Why street children in Nakuru do not feel the joy of Christmas
Street Kids in Nakuru being given a meal.
For Brian*, a street child in Nakuru, Christmas morning is like any other day.
Awakened early by the harsh and chilly morning air, he has no choice but to look longingly at the happy faces and smartly dressed people making their way through the streets of Nakuru.
The distant sound of festive carols from passing shoppers serves as a contrast to his reality.
"Kama mtu ako street, nikona mixed feelings about Christmas. On the one hand, it makes me happy since huwa napata chakula tamu. On the other hand, I feel sad and jealous because I can only watch people enjoy the warmth of their families," he says.
Brian found his way to the streets when his mother died.
"I was brought up by a single mother. When she got sick and died, my relatives took me in na hapo ndiyo mateso ilianza, and that's when I decided to run away from home. Nikakuja Street. Huku, maisha ni tough for sure, but I'd rather that than what those guys put me through," he says.
Hungry but still determined, Brian makes his way to the Naivas supermarket on Kenyatta Avenue and patiently waits for a kind gesture or a bit of luck, or as he puts it, "ka finje tu ndiyo ninunue gum inipee kajoto".
As the day progresses and people stream in and out of the supermarket, he is joined by other children on the street, also seeking warmth from strangers.
Soon they are gathered together, swapping stories of how they came to be on the streets.
Their conversations are occasionally interrupted by donations of food and drink, leftovers from holiday treats that others can enjoy.
"People don't know how heartwarming it is just to receive donations or food during the festive season. Inatufanya tufeel as part of the community na pia inatufanya tusahau our harsh circumstances just for that day," he says.
And just as he expects, he receives plenty of food and drink from people whose hearts have been warmed by Christmas cheer, or perhaps by the thanksgiving sermon they heard in church.
But even if the day is filled with the joy and warmth of Christmas, the sun will set, the streets will be empty and all Brian will have are memories of the delicious things he has been able to enjoy for the day.
And when the sun comes up the next day, he will be back to being the street kid that everyone ignores as they rush by, some even grabbing their valuables as they pass.