• Family,  Love

    Dating. Contraceptives. Parents.

    I was 24 years old when my mum asked me aside, for a short talk I presumed. This was the second visit to Kenya after being in Vienna for 3 years. It was also the very first time I was introducing a man to my parents. Writing that felt easy than it actually was. I would describe my father as a strict no nonsense strong believer. That is how we all saw him. In my time, (my younger sisters say he loosened up lol) growing up in his household, this man never tolerated guys hanging around me and vice versa. So I knew better than to even mention a boy…

  • Family,  Losing my mother. The Journey

    Till we meet. 😇

    Once upon a time I used to be the only daughter in my family. Wait! I used to love reading stories that started with that line. Now I pretty much read anything that starts with whatever. As a tiny girl and before I was blessed with two beautiful sisters, my grandma spoiled me silly and took me everywhere she went . I was her balance. I accompanied her to the farm, picked whatever she directed me to and in most afternoons she called me to take her to her friends house. That was our routine. I was very proud that this no-nonsense woman chose me. Almost always. Towards the end…

  • Family

    And then she was born. Sweet 14.

    💕I will kiss her even at 100 💕 It was December 2004, that time around Christmas. At my grandparents home where most of the extended family had gathered to make merry. And I vividly remember hanging out with some cousins and then one of them, Njeri whispered to me after seeing my stepmom tending to guests. She innocently uttered , “aki Ciru mama yako aneshiba leo.” (Ciru your mum is so full today). If I answered her, it had to be something like,”eeeh amekula sana leo.” (Yes she has eaten a lot today) Njeri is younger than me. So I think she wasn’t trying to be silly, she just had…

  • Family,  Struggles. Hope

    Did dad fail me…?

    It’s important that you know that I’m writing this from my own perspective. My personal feelings, experience(s) and own reflection. As some of you already know, my mum died when I was 9. And after she died it felt like she died and that was it. We never spoke about her. Nobody ever initiated a talk that involved her in our household. I tried on few occasions but I usually got vague responses and so we never had a meaningful successful talk about her. Now older and finding healing I try to poke and suck out information about mum from anyone I knew was close to her every opportunity I…

  • Life Lessons,  Struggles. Hope

    Your story is yours.

    Everyone has a story and some people not only find it therapeutic telling their stories but also love seeing change happening through the stories they tell. I mean, aren’t some stories better off told? Mostly for our own good and at times for the good of others around us. I had a discussion with a friend a while back that made me realize how afraid or scared some people (me included) are to share certain stories out there even when we aren’t supposed to feel that way. Of course we all have different reasons why we choose not to share what we don’t. And we all have that right! I…

  • Family,  Short stories

    Good tidings.

    Awesome reader, It dawned on me that I forget to tell you the slightest thank you for always stopping by this space, reading, commenting and sharing with your people. Now that is bad manners considering my last blog entry. this I am not the only reason I write but you are. I can choose to keep my stories to myself but I wouldn’t be doing anyone a favor. You encourage me to put out more of my stories out there. Your feedback and how we literally embark and dismantle a topic I write about gives me so much joy. Thank you also for sliding in my dm or WhatsApp for…

  • Family,  Short stories

    Flirty Christmas. ☺️

    Pic is from last years Christmas 🎄 Is Christmas a choice? Living in Shags (village) made Christmas celebration more of an obligation than a sincere acknowledgement of Christ has been born. I was condemned to celebrate the birth of Christ since birth because I descended from a christian family. I honestly don’t care much about religion but I am me. Outfit(s)/ Sunday best Well, if you didn’t get new clothes any other time of the year then you literally prayed for the end the year. You knew your parents would get you a new pair of jeans, shoe or dress. The so called cinderella dresses…men those were everything for most…

  • Family,  Life Lessons,  Struggles. Hope

    Help and Walk Away.

    I thought to start off with a few simple questions. How do you feel when you help someone? Do you love to hear a thank you? Do you forget and walk away after you helped someone? Do you dwell there and expect them to pay you back? You might have someone who came through for you at one point when you hit rock bottom. Might be a relative. (Usually is). You might find these characters will sometimes or always try to make you feel small years later. It can be they helped you directly or through someone. Some of these characters will make you feel like they want you to…

  • End Rape Culture! Me too

    She. Follow up

    Dear lovely people. I still can’t fully comprehend what has happened the past few days. I honestly tried to write that story so many times over the last few years but every time I started I would tremble, start crying and would stop at the second sentence. I have no idea where the strength and the courage came from. I would like to lay down some facts about that story. She is me. It was very much easier for me to write that story in 3rd person. Don’t say I was living in denial. If you have gone through whatever trauma you must resonate and know how hard it is…

  • End Rape Culture! Me too

    She. Healing. Reality. 3

    Having to cope with pain inflicted on you by someone else physically, mentally and emotionally has had to be the most challenging thing in her life. After twenty something years of bearing this heavy burden alone, she couldn’t do it any longer. She battled on and off depression episodes. She smiled on covering her bruised underneath. She refused to have one more sleepless night. She confided in someone who purely loves her. That person held her down. Held her till her tear glands were exhausted. Gained a pinch of her trust and just then she realized there are truly God sent humans. She took a leap of faith and told…