I Found Him a Victor

It dawns on me to announce

the great global conflict of war

1st September 1939

Hitler sparked an invasion of Poland

to count six years of blood and death

Like eagles high in the sky

soldiers from East Africa rose

joining hands with Allied nations

chose peace and love for all

to fight for freedom and save a life

I pause to point out his determination

in the African King's Rifles he uttered

"I am more than my scars!"

Joseph, you stand a strong hero

for there is no illusion greater than fear

In your honour, Mr. Inima

we remember the best who participated

from Canada, Kenya, Britain and Denmark

I choose to mourn in prayer

for the demise of the heroes and heroines

who can tell their stories of valour and courage?

I hear a voice of love in the world

from England and across the borders

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

honoured you together with your troop

for the bitter roots that you tested

and end up sharing fruits in love

Freedom comes with a price

we celebrate the victory of your battle

to defeat both Germany and Japan

though it was the deadliest war

you finalized to the super powers

Long live your excellence, Mr Inima

to us you mean more than words can express

you stood to fight a good fight

in you our limbs get strong

to take a flight for today

and see the latter of our destiny

for I have found you a victor

I cherish the Canadian government

the veterans department and armed forces

dear CES Canada and CES Kenya

from the young to the rest of my colleagues

we owe you a great debt of gratitude

Sheilah Kakuma Nasindu

CES Kenya Alumnus

3rd July 2016 a Canadian volunteer team - Captain (Ret) Dennis D. White, Renee Rerup, Senem Ozkin, and Michael Frederiksen along with thirty members of the CES Kenya Alumnus and CES Kenya Directors witnessed a ceremony in honour of Joseph Inima.  98 year old Joseph Inima WO1, his wife and extended family and many of his 134 grand children were there to welcome the CES visitors. During the presentations Sheilah gave the above dramatic poem that ended in a standing ovation.

LEADERSHIP - Does it Really Matter?

In great ability lies responsibility

The vision bearer leads

Mobilizing doers, that one is a leader.

The one burdened by responsibility 

Looking out for others

Leaders are born, some are made

What matters is what they become.

Troubled by the problems of the people

Hunger, Poverty, Health, Education;

Leadership, rarely depending on gender

It acts against the status quo.

Those who spend sleepless nights

The welfare of others on their mind

Motivating each step and move

Like Moses and Aaron their exodus from Egypt

Following the Dream to the Promised Land.

Those who willingly embrace positive change

Like Martin Luther King and Mandela of our time

True shepherds of the flock

Gentle tenders of the weak

Wearing the mantle of compassion

They see through the window of the soul

Making sense out of non-sense.

A leader

Out of void creating beauty

Identifying scholars from humble society

Triggering motion from stagnation

Daring to mention the unmentionable

Touching the untouchable

Voice of the people

Captive to the truth

Slave to reason and rationality

Whose dignity is beyond reproach.

Are you that leader - CES Alumnus

Embracing leadership as a precious gift?

Leadership...does it really matter?

Viewtone Achaga

CES Kenya Scholar, Alumnus

University of Nairobi

CES Was There

From my heart I tell my story

Similar to yours as you share with me

I was in need of education

CES was there

I lived in poverty without hope

No school fees

Banished from school

Lost

Nowhere to be counted

Education a long forgotten dream

CES was there

Once a street child with no front or back

Nameless without any identity 

CES was there

To sponsor me, love me, care for me

How did it all start?

Who brought CES into existence

It must have been God

The future

Once engulfed by thick dark clouds 

Is now much brighter

There is hope to cure wounded hearts

Marvellous, wonderful, awesome

From my heart to yours

CES was there

Sharon Nawire Walekhwa

Year 1 Egerton University

B.Sc. Engineering

True Leadership

Funded by the Peter Cundill Foundation, Viewtone Achaga is a recipient of a CES Canada Leadership Scholarship. He is in the first year of the B.Sc. Degree Program at Nairobi University.

Leadership

In great ability lies responsibility

The vision bearer is a leader

The one who mobilizes doers

Burdened by the cares of seeing for other

Troubled by the problems of people

Hunger, poverty, health, education, justice

That person is a leader

Leadership rarely depends on gender

Taking on and challenging the status quo

Leaders are born, some are made

What matters is what they become

Every position and every capacity of service is

Leadership in one way or another

Those who spend sleepless nights

With interests of others on their mind

Motivating their every step and move

Like Moses and Aaron of Exodus long ago

Malik Khaemba of Ces-Kenya

Achaga Viewtone of the future

Those who identify and embrace positive change

The dynamics of life

Radical reformers like Dr. Martin Luther King

Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Ghandi, 

True Shepherds of the flock

Rightful bearers of the banners

Champions of the weak

Those who have earned the mantle

Those with eyes to see, ears to hear

Those who distinguish sense from non-sense

True Leaders

Those who out of void create substance

Creating scholars from the humble in society

Who trigger motion from stagnation

Dares to mention the unmentionable

Calls a spoon by its name

One who is enslaved by reason and integrity

I am talking about a leader, are you?

Yes, a leader

Captive to the truth

One whose dignity is beyond reproach

Whether an individual or a group

Ces-Kenya/Canada and others

that embrace leadership, leading by example

Leadership, either created or born

The voice of the people

Who Cares

Does it really matter?

by:Viewtone Achaga

Ces-Kenya/Canada scholar

Universtiy of Nairobi 03/2016

I Cry...I Cry

I cry I cry

Looking at our life in the village

Graves all over

Breadwinners no more due to HIV/AIDS pandemic

Widows are stigmatized.

I cry I cry

Parents go to the city

Children left alone

To take care of younger siblings

Not one to offer parental guidance.

I cry I cry

Education is of less value here

Girls drop out of school due to early pregnancies

High cases of abortion

Prostitution becomes an option.

I cry I cry

Basic needs a by the way

A meal a day is all they get

Kwashiokor is normal here

Jiggers form houses in legs.

I cry I cry

Lord help me

Let me be the change here

It might not be a big one

That's my vision and prayer

Let cries turn into smiles

Smiles into laughter

Amen.

Linda Mwanaisha Wabwire

CES Kenya Grad (Maryhill Girls HS, 2012)

Year 3 Kibabii University - Agricultural Science