Untold, amazing resilience

For several years, I have walked along Harry Thuku rd and observed this tree which stands opposite the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation and just outside the to Longonot Apartments perimeter fence wall.

I beg to consider the tree legendary seeing that it has withstood the torture of a parasitic, rootless, almost stemless, green soft climbing plant that lacks even leaves and is only noticeable through its soft, shiny green proliferation.

At some point, the tree almost dried up completely until the NCCG’s (Nairobi City County Government) Green army came to its rescue and removed the parasitic green sheen completely from its leaves and branches.

Today, however, one can see firewood-like parts of the tree stem and branches yet it has persistently and interestingly sprouted new leaves and tender stems off the almost dead parts of its stem and branches. It has withstood, encouragingly, the wiles of its enemy over time.

The culprit parasitic plant is known as ‘Thina’ in Gigikuyu (which translates to poverty in that language).

Among the Agikuyu people, the proverb ‘Thina nduri miri,’ translates to ‘poverty has no roots’ & sure enough this parasitic plant has no roots.

The proverb encourages people to persist in their endeavors and efforts even when hardships and challenges tend to overwhelm them because these challenges /problems may be rootless and even if they have roots will definitely be overcome one day.

Notably, the parasitic plant is becoming almost endemic and affecting lots of trees, hedges and other plants in Nairobi County streets and its environs and periphery areas even kilometers away. Evidently, there is need to urgently deal with the parasite… .

My appeal goes back to the NCCG Green Army to return to Harry Thuku rd and remove the shiny parasite again for it has renewed its attack on the tree and its neighboring plants.

Perhaps the tree provides an important lesson for us human beings – – that we should persist to live and to survive despite the various parasites that will always attack our lives.

The parasites may not just dwell in our digestive systems but also in other body parts and organs such as the skin but also in our other life aspects, so we must all be firm and strong to overcome.

On the physical body aspect perhaps, the current status of the tree reminds us all that the we should and need to fight bodily and even spiritual worms and parasites regularly in order for us to maintain good physical and spiritual health for brighter days ahead…