It is not every day you get a call
from one of the young people you worked with almost a decade ago. It was around
12 noon and I was on another call and there was a call coming through but I was
not able to pick. Then I called back immediately I was done but there was no
answer and as I put down the phone saw it ringing again and I answered. The
voice sounded familiar but I could not place a name on it...10 years is a long
time. Now almost a year I have not had the courage to go back to my writing and every time I sit down to do it, the memories of my dad come flying into my tiny head.........holding me back from pouring my heart out......the only way I know how.....today something special happened and I got back my grip.
I still remember like it was
yesterday as we took the truck (Lorry) to go and play in Badasa (out of
town) His team had not qualified for another final and this will be the 1st big
trophy if they won. So the excitement and singing on top of a truck and every time you had to bend as the trees slapped your face. Not scared
by the bullets fired from the bush along the road around the bank quarters ...I think taken over by the
joy of just playing football. But on this day the guns were silent as we were
thrown up and down on a dusty road holding on for dear life to the venue of the finals. We lacked the luxury of a team bus and our was a truck, ohh did I say there were no seat belts because there were no seats in the first place and you had to balance on the grills that crisscrossed on the truck top. Swinging and literally dancing to a song that was just in your head while the laughter melted hearts.
A goat or 2 inside ready for slaughter and
a gesture of a sacrifice for a good tournament coming to an end and blessing
for no bloodshed only sweat. This was the essence of #Shoot2ScoreNot2Kill
having one tribe play against another, instead of shooting with the gun to kill
each other we shoot it out through a game of football. Our only revenge is
through a game of football, where there is no red no yellow card and instead of
punishing violence we rewarded peaceful acts on and off the field. No blood was shed only sweat. The elders
were present to witness this big day and in the end we all celebrated and sung
together. But just before the awards, I was so shaken and was overcome by emotions...I still recall one elder shouting from my side....you have done what men will not dare do and now you are crying............those words pierced through my heart...this was a daring mission quickly I wiped my tears......
In the evening, just sharing jokes and stories from our time together
and many more fun moments. I was so scared to leave the boys alone and spend at
one of the elder’s home. A big sister does not leave the brothers alone in the
bush and we spent night all of us together under the stars with the giggles and
little laughter. We had comedians bigger than many on Churchill Show but that
is a story for another day....... but we also had a captain called Dunde was also a coach and the team brought together Kenya1 and Kenya2 with the local communities and those working in Marsabit from other parts of Kenya. In the team they were brothers a lesson for many Kenyans today, they had no sponsors being in the bush so you all contributed to buy uniforms for the team, sacrificed to be on time for practice and despite all the hurdles nothing will take away the smiles, the joy and laughter brought about by #football
All the big teams knocked out in this tournament and those left were the
unlikely one. It was like Leicester in 2016 it was a surprise no one expected
and this was our own premier league and his team was the Leicester of 2016
winning against all odds. The game was cut short by a fight that broke out
between the teams, a disputed goal led to a walk out by one team. Then we had
to do something that is not in normal football a third half where we sat down
with the teams to negotiate and dialogue. Later that day it was a great win and
as the awards were being handed out it was hard to hold back tears. Knowing how
far we have come as a communities, in the teams we had all the tribes in
Marsabit represented. Yes we fought but we solved our fights amicably through
dialogue. This was a special game that was featured in a film called #SoldiersOfPeace narrated by #Michael
Douglas. (Here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCPyyFeawe0 )
Today, the call that came through is
from one of the boys on the team that day. He was inspired by #Shoot2ScoreNot2Kill and joining the forces went on to study for a Bachelors Degree. All
this is not just a coincidence; the stars were aligned to make his dream a
reality. He did his research on #HODI work, everyday he followed me on social media and read every step of
our journey and literally defended his thesis based on a conviction that it is
possible to coexist. He is Gabra I am Borana and he calls me adha Fatu! (Big
Sister) but just like me he is mixed in his own way and has faced the wrath of
tribalism first hand but instead of shooting to kill he choose a different path
#Shoot2ScoreNot2Kill. In the recent past the Police Officers are described in negative way! I Call him the Soldier of Peace, he carry's a gun but will not shoot to kill .......Join me in congratulating the Wailers Boy Mr. Dokata Katelo. #Wailers FC #HODI
