#MyKenyanHero by Wema Mumma

There’s a running joke on the internet that everyone’s parent has told them a story or two about how they scaled mountains and crossed rivers just to get to school. Of course, many of these tales are exaggerated to curb any spoilt behaviour from disgruntled Gen Zs. However, I know of one such person – the subject of my story – whose 100km trek to boarding school is not a work of fiction. My siblings and I knew him as Kwaru (meaning ‘grandfather’ in Dholuo). His life story is so compelling that it could have come straight out of a Margaret Ogola novel. 

It began in 1933 when he was born in a tiny village nestled in the hills of Kisumu. At the urgent request of a neighbour, who had dreamt about what the newborn should be called, Kwaru was named Mumma, after a locally revered medicine man who had just passed away. Perhaps this was an early sign of the important role the little boy would come to play in the development of his community. 

A Passion for Academia

Despite his basic formal education – 8 years of primary schooling followed by a short stint at a teachers’ training college – he rose to become a headmaster and, eventually, an Assistant District Inspector of Primary Schools in Bondo. This scholarly excellence seeped into his own home where five of his children would acquire PhDs. When the third generation came (a.k.a. my cousins and I), Kwaru would check and countercheck our spelling and handwriting on his trips to Nairobi, ensuring they matched up to his high standards; (I bet he’s somewhere checking for grammatical errors in this article too!). 

Active, Even in Retirement

I could tell you more about his teaching days. But, I really only interacted with my grandfather during his retirement years, outside his role as Mwalimu. Now, don’t let the word retirement fool you – Kwaru remained as active as ever. He initiated a rural electrification project in his area and championed numerous projects within his community. These included spearheading the building of a village polytechnic, community health centre, secondary girls’ school, women’s bakery, and a church; achievements which gained him recognition by the President, who awarded him the Head of State Commendation. Even Pope John Paul II, awarded him the Bene Merenti award! (I told you this would be just like an Ogola saga).

Apart from his work, I also remember my grandfather’s selflessness – apparent in the way he run his home, which had no gate and welcomed a stream of daily visitors who came for counselling, as well as spiritual and physical nourishment. I never fully realised it until I grew up, but watching Kwaru in these various elements, and later hearing stories about his life, instilled in me values which I, too, hope to implement in my own life; values which speak to an African sense of community, leadership, and most of all the spirit of service. 

My grandfather passed on in 2021, but his legacy lives on in his community, children, and grandchildren – in me. Even now, I still look to him for guidance through my career journey. 

To the man who signed off his letters: ‘Yours in nation-building spirit’, you’re #MyKenyanHero. 

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This story was written by Wema, a returning member of the Paukwa family and a lover of all stories, whether on page or screen.