Most of all, the women prayed together. The Group comprised of women from different denominations, but when they met on Thursdays, they worshiped together so beautifully, you would have thought they all went to the same church. They belted out some familiar Kikuyu hymns in such heartfelt and smooth vocals, had somebody recorded them, they would have sold records to rival the Gathaithi Town Choir that dominated the airwaves back in the day.
After the praise and worship session ended, Ruth (nyina wa Kihanya) a charismatic natural leader in the group led the prayers. Everybody was silent you could hear a pin drop. At less than 10 years of age, I had no spiritual depth, but I stopped and paid attention whenever Ruth took the floor to pray. She was eloquent and smooth, praying for everyone and everything, you could tell she had God’s full attention. I did not know much back then, but I felt in my spirit that my home and family were going to receive untold blessings just as Ruth powerfully declared in her prayers. Like I said, I cannot claim to have been a religious child but I loved to hear Ruth declare the oracles of God.
As the final Amen was sounded, it was always a wonderful conclusion to the women’s day, characterized by hard work, endless laughter, feasting and presentation of gifts to the host.
The Group continued for many years, until the women became too busy with their now grown children, and the economic status of majority of families had improved considerably.
The Group disbanded but it left lasting friendships and sisterhood among the women and their families who started out as strangers.
