reached. a point where Lucy was to go her way and me my way.She insisted that she wasn't comfortable with me going home alone but I became strong and told her its okay.Few metres from my gate,I met a boy who was my neighbour and what he told me..I couldn't believe I gathered all strength an rushed to my house.

on arrival,I found a multitude of people gathered inside my house and some were crying while my mum was narrating to them some story.On asking what was wrong,my mum who was bold enough told me that my dad had passed on.What happened that day only God knows.I cried and cried but this could not have brought him back.

Two days later we travelled to our upcountry and the following saturday,my dad was burried and yeah my siblings and I were lift with only our mum to look after us.

A shaving ceremony was performed in honour of my father as in a book by Francis Imbuga -BETRAYAL IN THE CITY which I would later read in high school.

A year passed after that and life returned to normal because we came to realise that deat is a path for everyone:the rich,the poor and without victimisation.

We returned to school and life continued

Back in school I was received with messages of condolence.One day as I was walking with my squadd of around six boys:Rodgers,Duncan,Kariuki,Joseph,Elvis and Me, Elvis who was a crook,Climbed over a wall and started walking over the wall.

The care taker of the compound warned him but he did not listen.So he told us that he would come and report us to our head teacher.

This we thought was a joke.

The next morning which was on a Friday,a day for assembly everything went on normally till it was the turn of the head teacher to speak.His facial expression spoke it all.He called the six boys and told us to kneel infront of his office.

Later we were taken in and without talking,everyone was given a suspension letter to take home..

Back at home my mum could not believe that I was involved in such a mess.As I explained to her what happened,the face I got in return said it all."Good boy gone bad."

I kept blaming myself for the feeling of dissapointment my mum had.

Two weeks later I went back to school accompanied by my mum.On arrival I noticed the prescence of the other five students who to me had now become my enemies.I missed a lot during my abscence from school.

The head teacher attended to each parent while we the culprits knelt down at the assembly,heads low in complete shame.

When the headteacher was done,we were all parraded infront of our classmates.We were then ordered to touch our toes and ready to receive five strokes of an electric wire.When it was my turn,that's when I noticed the true colours of our humble headteacher Mr.Otieno.Once he had finished working on us,we were asked to apologise which we did in complete pain.

None of us could be able to sit down comfortably.Our butts were thoroughly worked on.

The day ended well and days came and went.Few months later we did our end of term three exams which I passed qell and graduated into the next class,now KCPE candidate.

The year was full of ups and downs but by the graces of God,I survived them all.

One Monday,a week before our national exams,payers were conducted and we were ready to face the fear of many students.

We did the exams in perfect health except for some few who complained of headaches..

We completed our exams in three days then later we attended the leavers bash for the class of 2012.What now was remaining was the announcement of our final results by the minister of Education.

Everyone left the school compound excited to be called a

(Raiya) civillian for atleast three months before we could join secondary school.Not to talk of the December holidays....