PARENT AT 25?

I've been continuously fascinated by the thought of being a father. This is now almost a permanent thought in my head; something I think of on the regular. I guess it's because of the society. (We always have to blame society first.) I also think that it's because of the fact that 50% of the people I knew in campus are either parents already or will soon be. Some of my childhood friends are also young parents. However, I recently found out that not everyone will share the joy of me having a kid. . .at this young age. (I'm not even 25 BTW)

We're all aware that premarital sex is wrong according to the Bible. We're also fully aware (and if you didn't know this, you need to open your eyes wider) that Kenya is a f**kin nation. Left, right and center, everyone wants to get laid. It shouldn't be a surprise to see one of your friends, one of your cousins and one of your Exs fully loaded with another human being inside them. At this point is when I have a problem with the society. Kenyans need to learn how to focus on the most important aspect of a situation.

As a guy, it is usually not that bad. If you have a father who is still African, he will be proud of you after you impregnate a lady. You will probably earn more respect from him and any other male member of the family. You will probably know the share of your inheritance at this point. On the other hand, the lady doesn't get so much of a royal treat just because of the swollen belly.

I've never understood why people would label someone a whore just because they're pregnant. I don't understand why you would beat up your daughter because she is pregnant. I don't understand why parents waste their time and other resources trying to turn the situation from a pregnancy to a crime, the father of the child being a criminal for impregnating their daughter.

I'm not trying to justify premarital sex here. I'm just trying to understand why it is so hard for us to think positively about any pregnancy. If you've never known this, lemme tell it to you for free: there are a lot of people out there that don't want you to be a parent. Your parents, your Exs, your 'friends' ... anybody you can think of. But that's not the point. The point is, we need to treat this situation better. Accepting that someone made a mistake and got your daughter pregnant will make the situation better. Accepting that you forgot to take your birth control pills will make the situation better. Accepting that you're jobless but will struggle to provide for your kid in one way or another will make the situation better. Maybe all these abortions wouldn't happen if a lady wasn't so scared of what her father would do to her.

As a society, we need to accept that the youth will make a lot of mistakes. We also need to make sure that we'll be there to pick them up and continue with the journey of life. I just hate how everyone views you as the sodom and gomora Whore Of The Month just because you're a parent at 25.

Makiga Something Something

It was on a monday evening, one of those cold evenings. My friend George gave me company as I dropped to Eldoret town to fetch me a modem. It only felt fair that I also accompany him as he checked on his grandma who recently stepped on a nail. So we're waiting for the doctor and I see this Ad on Makiga something something. It's a machine for making interlocking building bricks, I think. The guy on the Ad says it can cut off your building budget by 50% and goes ahead to mention several other benefits. My biggest worry is "DOES THE BUILDING MADE FROM THE BRICKS LAST?"

You and I can go ahead and mention some new products on the market that have very nice adverts, filled with all kinds of spectaculars. The game plan here is to make a substandard product that will earn you quick cash; a product that addresses a market characterized by a continuously changing demand; a product that will save you enough change to consider buying more of the product.

Makiga something something is the product in this case.

I'm back, but sick.

I had almost forgotten that I have a blog. I've been a little busy with my internship with PamojaTogether for the past 1.5 months and that would be the reason for so many cobwebs and the foul smell on these walls. Apart from that, I'm trying to enjoy life while I can. Most people forget to do so. This week has been sad following deaths in every part of the country. RIP to the souls we've lost.

I really didn't know any of the people that have passed on this week, but I also had my own share of 'grief'. I just came home because I didn't want SabaSaba to find me in Raila's lovely hometown, Bondo. 2 days later, I'm brought to the ground with Malaria & Typhoid. FYI, these 2 ninjas have never attacked me at the same time. Trust me when I tell you it's nothing to joke about.

I hate being sick. I hate the tablets, yes, but that's partly the reason. I hate the unstable moods, yes, but that's partly the reason. I hate the drawing of blood for testing, yes, but that's partly the reason. I hate the waiting in long queues at the clinic, yes, but that's partly the reason. The main reason why I hate being sick is, whether you like it or not, you will have to be off Mary Jane, alcohol, tobacco or anything that floats your goat. This is not for 2 or 3 days but at least a week.

If you had to be off 'medication' for a week, thank your God. I didn't want to ask my doctor about the period that I should stay off any illicit substance. I knew he'd tell me a month. So, I decided to take it up with the cute nurse at the pharmacy. She told me 2 WEEKS! 2 FREAKING WEEKS. I'm 2 days into the fortnight and I don't like it at all!

Well, I just hope that I'll be feeling great after the 2 weeks. Having a threesome with Malaria & Typhoid for 3 consecutive days has drained me weak.