Never in the history of this Church has a great outreach ever been witnessed like Kitale's. This outreach will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the most splendid events the church has ever organized. All those who managed to set their feet in this corn land which is about 400kms from Nairobi will bear me witness that things flowed smoother than we expected, a clear indication that there was power higher above that of humans directing and controlling events. Though my space on this platform and the number of words I may use might be limited, I cannot withhold some things in my chest unless I want to risk an outburst. How can I forget the way I marveled at the vast tracts of land all covered by thick 'forests' of maize plantations? It was a clear indication of how hardworking people in this region are. At some point, I wished I was born within the region to own such plantations but this remains just a mere wish which if compared with horses, beggars could ride.
One thing you didn't know about me is that I consume everything edible apart from the abominable beasts stated in Leviticus 11 as well as all other substances likely to distort my normal functioning such as drugs; I avoid them like a plague. However, maize and all its products tend to form my favourite dish having been brought up in a family that strongly believes in solid food (hope this confession creates no impression of me being a glutton). This, certainly, explains why my eyes remained glued to the vast maize plantations that beautified the fields.
I was surprised at how cheap roasted maize were; whereas in the country's capital one maize goes for 0.3 US dollars, 0.1 US dollars ONLY was enough to buy me one full maize whose size was almost double that I buy in Nairobi. Their restaurants must be the eighth wonder of the world. With a single dollar, you would eat and risk bloat due to the finger-licking meals these people prepare. Chicken is so cheap there that I had to confirm in one restaurant that they were not selling us a hornbill. This is certainly the land of 'ingoho'(chicken).
With all the maize I saw, I was surprised that some parts of the country might be starving when such maize is being harvested in millions here. I guess the problem is normally transport, unawareness and perhaps...emmh..negligence. If only businesspersons would think of how to bridge this gap, they would not only feed the starving in the marginalized areas but they would also earn handsomely. You are still here? I'm giving a business idea for free, seize the opportunity!! But just before you leave, you must be willing to hear this... For all the consanguineous people who are outgoing, adventurous and fun loving like me, Kitale is the place to visit. Reason? Kitale museum forms the climax of the tour. It being the first inland museum in Kenya developed in 1926, it has a myriad of ethnographical stuff gathered from the different ethnic groups surrounding the town. The warm temperatures of the region soothes the body whereas the fresh air makes one to not just breathe but take deep breaths as though sniffing something in the air.
Since I might sound as though I had left for Kitale to just tour and explore the environment, I was one among those who preached most. I walked around with a handful of tracts hammering to our audience what the preacher on stage was saying. Nevertheless, as you would anticipate, I encountered some challenges ranging from haughty backsliders who tried to poison our listeners to arrogant respondents who thought we were preaching so that we would later ask for 'mia tatu na kumi' (money). I particularly remember a man who I approached to preach to but he thought maybe I was a sales person. Even before I said anything to him, he shook his head furiously and interjected, "sina pesa!" (I don't have money).
To cut a lengthy story short, Kitale's outreach will ever arouse sweet memories in my head and like an obstinate sonorous echo, it will ever ring a bell.
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