On Saturday, May 28th 2011, Kenyans and friends of the Makan family congregated at Norsborg to welcome the little Alice, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Makan Macharia. Through KSB, the family would like to thank all those who attended the event and made it a fantastic day for Alice and the entire family.
For newcomers, Makan is the eldest son of Mr. Martin Ngatia “GG” and Mrs. Grace Nyambura, a Kenya-Stockholm couple who needs no introduction for those who knows them. The couple has several grandchildren with Alice being the latest arrival so far. We hope that the Alimghty will continue to shower blesses upon the whole family now and in the future.
At the Party, there was plenty of song and dance, food and drinks, mixing and politicking at all levels. Typically, this was the place to “touch base” with Kenyans you never come into contact with on a daily basis. Everybody has been bizzi but on this day, those who attended made time to be bizzi at the Party.
Invited guests did not take chances and people were well dressed. To be exact, the ladies “were dressed to kill” and if you were a new comer, you could wonder whether the event was actually a fashion show. The wazee had their wazee attires while the vijana had their flashy clothes, complete with sagging trousers which can, at times, set your mind wondering as to whether there is some cargo pulling the trouser down.
There was one notorious Kenyan who had a heavy diamond bling-bling hanging on his neck and guests could be seen trying to hold it, just to check it out. You couldn’t miss it and the wearer was just too glad to let curious guests have a feel. If you have never felt a real bling on your fingers, it was a great opportunity to fill in as other guests chatted away the evening as if tomorrow would never come.
It was fun as the Manchester United fans took up their Barcelona counterparts. Those interested awaited for the match with great expectations. A wide screen TV set had been placed strategically at the ground floor and when the match kicked off, fans descended downstairs to begin following the match with bated breath.
Some fans had placed huge bets on the game expecting to scoop huge bonuses depending on the outcome. It is very possible that there are fans currently celebrating the big boom following Barcelona’s victory. It was easy to spot those who were not into football because in the conversations, they could not name the players as compared to other die-hards like Nderitu. He could tell you who is gonna score and which Barcelona defender was likely to be problematic.
Nderitu could only find his match in Man Keegan who too, had the names of key players at his fingertips. Keegan could even tell you who would score, who was likely to worry the opponent, who was the man to watch on both sides and which team would win, all in one minute!
Some fans like Don Clay arrived donning neck-scarfs of their favourite teams. Others who did not have any physical indicators to point to the teams they were supporting made sure that they intervened in discussions to register the names of their preferred teams before melting away into the crowd. If you were keen enough, and within a short time, you could tell who was supporting which team while if you were naïve, a dexterous supporter could convince you as to which team would win.
Kenya-Stockholmers duplicating themselves
If you met a Man-U supporter, he would employ sharp analysis to convince you that Man-U would win but five minutes later, a Barcelona fan would turn that analysis upside down leaving you with Barcelona as the only possible winner. The conclusion was that Kenyans are just talented!
Gladly, during the Manchester-Barcelona discussions, there was no tension and when the Barcelona fans carried the day after their team scooped the cup, the Man-U fans simply gave excuses as to why they lost before retreating to catch some swallow to reflect on what had really happened.
It was interesting, linking up with Man Ofore after a long time. During a brief retreat, Ofore did open the “Consciousness Movement” debate although we had very little time to delve deeply into the discussion so we returned to base, promising to take it up another day. Mr. Ofore appeared extremely concerned about the political situation in Kenya, suggesting that the rise of Sonko in Kenyan politics was a “smoking gun” from the point of view of Kenyan politics gone sour.
At the Party, there was yet another observation. While in Kenya, vijana are being accused of not duplicating themselves to sustain humanity, a quick assessment at the Alice Caai wa Mwana bash revealed that Kenyans in Stockholm may be the direct opposite of their counterparts in back home who do not copulate as a result of too much chwaks.
The number of kids who were playing around was basically “uncountable”, just like it was impossible to tell who is who’s duplicate if you have never been introduced. When you factor in kids who were clutched on shoulders because they are “new arrivals” who could not yet play alone, you begin to appreciate the fact that the two words “Kenya-Stockholmers” will never become extinct.
That is after we leave alone the prams that were packed at the Party premise. In fact, some diapers were being changed live at strategic corners while you could see future moms and future dads relaxing quietly, observing events from a safe distance as their teen-age lives ebbed away. I bet, if you could convert yourself into a small God and get into their minds, they could have been contemplating how it feels like to become a parent but do I say? One point is certain though: that the “Alice Caai wa Mwana” was an inspiration which can only be defined by the individuals who experienced the event and for this, the Makan family deserves kudos!
There is a huge Kenya-Stockholm population in the making and there is very little to worry about, at least at the moment. Needless to say, a quick eye-scan of tummies of ladies who have lately been “having it nice” was self-explanatory – new fresh babies in the making so we may have to expect even more Caai wa Mwanazz in Kenya Stockholm in the coming epoch! Isn’t it appropriate to just say “Hallelujah!”
Councilor Mwaura’s speech
When we arrived in Stockholm in the 90s, we never used to attend as much graduation parties of teenies but today, you have to prepare for a minimum of five such graduations every year. If you like it “in other words”, Wakenya in Stockholm have been producing so much in the last two decades that their kids have now joined the “graduating teams”, not just every year, but also in large numbers. This is the generation which sings the Swedish language the way you sing the national anthem. When they are on the phone on the other line, you could think that you are talking to a blond haired, blue eyed white Swedish chap! Sometimes, they pity their parents for speaking such “poor Swedish” but that is beside the point.
It was a while since I last met Man Karanja at the Nyama choma and it was good that we exchanged numbers. Likewise, I was extremely surprised that the “two Stockholm sisters” have fresh new babies each! It is one of those moments when you begin to appreciate the fact that time flies. If you don’t communicate or make a “bump-into” for more than nine months, be ready for anything because life goes on with or without you!
Councilor Mwaura aka Ganjola, gave a very good speech. One thing I don’t understand and which the Ganjola raised is why Sam Pippo are disputing Mwaura’s Ganjolaship. Kenyans, just like many immigrants, voted for Mwaura in the open before he was elected. Now, Sam Pippo, Watu Wengine, Niliambiwa, Wakenya together with losers like Inasemekana are saying that it’s all porojo yet Mwaura sits in the Ganjola meetings every week!
Mwaura’s opponents should give him a break or stand for elections themselves so that we see whether they will accomplish what Mwaura has achieved. You can talk about a “Ganjola’s List” in Bortkyrka Kommun but when the meetings are called, Ganjola Mwaura is always there! Wakenya, let us give credit where it’s due. Mwaura is a fighter and now, he is our Obama in Bortkyrka as a Ganjola. Anybody disputing this fact needs to produce evidence or keep quiet until Jesus Karast comes back to save us all from our sins, be they ulevi, usharati, uabunuasi, ufisadi, umalaya, ubangi and other Uuuuzzz you may think about.
In the same token, Pastor Muirani will be graduating on 11th June 2011. Pastor Muirani has been studying Theology and after satisfying examiners, he is set. I take this opportunity to sincerely congratulate Pastor Muirani on his coming graduation. Kenyans need people like Muirani who can lead by example. After crossing over from the “World of sinners” Pastor Muirani has made a new and significant step. We can only hope that other Kenyans will learn from the Pastor.
We take this opportunity to thank the Makan family for an event well organized.
Okoth Osewe
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