Br. Kamrata

“Yahweh, Yahweh, God ………………., slow to anger….” So says the book of exodus 34:6. I understand now, so God is like Kamrata? He is slow to anger? I have lived with kamrata for a while and believe me you, he would like to be angry, but wishing is one thing and being is another thing. One thing is for sure, Kamrata never gets angry, and he can only imagine himself getting angry. I know how angry people look like, I know what angry people do, I know how angry people think and he is not even a mile close to that! 
One time, after coming from Garissa and seeing the damage that had been done to some restaurants in Garissa, he says, “These people should thank God I am in this life – religious life. I would have bought the best war tank like that of Arnold Schwarzenegger and wipe out all those who did the damage, boom! boom! boom!”. This is what we call wishful thinking, Haha!. Whereas I have met many people who wished they were not as such scoundrel as they are, Kamrata wishes he was not as good as he is! Happy man!

Fr. Karau

 This is one brother with unequaled openness to possibilities tinged with humour. One can be a doctor, policeman, a cobbler or even run a mamantilie kiosk. In short, what he seems to say is that person is full of possibilities. One can be a religious or join the diocese or lead a married life. I agree with him because I have even heard men who became women. I don’t have a clear memory of any chat with Daniel that ended without his hilarious conclusions. In fact, one that ought to have been solemn ended with cheering -  because Manchester was playing. 
Irrespective of how  grave seriousness is demanded, to Daniel, all should be addresses with comical easiness. This year, he being the guardian at Padre Pio, made an announcement to those who were preparing to renew their vows. It is an announcement that I have often seen being made with utmost seriousness. Amusingly, he said, “brothers, you are expected to write your applications for the renewal of your vows………but if you don’t want to renew, it is okay. Sio lazima uendelee kama hutaki maisha haya. Unaweza enda ukafanya kitu kingine” and everybody in the room laughed, and he joined in the laughter!   

Br. Kokany

            Trust me, if you get to know someone’s mother before the actual person, you somehow half know the person. Of course not always! Before I met Kokani, I was expecting something else. To my surprise, and in Br. Stephan’s words, “he is shrinking”. After having sat with him at table, it dawns on me that he is justifiably shrinking. He keeps telling me, “wewe ndiye unakua, kula uwe mkubwa” as he adds another portion in my plate instead of his plate! This is why I didn’t feel guilty when he delayed for lunch and I – like a good Franciscan- fed the cats with his share. I hear he is the first Pokomo priest having submitted his oral application to Fr. Joe. Now they are both priests. It is nothing but hilarious when they recount their past pastoral experiences. In one funny Christmas play, a certain ‘Mary’ wanted a specific ‘Joseph’, “nikawafukuza, niliwafukuza, niliwafukuza”, Kokani says as Joe calms him down, “sema polepole bwaana”, and we all break into laughter!

Br. John

               Br. Leonard tells great stories about this man and I entirely agree with him, “usimuone John hivi hivi tu, jamaa anafanya mambo makubwa”. It is true that more often than not, what is contained in a book is hardly reflected on the cover!   During one of a short stayed at St. Bridget centre, I was fascinated by his disguised knowledge about vehicles – our poverty.  In fact it leaves me wondering how much more brain power is not yet exploited. There used to be a Toyota land cruiser at the centre that boasted antiquity. Its fatigued metals creakingly made a perfect choir as it moved. As I sat there with Br. John, I made a mechanical layman’s comment, “ah, hii gari ni nzee sana” and John couldn’t stand that empty talk. He went ahead to explain in a detailed manner how and why that vehicle should not be classified as an old and worthless thing. I was surprised at his knowledge of cars and I couldn’t help asking how it is that he knows so much. He simply says, “hii gari ninaijua, engine yake nanaibomoa yote”. Here I am standing by a man who intensely knows that engine of a car while I personally can’t change a tyre. Looking at him, the deepest your eyes can go is the cloths and perhaps the skin colour yet beneath lies a great deal of brain power.

Br. Robert

It is in the afternoon and Br. Robert and I are seated up in the main hall at Tangaza. The room is packed to the fullest but we have the best view to the stage. People are wildly dancing, with excitement, as Jua Kali (jua kali is a popular Kenyan musician) entertains the audience. It is my first time with Roba and it is so exhilarating and great a moment. He is surprised that I don’t seem excited though, and he asks me “wewe si ni kijana? Jiunge na vijana wa umri wako. Hizi ndo nyimbo zenu. Nenda ukadance na wenzako”. That was so funny to me and I couldn’t help laughing. It was his plan that I get entertained. That is how it works with him. Knowing what people want and giving them exactly that. In that way, everybody is entertained and happy with him around!