The loss of a friend

In my freshman year of campus, I was undertaking a statistical course , SMA 160 at Kenyatta University's Lecture Theatre 1. The hall was always full of enthusiastic and ambitious but failure-phobic and scared first-year students. We had been made to believe that we were the cream of the society, and that we had a great future. Everyone would do all it would take to make sure that our promised future comes to reality. We would scramble for the front seats to listen to Dr. Ruttoh's feeble voice and  get the perfect strategic view of his microscopic writings on binomial & normal probability distribution and Cheby Shev's theory.

One class-session still lingers in my mind is one in which I tried switching seats (OK, stealing grabbing someone else's seat). As I was trying to do so, I had a voice from a student that was sitted next to my target seat say "You are being unfair".  I definitely looked up to see who this courageous freshman was. That was the very first day that I met Ephraim, a wonderful male student that became my friend.

In my campus-life, I shared many special academic moments with Ephraim. We were involved in many group-work exercises. He was altruistic, generous and an ideal creative thinker. He always made me think widely and to always challenge and stream-line my focus. He was one of my accountability friends. We shared similar interests, dreams and ambitions.

One of the last moments I spent with Ephraim was right before our graduation. I had just returned to Kenya to prepare for my graduation. We were taking breakfast together at a restaurant as we were catching-up on each other. I vividly remember how excited I was that I had moved out of my comfort-zone after reminding him about what we had discussed right before we left campus. Ephraim had adviced me (earlier-on while we were still in school) about moving out of my parents' house, and how bad it would be if I returned to my parents' house after school. I remember his warm smile after letting him know that he influenced my decision, which is one of my favourite achievements ... no, I actually remember his laughter.

Earlier on this month (while I was away), I got the shocking news that Ephraim had passed-on after a short illness. I felt heart-broken. I felt like I had lost a part of me. I still feel the it. :'(

Ephraim was a humble and respectful young man. He was focussed and wise. Right before his demise, he was a volunteer at a children's home in the outskirts of Nairobi. Kenya has lost a champion, a person that was dedicated to eradicate poverty. I have lost a great and irreplaceable friend.


For the years that I have known Ephraim, there are things that I didn't do that I wish I would have done. For instance, I should have been a good friend to him, just as he was to me. I should have been nicer to him. I should not have always been in a hurry... too much in a hurry to take time to listen to him, or even to accompany him to Catholic church, atleast just once. I should have smiled alittle bit more at him. I wish I gave him more of me. I wish I, atleast, gave him a hug...as a friend (he'd probably have resisted a hug because of how strict he appeared). A simple "I love you" would have sufficed, probably.

Ephraim, I thank God for you, for giving you to us, to me. I really enjoyed every moment, every dream, every ambition and vision with you. God had different plans for us. Who are we to reject God's will?

Rest in peace, Ephraim.

Happy New Year: This could help with new year resolutions

Happy new year!

I always love new years, they always present an opportunity to start over afresh... newly, and to do things differently, and to probably make the old year's wrongs right. At the beginning of every year, I always realize that I am growing older (probably because my birthday is in January)... and that days are moving. Time waits for no king.

 I think that this is the year to take risks, to stand up on your ground and accept the consequences that come along with the risks. Everything is so risky and so scary, and yet at the same time, so beautiful. Maybe the truth is that it shouldn't be easy to be amazing. If it was easy to be amazing,then everything would be. It's the things you fight for and struggle with before earning that have the greatest worth.What wonderful thing didn't start out scary.

Courage isn't the absence of fear, it's just deciding that fear isn't calling the shots anymore.

Letting go of the familiar can be scary. But it frees you up for all the good stuff!

It is important, this year, to be yourself. Being someone else can be tiresome, and its not worth it. Furthermore, who will be you? God had a reason for having you in this world. Don't be someone else.

You cannot have a private relationship in a public arena. You must look to an inner circle of people who really know you. Don’t expect to have that kind of intimate relationship with people who only know you publicly. Do not seek to be understood by the world. I'll not lie. I fear falling in love, and yes, I fear being vulnerable to the person I allow into my heart. I know I suck at giving relationship advice... but here's what I have to say: This year, it is important to be open-minded; keeping in mind that tribe, race, gender (yes, I said gender), age, and beliefs don't fall in love. People do. (If possible, avoid falling in love. It is destructive. The tingly little feeling you get when you like someone is common sense leaving your body. You don't want to lose common sense and reason, do you?).

 It's the things you fight for and  struggle with before earning that have the greatest worth.  This year, fight for what you believe in. Don't rest until you achieve it. In addition to this, be positive. Confess only positive things. As you confess the positive things, believe them.

Faith is believing, saying and acting as if that which doesn't exists is existing already, or has happened. This is very important. Have unshakeable faith in God, and trust Him for that which you want, or need. Then have faith that it will happen. Act. (Faith without action is dead).

Finally brethren: Pray. Pray and pray more.

My theme for the year: Greatness, this is the year of greatness. Achieving great things, unimaginable things. My God is able.

Happy New Year!