The Power of Hope

By David Aqwiri

Hatasio takes a journey from a small village in Kakamega to Maseno School. The book highlights his experience both in school and as a teenager back at home. Hatasio faces social and peer pressure, especially when he is sent to live with his Aunt Truphena in Nyalenda slums in Kisumu. He finds himself in a difficult position where he needs to focus on his studies amids teenage peer pressure. During the troubled teenage years, he interacts and with four girls, as would be any teenager of his time. Hatasio uses his story to talk about the socio-economic and political developments in Kenya, his perception of them, and the impact they had on his life. Eventually, he overcomes all the obstacles to emerge among the top students in the KCSE, nationally. His life is a testament to the power of hope and determination

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Aqwiri
• Release date: Sep 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393581451

Book preview

The Power of Hope

David Aqwiri

Published by David Aqwiri, 2020.

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

THE POWER OF HOPE

First edition. September 4, 2020.

Copyright © 2020 David Aqwiri.

Written by David Aqwiri.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

THE POWER OF HOPE

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I dedicate this book to my family for the love and support they have given me throughout my life. I also want to thank Maseno School for shaping my personality through discipline and character-developing programs. Finally, I give glory to God for  His guidance and sustenance

Hatasio swung through the big black chair in his corner office at the Kakamega County Offices. Outside the window, he caught a glimpse of young boys and girls walking in through the gate. It was the beginning of the year and he was certain they had come for the country government bursaries. Back in his days, only the members of parliament offered bursaries. However, seeing the young innocent faces of the young boys and girls in uniforms, carrying mattresses and metallic boxes, his mind flashed back to his first day in Maseno School.  They travelled all the way from Shinyalu village. He felt tired and hungry, a feeling he pushed aside. At this very moment, nothing was greater than the thrill of joining Maseno School. The sign in the big gate which read, Perseverance shall win through, greeted him. Once inside, he joined the queue, adorned in the Emali Primary School uniform. He patiently waited for his turn to change into full Maseno School gear. As he looked around, he saw everyone in the green sweaters and grey shorts running around. His father, Mr. Rasto Kizito whispered, You will soon be one of them. Tears of joy and confusion came to his eyes. He was glad to be there but he was also afraid he did not know anybody. His time came and he made his way to the table of admissions. Present was the Boarding Master, Mr. BM Okoth, assisted by three other teachers whom he would get to know later.

The Boarding Master and his team would go through the checklist, process admission, issue uniforms, and the other boarding items other than the mattress and the bed sheets. Among the things Hatasio had been instructed to bring with him were the hockey stick and a slasher. He did not know their clear use. The other items in the checklist were books, two rims of printing papers, a new international version bible, golden bells, and atlas. After the admission, he stepped out into the dining hall lawn. Adjacent was the big rugby pitch. A place he would later spend his evenings for the next four years. It was time to face the world alone. He did not know what lay ahead and was a little anxious. His mother and father were set to leave. Their last words still lingered in his head. Rasto reminded Hatasio that he was the hope of the family. That was too much to bear in his small shoulders and he did not know if he would measure up, though he gave an indication that he understood it very well. He felt alone in the world and almost broke down. His mother told him to be strong and that he would soon get used to it like the others.

The Boarding Master assembled the new students together and gave a long welcoming speech. He ended with school is the place where boys are made into men which he quoted from one of the set books and we as Maseno community are happy to be part of that transition and to guide you he concluded. They were taken into their dormitories and each assigned a bed space. The Boarding Master offered a marker pen to write their names and admission numbers on their belongings. Hatasio was a little taken aback by this, since he was not used to writing his name on the collar of his shirt. Even so, he kept quiet like the other new students. After the admission was complete, the House Prefect assembled the new students for orientation.  I am sure many of you are confused and terrified, he opened his statement. I want to take this opportunity to welcome you to Amadi House. Moreover, I will introduce you to your new friends, forms two students, who will guide you for this term until you become familiar with our culture. Upon making the closing statement, he invited the form two students to pick their friends among the form ones and begin the orientation process. Thus, Wamugunda became the first friend Hatasio made in school. The first thing Wamugunda told Hatasio is that items like buckets and basins were communal. Form one students only kept their buckets for a week after which they were never to see them again. For the first few weeks, the new students locked water up in their buckets under the beds. This gave some level of security to some degree though sometimes they would back and find the bucket and the water gone, leaving the handle secured to the padlock, he offered.

This statement from Wamugunda sent Hatasio into a panic. While still recovering from the panic state, Hatasio inquired further, But the Boarding Master had told us that this water would be used to shower, mop, and wash pieces of uniform. He even added that Maseno, being a busy place, offered not time to waste fetching water. Wamugunda gave a brief smile before offering further information, Empty buckets are hard to come by. The monos, are allowed a grace period of one month to settle down and adjust to the school’s rigorous programs. During this period, I will guide and introduce you to the life of a Maseno boy.  After which, you will be expected to integrate fully into this life, including being actively involved in the manual work around the school compound. During your life as a mono you will sleep in the upper deck while I sleep in the lower bed space. Hatasio shivered at the thought of sleeping on the top bed. He feared for his bedwetting problem. He had really tried to manage it but it still came back during some bad nights. To protect his reputation, he would not remove the polythene paper that covered the new mattress, at least not yet.

Wamugunda showed Hatasio around the pitches and asked him to choose a game because in the coming weeks the games master will expect him to identify with one. The next day, Hatasio went straight to the football pitch dressed in his pink Amadi House top, games short and white canvas rubbers. Suddenly, the memories of his days in primary school came flooding back. He had been one of the most celebrated local players. In standard eight, he helped take Emali Primary to the divisional level when they were bundled out unceremoniously by the neighboring Bukura Primary School. Even though they lost, Hatasio had his moment of the day. He remembered vividly how his teammates carried him shoulder high when he scored the first goal. His village had produced many great players and most of them came from Emali Primary School. The school was respected, especially at the zonal level where they were champions for a long time. Hatasio was a fine player by his village standards. He had been playing for Emali since standard six and was well respected in the team; fondly referred to as Drogba. This very day, he had proved his worth and affirmed his name among the leading footballers in Emali Primary. He was jolted back from his deep though by the soccer ball hitting his face. He wondered if the skills he had gained in Emali Primary would be useful in Maseno School.

Back from games, Hatasio, found Wamugunda waiting for him in the cubicle. Hatasio did not like water very much. Luckily, for him, in Maseno students showered after games. The ablution block was one huge structure with many compartments. The bathrooms did not have doors; instead, canvas materials were used as covers.  Back in primary school, he had heard stories about boarding schools where students showered in a common bathing area. He had also heard