Mwalimu Mathew. The 65-year-old principal moulded many lives. He was a motivator, disciplinarian, inspirator, and a strict but loving Mathematics teacher.
During his days, he would stop midway through classes to inspire us with a story here and there.
Maybe about his escapades when he was wooing his wife, or his notorious days in high school, how they participated in activism during the first multiparty election years at the University of Nairobi.
“I look at you nowadays and laugh. In our days we were the handsome men, wearing don’t touch khakis and afros,” he would narrate.
“But nowadays, we impact lives, we want you to be better. My favourite life quote is Teaching children to count and do calculus is good, but teaching them what counts is best,” he would add.
After three years of practising medicine, I organized to fly Mwalimu Mathew to the Coast for a long vacation. This was one way of appreciating him for offsetting my Form 4 school fees at a time my parents were financially constrained.
But the surprise on his face when he met 4 of my Form 4 classmates was amazing.
“Oh you boys,” Mwalimu stated, frozen, hugging them one by one. Brian, Josek, Otieno, Mwangi.
“Boys, are we ready for the trips of our lives?” I asked as that morning, we set off on an adventure. Josek had a camera and we documented every aspect of our journey.
Tuk-Tuks
Ali and his friend, two riders, barred his competitors from snatching us away. We were like ripe goods at the coast, just landed from abroad via the sea.
“Hawa wa bara wetu nyinyi kaka. Watatosha hawa,” he stated, as we sat in threes in two Tuk-Tuks to cruise Watamu, a small town approximately 20 kms South of Malindi.
“There’s no better way to travel or explore than by Tuk Tuk,” Ali says, and Mwalimu Mathew concurs stating that whether you’re driving the Tuk Tuk, or relaxing in the back seat, the feeling is euphoric.
“You feel independent and breathing Mombasa air, feeling the heat test the tenacity of your vest and shorts to absorb your sweat.
Tuk Tuks are the fastest route to the next selfie opportunity. And we snapped a few, the sound of the camera shutter so fresh.
Watamu boasts of being among the best beaches in Africa. The name, they say, translates to “sweet people”.
Not only the people were sweet in personality, from Ali to the waitresses, to the dera sellers to the beauty in every face we passed, but the blinding white sandy beach and a soft breeze coming off the water were also breathtaking scenes on their own.
Mwalimu dared us to a beach volleyball game.
“I want you on my side,” he stated, knowing that I was physically fit. The gym had worked some magic in me. The marine ecology made the water sport competitive. The splashing of water, fighting for the ball. I’d bring my family someday as this was the best family outing.
For two days at Watamu, we explored the nearby Gede Ruins, Arabuko Sokoke forest reserve and the mangrove-fringed waterways of Mida Creek.
We saw the unique and world-class dive sites and the reef here is close to the shore meaning that the coral reefs are easily accessible to novice divers and snorkelers. More experienced divers, we learnt, shore into the outer reed for excellent drop-offs.
That evening as we sat on the beach before calling it a day, we debated on where to take Mwalimu.
It was a heated debate. Brian, Josek and I, were in favor of Lamu. Otieno and Mwangi rooted for Diani.
“Alright, what makes you think of Diani,” I asked the two as Mwalimu looked at us smiling.
“Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) in this online brochure on magicalkenya.com, says that Diani is surrounded by the breathtaking Indian Ocean.
“Imagine the soft white sands encircled by lush greenery and the striking shade of emerald blue that emerges from its clear warm waters, Diani is Kenya’s most relaxing retreat,” Mwangi read.
Mwalimu weighed in here. “Reading like he used to read news for us at the assembly during the high school days.”
“When he founded the journalism club,” I added, as the round of beers continued.
Diani, the two argued, was the perfect place to get away from the stress of everyday life or to relax before and after an exciting safari. From visiting its marine national park, diving with dolphins and sea turtles, spotting whale sharks, kite surfing, skydiving and nightlife, to offering a wide range of resorts, hotels, B&Bs and budget stays.
“The Swahili dishes are excellent and we can digest our meals with a day trip out on an original Dhow boat to Wasini Island to look for dolphins and sea turtles,” he added.
We all stared at him and he wondered what was up. “Play your card bro, Niko Kadi! “Msibadilishe wacha ikuje tu ivo nimalize hii game,” Josek shouted.
“Sawa,” Mwalimu Mathew an ardent card game lover stated. But first, he reminded us of how he caught some boys sneaking out during his years, some rushing for a night out to play cards and a little drinking, like The Moses series books by Barbara Kimenye.
What about Lamu bro, Otieno asked me.
“In Lamu life revolves around long beach strolls, dhow sailing and exploration of the old Swahili settlements with their unique coral stone townhouses.
“We can enjoy a sailing day trip with a wooden dhow to Pate Island to explore Faza Town, Pate Town, Siyu Fort & the archaeological site of Shanga.
“We can take photos at the archipelago which contains several archaeological/historical sites of great significance. Great info by the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) here,” I stated.
Lamu it was. What captured my heart about Lamu was the majestically arresting Lamu sunset. Cheering on the donkey races in Lamu Donkey to enjoy the talented local jockeys skillfully riding their donkeys for the entire length of the town, a sight to behold.
Mwalimu tried a hand at it and we were all left laughing. I sat down someday and rewinded the footage to crack my ribs.
Now in Malindi on our way towards Mombasa and back to Nairobi. Two weeks of adventure here.
In the atmospheric old town, we dined on terrific Italian and Swahili foods. The glass-bottom boat rides, snorkelling, camping and beach walks in this veritable paradise left us yearning for more.
Mombasa was our last adventure, from Fort Jesus de Mombaça (aka Fort Jesus), which influenced the city’s trade culture to drinking local juices at Mama Ngina Waterfront and walking in the Old Town.
The freshness of the row pitting Arabs, Asians, Portuguese and British can be pictured in the narratives and artworks. The ornately carved doors and balconies, the shops selling antiques, souvenirs, spices and fragrance oils.
We finally called it a night at Fort Jesus, declared a national park in 1958, and in 2011, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
“I wish I could relive this day again,” Mwalimu Mathew, who couldn’t believe that he was away from his family for a month, expressed.
“Yes, there are offers for two to three days and nights from Jambojet in partnership with the Kenya Tourism Board.
All you do is just visit magicalkenya.com. They have also partnered with hotels to book you in. For us, we lived the moment too,” I stated as we packed, waiting to take our flight back home.
Mwalimu will always be dear to us.