Ciku Muiruri has established herself as one of the leading radio hosts in the country. And thanks to her ‘Busted’ radio section, her popularity went through the roof. But what most people don’t know is that Ciku is a proud mother to a 16 year old girl.
Today, she dedicated her column on the paper to her;
Erica. I have been grappling about whether to write about her or not. Then the terrorists came calling. And I knew: You are going to write about your baby.
She came into my life 16 years ago. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever set my eyes on. I had no idea what being a mom was all about. The only thing I knew was I could not bear being apart from her. So she slept with me, with my breast in her mouth. She would wake up and suckle. I would wake up and burp her. It was a partnership. She grew older, grew out of my bed into her dreadlocks. I’m ol’ school. I did locks when no one else did, or could.
I was summoned to school at some point because her hairstyle just would not do. I made it clear that her dreads weren’t going anywhere. They let her be. Her grades were great (If they weren’t she may have met a different fate!). But still, there was a price to pay. She had a teacher who would mock her, ask her if she had lice etc. She would come home crying asking me to cut it off. I had the choice of going to the school administration to report the teacher who tormented her, but I chose not to. Instead I used her prejudice to prepare my child for the future. “She wants you to cut your hair so that you fit in and look like everyone else. But you’re not like everyone else. Don’t ever be afraid to be different. To stand out, you are special.”
(L-R) Erica, her grandma & her mom, Ciku
It may sound inspiring but for a 5-year-old kid, it was torture. She hated being different. When she realized I was not relenting, she learned how to own it. By the time she left primary school, she loved her hair and the individuality it gave her. The confidence in not following the crowd and paving her own way is what has made her who she is today. She is not afraid of challenges. She is not for instance, an athlete but is taking on the 42 km Chicago marathon to purchase mobile blood units for Kenya. Between you and me (Shhhh! She never reads my columns) she has no hope of ever finishing this race.
But if she accidentally stumbles across this newspaper and sees what
I’ve written, she will not break down and say; “My mom doesn’t believe in me…” Instead, she will tap into every last reservoir in her tiny, little body to prove me wrong. That’s the kind of girl she is.
Finish line or not, she is already a winner in my eyes. She is waking up at crazy hours to train. She has her finals this academic year, is in numerous clubs and also juggling her School Prefect and Charity committee duties. She met the First Lady a couple of weeks ago and was her usual vivacious self, devoid of nervousness, brimming with confidence. When we left she said of Her Excellency: “She was so warm and easy to talk to, she is just like a mom!” On the 13th of October my daughter will be running for all the moms out there. 20 of whom die daily in child-complicated births related to blood shortages. Yes, 20 deaths DAILY. This is the biggest terrorist we have ever faced. It doesn’t need a name. It’s faceless but just as lethal. Please support Erica, for all our wives, moms, daughters, aunties, and sisters. Help her, help you. When will YOU need blood?
LIKE Le Ngai Foundation on facebook. Mpesa Paybill No 542545 acc no bloodlink. Ciku’s beefs, Zuqka Magazine, Daily Nation. 27th Sept, 2013.
Now you know…
@RobertAlai: Video of Art Caffe at #Westgate after apparent looting by KDF facebook.com/photo.php?v=10… #WestgateAttack
Mzee Jalang’o Mwenyewe
Kikuyu rule the world
