Daily Nation
When six-year-old Emily Wanjiru took to the stage to present her solo poem at last week’s National Drama Festival, little did her young mind perceive that this performance would be the key to unshackle her family from the bonds of poverty.
And as the title of her poem Mvua Hii (this rain) depicts, goodwill and fortune have since not ceased to rain upon Emily and her family that has known no other aspect of life but squalor.
Despite her tender age – she is only six – Emily fully deployed her talent in the festivals, her shrill voice captivating the audience, drawing bursts of applause at every pause.
And when the winning performers later gathered at State Lodge in Sagana for the customary presentations to the Head of State, Emily did not disappoint. She thrilled her audience that included President Kenyatta.
Her moment of glory dawned soon after the presentation as the President called her over and held her in his arms. She was basking in the unusual attention.
GIFTS FROM THE PRESIDENT
Having noted the President’s appreciation of the young girl’s talent and later read her story in Sunday Nation, a team of officials linked to State House kicked off efforts to assist the talented girl from Gachororo ECD School in Ruiru, Kiambu County.
Team Uhuru led by State House’s Dennis Itumbi stepped forward with donations.
The group delivered gifts from the President which included furniture and other household items.
Mr Itumbi said that this was a temporary measure and promised that they would seek a permanent home and set up a business for the family.
Juja Equity Bank branch manager Francis Mbindyo and other well-wishers visited Gachororo Village to bring hope to the girl and her family.
Mr Mbindyo announced that the bank had opened an account for Emily and that they would train her grandmother in micro-entrepreneurship to help her take care of the small-scale business that will be set up for her.
Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko delivered foodstuff, blankets and mattresses to the family. The family has since relocated to a two-bedroom house for which Team Uhuru paid rent for two years.
Emily was in the company of her mother Elizabeth Njoki, 22, her grandmother Sarah Nduta, 36, and her brother Peter Kamande, 4.
Until Thursday, Emily lived in squalor with her grandmother in Ruiu, Kiambu County. Her mother, who once worked in quarries breaking stone, has been unable to fend for her. It is her grandmother who looks after the six-year-old.
The solo verse, Mvua Hii, in which a child bed-wetter wonders why it only rains in her bed and not her mother’s left her audience in stitches.
The verse was produced by Ms Evalyne Wanjohi, scripted by Ms Lucy Ayoyi and co-directed by Ms Ayoyi and Ms Lucy Kariuki. Bed wetting is a thorny issue that embarrasses and confuses many children and is hardly spoken of in public.
Her eloquent and bold delivery opened up the subject in the least likely of places – in front of the President.
On Thursday, Ms Ayoyi recounted that many a time, Emily turned up for rehearsals on an empty stomach. But her passion kept her going despite her difficulties.
FULL SCOLARSHIP
Emily is nevertheless confident and almost seems oblivious of her circumstances. “I believe in one thing; when you help me, God will bless you,” she said.
Petroc Premier School managing director Mary Muthoni Muriuki offered Emily a full scholarship for her primary school when she completes ECD. Petroc is a private academy located in Runyenjes, Embu County and charges Sh150,000 per year.
“We have been encouraging her to work hard so as to help her granny and she always responds with a smile and says, yes,” teacher Lucy Ayoyi said in an interview with Nation.
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