16 days of activism Year 2025

This week we are in the 16 days of activism week - which runs from Nov 25 to December 10 - in between are significant days for women

Nov 25 is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Dec 1 - World AIDs Day

Dec 3 - International Day for PWD - Persons with disability

Dec 10 - Human Rights Day

The theme for 2025 is apt  - Unite to End Digital violence against all women and girls

This is our reality now - violence against women has infiltered the digital space and spreads like wildfire - we need to keep informed, keep speaking up and equipping each other especially the girls to be confident and not let digital bullies have their way!

Anyways...16 days has fond memories for me

In September 1998, I stepped into COVAW having never heard the words Womens rights, Human rights, UDHR,  let alone a whole campaign called 16 days of Activism! We received initial funding from CIDA and went into full gear planning for the 16 days including marking 50yrs of UDHR - Universal Declaration of Human Rights

How things have changed! Like we used to send invitations via fax to all media houses and agencies - and needed interns/volunteers to do this. Am sure someone here will wonder what a fax machine is!

The logistics for the events was something else - we made lots of IEC materials - posters, banners, leaflets, tshirts - and since donor funds came so late, we did this at the very last minute. We had a vendor who was used by many agencies to do T-shirts (he used to actually stitch them and print the message) and at one time he mixed the order and so the COVAW tshirts that were sent to Taita Taveta had on message for another agency at the back!! weuhh

How would I have done it differently? since we know we shall mark the campaign, prequalify suppliers and be ready just to issue the order once funds are received; avoid the last minute dash.

The designs for the IEC materials were just from us..and this used to amaze me since I didnt think that an idea I have can actually be translated and placed on a campaign item. So we used to have images of women being down and a man over them to show violence against women - and one Board member came and said we need to show women in better light! That was the design of a strong woman holding the womans sign! Loved it...and this lesson i have carried with me...everytime my view is needed on IEC, I remember, keep it positive!

What a ride!

Now the campaign is run by government, just the way it should be!

Keep safe in this digital space :)

A Legend has rested

 Oct 15 2025 will forever in the hearts and minds of Kenyans

The Man

The Legend

The Enigma

Raila Amolo Odinga, has rested

In a far away place in India, RAO suffered a heart attack and met his end

His remains were brought into Kenya on Thursday Oct 16 morning

KQ, in his honor, renamed the flight to RAO001 (who is cutting onions!!)

Kenyans were visibily & collectively devastated

A sea of people escorted him to Kasarani Stadium for public viewing, the entire 32km from airport  to stadium was filled with chants and song, I think he would have loved that

His last borne daughter Winnie hang on to his favourite white fedora hat and symbolically handed it over to her mother, Mama Ida - oh the image!!

Where do we go from here, they say when a Mugumo tree falls, the birds scatter!!

Love him or hate him, the man for sure did his part

May we not scatter ohhhhhh

we need to be brave enough to say goodbye

and look forward for a new dawn

Eternal rest grant to Baba Oh Lord

and may perpetual light shine upon him

Rest in power Agwambo (the mysterious one)!

Rest in power Jakom (the chairman)!

Rest in power Tinga (the tractor)!

Rest in power RAO!

Your voice will echo forever! 

Concert things....international guest..wow!!

 Saturday Aug 30 rolled in and I was super excited!

The one and only Cece Winans was gonna be in town and the venue was Uhuru gardens. From the great drone shots on Instagram we saw many red chairs and actually ASSUMED all the tickets will have seating. Turns out these days concerts don't have seats for the last category....did we know??? Nope!!

so we reached venue early at 4pm and lo and behold....yes....no seats!!

This really dampened my mood! I felt so conned....but as people came in they laid out their maasai shukas, popped up their umbrellas...they seemed to know!! The sun was still up from 4pm to 6.30pm so we were in the sun all this time ai ai ai...had to keep my bandana against my face to keep from the sunburn........very uncomfortable...

There was a couple about 70yrs...and they were also in the no-seats section - and I was like, organisers should afford to have special seats for senior citizens ama?

Anyways, 7.45pm Cece Winans came in and my mood lifted kabisa!

The concert was grand...just 90 minutes...we were in the front line just behind the barrier (see paparzzi shot above) ...and sang along in full volume! the stage was magical with lighting giving all the necessary effects to wow us..... one of the songs was done so beautifully and i didn't know the song....we were sure it was a new song...we checked you tube and the song was released 11months ago!!!! weuhhhh...He is Worthy is the name of the song....check it out!

Last time I saw Cece Winans was in 2010 when she came to Kenya, and the event was at Bomas at Kenya...which was a perfect venue, since its auditorium style, so we were all seated and all could have excellent view of the stage.... 

Next time I go for a concert, I need to be prepared to pay for top tier tickets

Else, I left there fully blessed by the experience :)

World Humanitarian Day Aug 19 2025

 Aug 19 - Is World Humanitarian day - and it was started in 2008 to honour humanitarian workers and promote awareness of the humanitarian efforts globally.

The theme for 2025 is Strengthening Global Solidarity & Empowering Local Communities

I started working in development sector in late 1998 - yes its been a minute! The theme for this year is indeed apt - empowerment begins from the micro level...that's is where change has to happen!

I checked my albums, and here are some pictures

This is me with colleague when working with Cordaid,  at Lake Paradise in Marsabit National Park. This was around 2005 and was my very first visit to Marsabit. We had supported disaster risk reduction projects in Marsabit county and this was a monitoring mission

This is me in Samburu - receiving a beautiful necklace from the women - who exclaimed how thick my neck was! oh well....hehehehehe

This is me with my colleague in Dukale Moyale ...am holding a beautiful container that is used to store milk - called Gorfa (correct me if thats not the right name!). If i remember right, this place was nested between hills and the community was not able to access clean water - the project was a water pan for them to capture rain - very scenic place

In Oloitoktok...with a womens group

in Lodwar - promoting local enterprises

Means of transport :)

Back in 2005 the roads to Northern Kenya were very bad....when I see these highways now 20years later, am like...its about time!! Access to everything is important for growth....and this was a long time coming

I love and enjoy what I do - we get hit once in a while (like the big one done by Trump admin, weuhh) but we do what we do  because we see the evidence of change at community level!

Salute to all the humanitarian workers! Especially those who live with the communities they serve.... the work is challenging, but rewarding....

You make a difference...receive your flowers :)

Road trips!

 I love road trips..especially those that the trip is within my control and we can move at a good pace! 

No rush to get somewhere...just enjoying the ride!

we have done several trips with this red car....Kisumu mostly, Nakuru alot and of course Machakos 

This one is of me going to Kakuma from Lodwar airstrip - it was just me and the driver and when i saw the backdrop of the mountains, I was like, stop stop...lets take a photo here!

This was somewhere in Lukenya..wide open spaces!

This was in sweltering Jordan...weuhh

Of course one has to stop at the Equator line and take a pic!!

The best part about road trips is the endless conversations and banter! am here for it!

Heres to more road trips this year!

10 year challenge

So facebook reminded me of this photo (the lower photo) taken June 2015 and being me, I immediately got a current one from my gallery and put them side by side

Pap.. reviving the #10YearChallenge!

In 2015 I was in this Landcruiser car, cruising on the rough road headed to Maralal. This was my life then, at least 5 days in a month I would either be in Marsabit, Moyale, Isiolo, Maralal....heck even Mandera or Oloitokok!

I always wonder if I can do this as a 50year old...maybe not...seating in a car whole day to cover 800km from Nairobi to Moyale will definitely take a toll on me!

Life, make the most of it when you can!

8 Hikes by July!

 I looked back at my photos and voila, I have actually done 8 walks as at July - so like one per month  - that's very good Hilda!, well done well done :)

Karura 4 Jan - this was a great way to kick start the year - was a nice early morning walk before the January sun gets out

Enpaashe Kajiado 11 Jan - this was an eerie walk on unchartered terrain! 

Oloolua 25 Jan - this was a lovely walk with work colleagues, we challenged ourselves to do one walk per month as we gear towards Longonot in November!

The plan was 5km but we ended up doing 10km and I had the wrong shoes!! NFF

Karura 22 Feb - this was also part of challenge with work colleagues! we were late to Karura and so the unforgiving sun met us there! weuhh - but the 10km was worth the heat!

Nairobi Women's Day Walk March 8 - this was 3rd walk with work colleagues and met up with my sis! the 14km was grueling 

Mater heart run May 23 - Loved this walk - normally just 10km...been doing it since 2009 or thereabouts!

Express way run July 6  - another constant walk for me...though this is the second time I did it - did the 10km - maybe aim for 21km next time? we will see...Uhuru park has so many lovely spots for photos :)

Bypass 19km walk on July 12 - this one I almost gave up...weuhh

heres to many more!!

Of Themed Parties

 I loved themed parties!

Old photo of matchy matchy

Football theme when LO turned 5!

This is more white than black event for Holy Communion

This is Spiderman Party for deNephew

This is purple for 1st Holy Communion for LO

Turquoise themed party for launch of Hon Millies book

All white dinner for 50th birthday holiday

Purple elegance for deNieces 18th bday

LO turned 10 and we had orange tees - with 10 written in different languages (loved this idea of mine, brag brag)

Marked 18th bday tees for Sons bday

Orange & White for AWAK Dinner

Ankara theme for 10th Anniversary (even the cake was within theme!! hehehehe)

When parental unit turned 50 we made the Hamsini tees!

and of course PETALS pink!

Mater Heart Run 2025..touching a childs heart, one step at a time!

 May is always the month for Mater Heart Run..

So this is a permanent fixture in my To Do list for May since 2009 ( we had to recreate this photo)!

Almost missed it this month because of some sudden back pain I had, but mercifully this was sorted by physiotherapy and I can go back to the walks (amen!!)

This was the 23rd edition of the Run and the initial notice was that the run/walk would start in Ulinzi Stadium and this would mean Langata Road would be the main road that would be affected. Last minute there was a change to KICC and my sis and I were like that's gonna be a day for jammmmmmmmmmmmm and we warned all the people we could! (because understandably one can simply miss some notices and stuck in epic jam in this Nairobi..given that Uhuru highway is an important traffic artery!)

Anyhooooo

Saturday May 31 bright and early, we (my sis, her reluctant son..hehehe & I) took an Uber to KICC and reached at 6.30am

The crowd had not gathered and even the exhibition stands were not yet ready

We stood around and took photos around KICC and at some point they even opened the fountains and am convinced they did this to allow for photo ops...big up KICC!

Around 8.30am the crowd had really swelled...lots of school children and I really love this because Mater Heart Runs' main beneficiaries are children; and its a fun initiative to introduce children to giving for a cause plus walking as a way of keeping fit and healthy

So 9am we were finally flagged off after a series of fun warm ups and speeches (which to me could be made extremely brief!!) The sun was already up and I was so glad I carried a wide breamed hat!

The route took us past Parliament building and up Ngong road, then we entered lower hill road up to KNH - this was 4km mark - then we turned back and we turned off at Bunyala Rd and walked down to Mega Mall..since the logic of heading back to KICC would mean walking to the same Mega Mall to avoid the jam - so we managed 6.5km, by around noon

Took an Uber Home with my heart full!

Loved the walk....wish I could have done the 10km but the route didn't favour us....at first the Mater Heart Run was just a cause I loved to support, and in later years, the issue has come very personal and close to my heart!

The news reported that over 17k participants took part this year across 10 towns in Kenya...wow wow wow

So heres to all those who Touched a Childs Heart! 

May you never lack in Jesus name!!

Cheers!

Menstrual day...lets talk about the pause shall we?

 

Yes lets go there - perimenopause and menopause..actually should be renamed MENSESTOP..or MENOSTOP...hehehe - pause insinuates they will restart, ama?

Am now past 50yrs and in comes another period that leaves one wondering, was the monthly red visit better?

the post menses stage differs among women, since oestrogen levels fluctuate during this period - typically its marked with

 - irregular or skipped periods

 - more or less bleeding that usual during periods

 - hot flashes!

 - dry skin....(need good quality lotions!)

 - thinning hairline (goodbye luscious locks!)

 - frequent urination (weuhh)

 - sleep problems like insomnia because of hormonal imbalances (suddenly realize why women become 3am prayer warriors!)

  - mood changes including irritability and even depression (we take no prisoners, but please extend grace to these women!)

 - weight gain that simply cannot just drop off despite all the exercise routines! (caused by reduced oestrogen and increased cortisol - slowing ones metabolism)

and then one gets into full menopause which still has more HOT flashes ...weuhhh...its sudden and periodic, one minute one is fine, the next they are sweating profusely like they have run a marathon! Other symptoms are the same as peri stage, and for some tiredness as well

Apparently it can last up to 7 years and then one hits the POST menopause stage

So how can one relieve these symptoms in a natural way?

1. Eat foods rich in Omega 3, Calcium and Vitamin D

2. Manage your weight

3. Increase uptake of fruits and  veges

4. Know your trigger foods and avoid them eg caffeine, alcohol

5. Regular exercise to strengthen  muscles and boost your mood

6. Increase water intake

7. Avoid ultra processed foods...eat them close to their natural state as possible

8. Increase protein intake!

9. Try chamomile tea to help with sleep!

I know I know...its a cringy topic, but this is life! Research shows that the right foods, right movement, right bedtime routines and select herbs can make this season manageable. Listen to your body and do what you gotta do!

So there you go...whichever part of the menses wall you fall..you are strong and beautiful, you gat this!

Enjoy the day!!

PSA: Stretch yourself!

 So its Saturday early morning

Am staring down a square hole in a hospital bed, at the white tiled floor, with a heated pad on my back -am in my 5th and final physiotherapy session

So how did I get here?

I love love long walks and do them occasionally - so I did Oloolua 10km and after 2 days was in hospital with excruciating back pain, weuh - mercifully the pain cooled off the same day. Then another Saturday I did Karura 10km and was back in hosi. The third time I did a walk round Nairobi and clocked 14km and a day later I had the same terrible backache. The doctor wondered what was going on and sent me for kidney scans and MRI of my back...both were ok (Thank you Lord!!)

So she says then, lets do physiotherapy for 5 days and see how it goes

So I booked the appointment for physio and weuh, let me tell you Maina.......the PAIN!!!! kwani my muscles were all tight?.....the lady kneaded my back like chapati dough...mpaka i was like, just stop, please stop.....she was like sawa...and sent me home with some light stretches to do

Next day and I was SICK! like i had like a terrible bad homa with no running nose...but fever, aches the works...Dr Google said that after deep tissue massage (well thats how the physio session felt like) when toxins are released to the blood stream...you can have flu like symptoms.....another article dismissed this assertion...but it made sense to me, so I explained my fever with that....had to stay home that day

The physiotherapist assured me that by session 3 I should have no pain! and she was spot on.....

With each session I was given stretches to do morning and evening

and now my Instagram is full of mobility topics...hehehehehe (big brother always listening!)

am better now (amen)

please remember to stretch properly 

esp if you seat a lot during the day

I will be at the May 31st Mater 10km Heart Run....hopefully I dont get pain after that!

Habemus Papam - We have a Pope!

 We have a new Pope!

Pope Leo XIV was announced on May 8 - took 2 days to get white smoke

So in my lifetime I have seen 4 Popes

Pope John Paul II started in 1978 to 2005 - 26 good years! He was from Poland was the 264th Pope

Pope Benedict XVI started in 2005 to 2013 - and was from Germany

Pope Francis started in 2013 to 2025 - from Argentina

and now Pope Leo XIV from May 8 2025 an American/Peru citizen and is the 267th Pope (he was made Cardinal in Sept 2023)

I have had the pleasure to see Pope John Paul II with my own eyes in Nairobi in 1995 in Uhuru Park and Pope Francis in Nairobi in Nov 2015 and in Rome 2023

A Prayer for the Pope

Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build your Church into a sacrament of unity, love and peace for all the world. Amen.

The Pope has rested..on Easter Monday

Easter Monday April 21 2025

Pope Francis has rested, at the age of 88...may his soul rest in peace.

He became Pope 12 years ago on 13 March 2013

I remember when he came to Kenya in November 2015 - that was a befitting welcome! I was very  happy to be at the Papal mass at the University of Nairobi grounds on that rainy rainy day. The mass was simply wonderful...and I heard this song for the very first time...and loved it!! The message in the song, which was the theme of his visit, was simple and direct to the point...

Simama Imara Katika Imani x2

Usiogope, usiogope, usiogope tulia katika maombi

Do not be afraid, do not be afraid, stand strong in faith!

*funfact - the beautiful Mitre (Popes hat) he wore in Kenya in 2015 in the pic above was made by women from Samburu County!*

Then in May 2023 I had the utmost pleasure of being in the audience when he addressed Catholic World Women's Association in the Vatican - at a building adjacent to the magnificent St Peters Basilica. He was wheeled in and addressed us for like one hour....

Magical....inspiring!

He was simple,

He was different,

He was truly loved.

Eternal rest grant unto Pope Francis Oh Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him, may he rest in eternal peace, Amen.