Stories And Poems

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The Bell of Mathare - By Dennis Karanja (A Story)

In Mathare, a town in Kenya there lived long ago a very rich man who was Governor of the town. He was loved by the people of Mathare, not because he was very rich but because his heart was kind and true.

Now many of the people were poor and times were often hard. Sometimes the crop failed and they had very little food to eat. The mothers and fathers grew sick and thin, and even the plates of the children were often empty.

My Life as a Maid Servant - By Hannah Wairimu, age 14 - 7th January 2004 (A Story)

My Mum and Dad were moderately rich. I enjoyed life and my Mum bought me that I was in demand for. I couldn't even have a hint of a thought in my mind that one day, one time I would be someone’s servant.

One day as I came home from school Uncle was there with a sad stare with one of my neighbours. I called him and asked him to tell me what was going amiss. He didn’t want to hurt me so he beat about the bush. As I became inquisitive and my anxiety grew large, he had to hit the nail on the head by explaining the whole truth to me.

A Terrible Day - By Kenedy Vulu (A Story)

I was walking home through the forest from work. Suddenly I heard a rustling of leaves in a nearby bush. ’’Bump!’’ came a snake from the bush. The snake stopped and lay without moving. It looked dead. It was a big snake. I felt trapped when I saw it.

I fled as fast as my legs could carry me. I ran as fast as a deer, then I felt tired and hid under a tree. I heard rustling of leaves from the tree. I looked up and saw the snake. I stood up and I started running. The snake was still following me! My heart was pounding like a hunted dog.

A Narrow Escape - Yvonne Wanjiru (A Story)

It was on Tuesday morning when we received a phone call, it was my aunt she wanted us to go and celebrate the Christmas holiday with her family. My mother said that we could go the next day. I was as happy as Christopher Columbus after discovering the sea route to America!

The next day we woke up very early at 5 O’clock in the morning. We went to the bus stop and waited for the bus to arrive. We stayed for about thirty minutes. The bus came and we got in.

Sorry Mama - Charles and Stephen 2008 (A Poem)

Poem below written during the post election violence Dec 2007 - February 2008 By Charles and Stephen 2008. Mathare North Library

SORRY MAMA!

Hi! Mama dry your tears
You don't have to cry those hopeless tears,
You always real for us like a mother
Struggling with life with 6 children on your
Own,
I feel like 17yrs old, no father for me around,
He was gone before I was borne,
I feel sorry for you mama,
Be coz they always call you a beggar,
When they see me coming around their yard!
They say! Here we go! He's coming for sugar,
I wish I had my father around,
He could be helping you around,
And that's why!

Watoto Wana Say - by George Nange (A Poem)

I am going to write a poem, a poem about Man's knowledge and mystery
A poem about the poor child in Iraq, a child soldier in Liberia, A poem about an abused and exploited child,
Perhaps about my Mum, Dad, my family
Oh yes! My friend an African child
KWANI, WATOTO WANA SAY

Mathare is Where I Call Home - by Charles and Stephan (A Poem)

Mathare North children reciting a poem

GIRLS & BOYZ

I'm a Kenyan born
And I was a raised in the poorest slum named (mathare valley)
God forgive me for poor
Living
Coz im a child
Stranded in this cold
Night,
This is the most poorest
Slum white people use
To talk about,
Yes! This is the place
Where brothers who love
Prison came from,
God forgive me for being born and raised here
I know God you still need me and that's why
MATHARE IS WHERE I CALL HOME

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