Grandpa

My grandfather is quite the story teller. As children, we would always seek him out during visits as he would gleefully tell us the tales about his life. He wasn’t one to make up stories, as he would show us photos, letters, basically to prove to us kids that these stories were real. I never questioned the realism of his tales as a child. Young children rarely take a story as fictional, at least from my perspective. The man who traveled all the way from Nabiswa village in Bungoma to witness the burial of Mzee Kenyatta in 1978.Peter Wamalwa Mukhwana is his name.Born in 1937 and circumcised in 1956(Omunyange namba tano).His father was Mukhwana and his mother Veronica Naswa.

He’s warm, loving, firm and straightforward. He has a way of accepting whatever came his way with no more than a shrug. His deep catholic faith carries him through what life has to offer. One of nine children, he pulled himself out of poverty with great drive and determination but he never forgot his roots. He was a renowned farmer in Nabiswa who grew sunflower, sisal and kept livestock. He had a head for figures. He would remind you the day and time mzee Kenyatta was buried.
He loved football. He was a defender and played until 1989.He used to be hired to play inter village football (kwa bakasa).His love for football went on beyond the time he played as he couldn’t miss to watch school games. His favorite bicycle was even stolen as he watched the secondary school games. That is how much kuka loved football. His family ended up loving football….from the sons to the grandsons. Currently, three quarter of the Nabiswa team consists of his children and grandchildren. 

Kuka has two wives who he loves so much. They all live in one homestead harmoniously. The old man has managed to treat them equally by building them similar houses and granaries.

Kuka Wamalwa is one loving and disciplined old man who carries on his daily chores, taken cattle for grazing, take a shower, and visit his usual local brew joint then further find time to for evening story telling with his grandchildren. During the story telling sessions, wildlife stories can’t miss out. The stories also have song sessions where he would sing. He is a wonderful kuka many would admire to have. Away from storytelling, grand pa has keen interests in politics. He narrates political occurrences before and after independence. His analysis of the current affairs is way far. He is a true pan Africanist.

His catholic faith is unquestionable. He can’t miss church, evening prayers and prayers before meals are a must complete with the sign of the cross. His love for the church is evident. The Nabiswa Sub-parish rests on his land that he generously donated to the church. Often, you would hear him say.

“Kumukunda ese sengusia ta!”

Meaning, he can’t sell land. He lives on 18 acre land that he bought when the British left the schemes. He has never sold a piece of the land even as he went through tough times of school fees budden. To many, mzee is a living hero.

Kuka wamalwa is always thankful for anything you'll offer him or anything you'll do to him. Often, when his grandchildren pay him a visit, they always come with goodies. The goodies will be received with words of

“Oryo kuka, wateka kuka, chikhabi kuka”

This is a bukusu dialect to show gratitude thanks and offer blessings.