GOD ALMIGHTY’S greatest and enduring grace, love, sustenance and favour over time: … …..

Perhaps exactly some 48 years ago today (8-8-2026), i can clearly recall that we were on school holiday and I was at home home with my brother Karis (may his soul continue resting in peace) and sister Wanjiru.
We were just resting at home after lunch and voice of Kenya (VOK) was our de facto radio station, so it was on.
Our home compound then looked so much spacious and very quiet with only few vehicles intermittently passing by on the road nearby. Passers-by were also very few and rare..

The amazing gazelle bicycles (the only common bicycle those days), which were a mark of innovation and sustainability seeing that their lighting was wheel dynamo-driven without any need for recharging of batteries, were quite rare.

… Noisy motor bikes (Boda Boda today) were even rarer and only owned by the rich, prestigious and stylish young men (who also had afro hairstyles and wore sharp and tight shirts and belly-bottom /boot-fit trousers) who were also highly admired, especially by girls…

Then just before the 1pm news, some strange tunes started praying on VOK  radio and a few minutes later an announcement came through breaking news on the death of Kenya’s founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
Immediately after as per my perception then, the atmosphere changed; an aura of sorrow seemed to have engulfed our home and the sorroundings.
Few minutes later, normal transmission was interrupted and mourning songs started playing…
One very sorrowful song still rings a bell in my mind…..
…. “natazama kilele cha mlima wa Kenya…
… Naona maajabu ya wingu leusi…
…. Sio wingo la mvua, lakini wingu la msiba..
… Simba wetu wa Kenya, Kenyatta ameaga dunia ….”..
In reflection, I often get astounded wondering how such strong and sorrowful songs got composed in such a short time..
..   .i have also wondered, over the years, why such touching and sorrowful songs have never been played again on radio especially on a day when the death of late President Kenyatta is commemorated …
Is this a sign that music talent has always be lying latently with us since time immemorial?