“My Mother Was a Teacher and She Died Poor” Larry Madowo Opens Up In a Heartrending Way

Romain Virgo once sang that “he who feels it knows’ it, maybe that is why Larry Madowo has penned a profound and passionate article about the teachers’ strike, because it hits close home.

The story of the striking teachers and their struggle to survive struck a chord with Larry because his mother was a P1 teacher. She lived on the meager teachers salary, did odd jobs in order to raise two kids and even pay the rent. Which was at the time difficult to pay despite it being 400 Kshs.

In his column on Daily Nation, Larry speaks fondly of his late mother writing:

“She loved teaching and spoke proudly of many of her former pupils, who had gone on to be more successful than she would ever be. Because of her passion, inspired by the dignity and enthusiasm she brought to the profession, several others in our extended family chose the same path to the classroom. It was an honour to be her son.

My sister and I have both had the privilege of studying for degrees and options for higher education far more advanced than my mother ever had. Even combined, our dedication and sacrifice in our respective occupations cannot match hers. It is inconceivable that teachers still face the same challenges that she did when we were growing up.

I respect those who give of themselves every day to instruct impressionable young ones, having seen first-hand the patience, grace and fortitude required in that career. They do us an invaluable service in what is largely a thankless job. They deserve better.

My mother died four years after the 1997 agreement. She never got her big payday and we never moved into that house with electricity.”