I am a proud daughter of my mother. I cannot get anywhere close to her strength, but whenever I face tough situations, I always draw my strength and example from her, constantly asking myself “what would mother do?” I confidently do that because she proved her strength with her actions over the decades, and never really knew or acknowledged that strength or expected any accolades. She just did what needed to be done and that was that.
Yet, she was always the behind the scenes person, always a step behind my father. Her generation and her upbringing did not allow her to acknowledge her strength, just like so many other women of her time. That is why I am never afraid to exercise my mothers’ strength that she quietly instilled in all of us, her children. I do it so that her powerhouse capabilities do not fade into oblivion.
My generation has given women the platform to exercise their strengths without fear, while still maintaining the noble role of nurturing their families. Our mothers did not get such an opportunity and that is why it would be a disservice to them to shy away from that responsibility of carrying their strength forward to the future generations. God knows they will need it.
I salute all the women of my mothers’ generation who sacrificed so much for their families. They stood by their husbands even when it was not convenient. They raised wonderful families with so little and taught their children concrete values to live by. Mothers like mine oversaw the development of virgin lands singlehandedly, bringing great success and pride to their families without much acknowledgement, appreciation or credit to their names.
That is why I am here to declare today that much of the development you see in OlKalou and most parts of Nyandarua, and successful children and grandchildren you see today, would not have happened without the Pioneer Women of Nyandarua.
I salute them today and always and I wish I had half their strength and resilience. God bless you all mothers for a job well done.
