Dreams of the Ghetto Child

When the sun rises, a young son of Africa is risen before it. A smile on his face and a couple of ten shilling coins in his pocket. He grabs a mandazi on his way to the city center. He passes through the numerous Shs. 200 wage a day Indian owned  industries in Inda. His aim? Not to look for work but to make a painting of the skyline from the bridge on Mombasa Road near General Motors.

His is a life lead through the tough times of the City, Nairobi. His main aim to make a foot print in his community. Paint the bigger picture to the world. He sits down engulfed in deep thought. Tomorrow, the government says will be a better day. He knows he can make this his better day, butter his bread on both sides and see to it that hope is restored to his community.

His painting on that day earns him an honest amount enough for him to grab a matatu back home. Alongside a new canvass and a pair of shoes for his younger brother. Tomorrow he hopes to see the young lad through school. And maybe move from the brown iron sheets that he called home for the last 24 years. 

He knows his tools well, a set of sharp pencils, an eraser, a vision, hope and pride.