John Kimani - a dear friend

John Kimani is a kind, gentle and compassionate man who has dedicated his life to community service. He runs MAKWK clinic in Korogocho slum and truly cares for all the residents there. We have spent much of my 3 months here talking, discussing ideas...and becoming friends. John has never once asked for money (unlike most others), but only seeks ways on how he can improve services, funding and recognition of the needs of Korogocho.When walking through the slum with John, it is so evident how well known and respected he is there!
When I said my final goodbyes to everyone at MAKWK, John wasn't there that day. Afterwards, I got a call from him asking if we could meet somewhere. We met at a nearby restaurant and spent a few hours, once again, talking. Before I left, he said he had "one humble request". He said that because we were such good friends, and although I knew him well as the person he was now, he wanted me to understand where he came from. His wish was that I go with him to the village where he grew up; see his old school; meet his mother and see the grave where his wife was buried. What an honour!! My answer was of course - yes! Kevin and Danny came along too.
The 4 of us took an hour matutu trip to Ikumba village (near Gatundu town) and spent Sunday with John's family. Ikumba is a beautiful rural area on the edge of a huge valley. John's mother has everything you can imagine growing in her "garden" - tomatoes, cabbage, avocados, macadamian nuts, sugar cane, maize.... all of this planted on a steep incline!! The homestead was basic and traditional with many little buildings.
John's sisters and mother had spent over 5 hours cooking and prepared us a delicious lunch!

After lunch we then walked 40 minutes down the road to meet John's Great Aunt. The look of shock on her face when 3 white folks walked into her yard was priceless and delightful!! She could not stop giggling!

John (41) grew up in Ikumba and when finished school decided to move to Nairobi. He ended up in Korogocho doing "recycling" at the Dandora garbage dump. After some time there, a local Catholic church recognized his potential and got him involved with World Vision. He took courses with them and volunteers with World Vision still to this day.
In his early days in Korogocho, he was married and had 2 sons and a daughter. His wife thought that because he was involved with World Vision that he would have a lot of money. Once she realized that John would never become rich volunteering, she left him and the 3 children. She still lives in Korogocho.
A few years later, John married Anastasia who was 14 years his junior. They had a daughter and after 5 years of marriage, John's wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away 2 weeks later (Sept. 26, 2009). John has moved out of the slum and is now raising 4 children on his own. He travels almost 2 hours (each way) to return to Korogocho every day to run MAKWK clinic.

                                                                                          John, Elizabeth and me

John (3rd from left) with his mother, brother and sister (Elizabeth)

                                                         

Words cannot express the respect and admiration that I have for John. His life has not been easy, but he is always optimistic, cheerful and spends all his days caring for others. His passion and his unselfish drive to help his friends and past-neighbors of Korogocho is inspiring. His hope is that he will become known around the world and that his dream of uplifting people and changing Korogocho will one day come true. This blog is for John - my promise to him to introduce him to my part of the world!