How i found my self in the slums

My names are Abraham ashidiva dumbeya. I was born in western kenya vihiga county. I was named Abraham during my childhood baptism in a Catholic church called musoywa found in a village called Jepses. Ashidiva was a name given to me which was my grandfather's name. Dumbeya was our community name. I am from a family of four children and we were raised by a single mother called violent. I was born 13th may 1995. I am the last born.we have two sisters who are older and a brother. According to the story before i was born.my mum studied to form two (secondary school).her journey ended here because she got pregnant for my first sister. She dropped out of school. Her parents were not rich. She was asked to get marriage so that the person responsible for her pregnancy could take care of her.This guy was a teacher and he came to pass away when mum had given birth to a baby girl who is my older sister.  This marriage had to end and after the burial of that teacher she returned back to her parents. She came to fall into another relationship and got a second born baby girl. This marriage couldn't were do to some reasons. She again found another relationship which also was not suitable. Hence the fourth relationship i was born.my father rejected me with three months. There was pressure now she has for kids and the father's to this kids are not responsible.  When i was three months. My mum had to leave me and other sisters and my brothe to her parents to find a job so that we could eat. By this time i didn't know anything. My mum had other four brother and three sisters. One of her sister called Jane had travelled to Nairobi to find a job also. Nairobi was very far.at a time you can't spend two days or even three. Now mum wanted to travel to Nairobi  where her sister had gone to. By this time the only line of communication was a letter. Telephone were not popular. Jane could not know of her sister's journey. I just woke up one morning and find out that this is the day mum is leaving. I thought she will take less time before returning. I crying and wanted to follow her. But i was held tightly in the arms of my uncle. All i could do was to cry and allowed to wave bye.it was hurting though i was convinced by  a sweet to extinguish my tears.  I kept on having hopes. My grandma will wash me.feed me and other necessary action for a child. My sister were attending school. On the other hand. Mum alighted at Nairobi machakos bus station. She did know anyone. The journey took ten hours. Time was running late. She asked someone to direct her to kawagware where her sister was staying. She took matatu to kawagware and fall in the hands of a mama kibanda selling vegetables.  This lady felt for her.and accept to help her for a night. The following morning she woke up tracing her sister Jane. It was hard. Late in the evening she was forced to spend the night outside. Nairobi was dangerous. Lions move outside feeding on people. She was lucky to see the raise of the sun in the morning. She continued asking everybody. There are many Jane,the city is large. Hunger ,thirsty and joint pain.when she had lost her hopes trying to find somewhere she could sleep. Some called her name. It was a big surprise,it was her sister Jane who had spotted her.  They all cried and prayed.her sister Jane had came to buy herself super. They left to the house.so that they could be safe from robbers and the jaw of the lions. After Jane had her story. They started going to work together. Washing clothes for people. She came to shift to kibera slums. Where my sisters and brother joined them. I was left home.until 2006 is when i was transferred to Calvary primary school found in kibera slums. I did my class 8.joined raila educational centre. Life was hard.both of us stayed in one room. This temporary house that we call home.was our sitting room,bed room and kitchen. Our main meal was ugali and sukuma.  At a time we could go hungry though no one could notice.my sister will help mum walk as they sell eggs.this eggs were prepared by boiling. At a time they would walk and they sell nothing. We dont have food and we could just eat one egg each to call it a day. Remember end month the landlord is also on your neck waiting for his rent. We really struggled to survive. Paying school fees was nother problem. We couldn't attend the best schools and didn't get good teachers .in the slums you will die if you play with your life just a second.  I remember post election in  2007 it was a big mess. Youth could wait for a train heading to Uganda. They rob it.this is a little story about what use to happen. Since during this post election there was a minimal supply of food. Police were killing innocent people. Now youthcame to leaen that the train was still operating as normal. And we could not know what it was carrying. One day the angry youth went to the railway line and stood to wait for the passing of the train. A few hours it appeared heavily loaded. It is sealed and carrying so many heavy containers.because people did have food.the youth climbed into this train. Separated the head and some back containers. It was hard for the driver to sence this since he didn't expect. Most of people who repairs railway line are from kibera slums and some were employees. They plugged off padlock from this last containers and to our surprise. There was bags of floor,sugar and weat floor. It was a joyful day for every residents of kibera slums. You could carry home what you can. Even ifyou are a child no one was there to stop you since everyone was busy minding their own business. Before the train arrived to the check point and realize that there are some containers missing. No container was left unturned.  Drugs is mostly sold there. Police are scared of coming. When you engage in a fight until you solve by our selves. People would kill each other and you have nowhere to report.  If you buy new clothes they robbers will broke into your house. Whether you are there or not.what i chose to do was playing soccer as my hobby. Thanks God i didn't use any d**g because i saw most of people youth involved in this activity got mad. Others were hunted down by the police. It did take a day without hearing g*n shots. It was leave or die.one day mum got a missionary called Rainsford who really was a blessing. Could buy us food. By this time my sisters had now gotten married. But in complicated marriage. Always crying.  I got some sponsorship to attend football academy but through corruption someone else was fixed.mum got sick and was operated three times without success.if not this missionary guy she could have died.late in the hospital it was spotted we drink dirt water.in the slums most clean water pipes pass through sewage. Other pipe you will see them leaking and mixing with sewage.  No one cares,all rivers here are black water.if you are new will think it's oil.though the attraction of flies and other insects that like dirt will explain everything to you.  Tourists will pay a visit,they take forced pictures and you can't refuse. Heavy security of police ready to shoot and kill are aside them.life in the slums oooh.i couldn't imagine but to  remain shut. This missionary took us to his church. He really tried make us look like anybody else. When he give us new shoes she are stolen in kibera slums. In the church other Christians didn't like us.they thought we are from the slums, we belong thrre,we smoke,drink,use drugs.  We felt we are not welcome here.we could not talk much.we didn't know how to talk fluent English. The church will provide lunch and everyone needed to bring something to share.mum will make ugali and sukuma, and this looked like a poor family meal. No one will have a taste.we carry back our food home. We couldn't throw it away because this was what we use to eat. It was painful going back with your food. I felt what no one could feel or see. What i would ask was is real God exist?life has many challenges. No one choose to be in the situation. And we don't blame anyone. God has a reason we will be a testimony somewhere. I came to study hospitality as my career. Now am a chef .mum left to kapsabet when he bought a plot there. We were left at Nairobi to hustle and send her some food since she is old now. On October 2019 our home was demolished by nandi county a story (nandi eviction in YouTube). Our land wanted to be grubbed.and our life has been a long journey. We still believe that we shall overcome and glow again.  People in the slums have great future,they struggle to eat,wear and pay there bills.we have nice friends and we stay as a family. We help each other.  Even though some of the youth are dangerous and d**g dealers. We have peace and unite. Its that most of us lucky directives and guidance. Lucky of educational and health care. We have talents,good stories to learb from. A few have made it through,life here is cheap but to afford it is the biggest problem. Most youth have good aideas of changing the world but no government support. This slums has raised great leader who actually unders what povert means. We don't fight people's religion here.everyone has a right to save his or her God. Friends from all over the world have been here.helping to lift up our lives. Everything here is money. Even  getting services like visiting wash rooms it is money.  People will judge us wrong when we try to make it right.leaving here is a challenge but thou we are used to it and stay as a family. It doesn't matter you tribe,your colour.