Many people view birthdays as joyful occasions where friends and family exchange gifts, and some people even go on holidays.
Bishop Margaret Tanui decided to celebrate her 60th birthday differently this year after spending many years spending thousands of shillings on her birthday celebrations and storing gifts for herself.
Bishop Tanui made the decision to build her aunt a house last Saturday in Kapkitet Village, Eldama Ravine Constituency, Baringo County, utilizing funds and resources she had raised during her 59th and 60th birthday celebrations.
In a festive ceremony, she gave the two-bedroom property worth Sh850k to 86-year-old Pauline Teriki.
As Teriki got out of a car decorated with balloons, her neighbors started dancing and having fun.
The moment the car arrived, ululations could be heard everywhere. Before being escorted to her new home, Gogo, as she is often called, received a bunch of flowers from young girls who were waiting as women sang and danced.
Gogo, despite her advanced age, shook her legs in an effort to match the beat of the music.
Teriki, a mother of four, said she never believed such a time would come. She said what happened was more of a dream and she was yet to believe.
“It is agonising and shameful when a family has no house. I cannot explain the feeling and I never thought I would ever own such a house,” she said.
Tanui said she visited Teriki 37 years ago and the state of her grass-thatched house was appalling. She said she wondered how she was living in the house as the roof was leaking.
“The house was perforated, the walls had nothing to cover it and anyone passing by could see her from outside. It was pathetic and I thought I would give the little I had to support her,” she said.
She said she promised to buy her some iron sheets to build a semi-permanent house. However, she left before she could deliver on her promise, adding that things never worked out as she had expected.
Tanui said she forgot about it and moved on. Later on, she left and settled in the United Kingdom.
“In January 2019, my brother called me and informed me about the promise I had made to the lady. I remembered and thought what would have happened if I did not fulfill it,” she said.
She wanted to build a semi-permanent structure but a voice kept informing her justice would not have been served after such a long wait.
April 25 is Tanui’s birthday and she has lived to celebrate it.
“Usually, during my birthday people bring me gifts, money, and other goodies. I announced to anyone planning to buy me a gift that this time I had a project. The support was immense and people gave what they had,” she said.
Tanui said she formed a group and tried to pool resources. Initially, the plan was to build a Sh500,000 house but it rose to Sh850,000. Well-wishers are still contributing to furnishing the house.
She said the project was not for Teriki but the community, adding that the idea was to set an example to the people that they can change someone’s life.
