MY NYANDARUA – Then and Now
Nyandarua is my home. It is beautiful with gently rolling hills, extensive prairies, heavily wooded areas and plenty of rain. It is a land blessed with rich soil…
OlKalou Name
My siblings and I were not always proud to tell people we were from OlKalou, but dont worry, we have since repented. With our Kikuyunized accent, we all…
Asia Population Explosion
In every group, there are always some people who know a little bit about everything. Such people informed and entertained the group with local, national and International news…
Food Shortage
The dry season did not just affect the livestock. Their owners were not spared either. The Nyandarua that is known for its high yields of potatoes and green…
Stinging Nettle – Thabai
The only greens that flourished in the drought were some hostile weeds called Thabai. Nyeri people called them Hatha. The English name is Stinging Nettle. One touch of…
Cleaning the Wheat
Before the wheat was sold to the Cereal Board, there was more work to be done. There was no rest for the weary in OlKalou. We had to…
OlKalou Town
As I mentioned earlier about my embarrassment of the OlKalou name, anyone who knew the town back then in the 1970s would agree with me. Sort of. There…
Gachogu: The Headmaster
He was the Pioneer headmaster of Munyeki Primary School deep in the Settlement Scheme. When I was in standard one, I remember him taking us on a field…
Now I Understand My Parents
As one grows older, you look back at some things your parents did and you thought they were embarrassing, but then you realize, you have become your parents…
Kenya Farmers Association (KFA)
This was a government ran organization that sold everything the farmers needed. Their shop in OlKalou was at a corner of a building opposite the current site of…