Nine-year-old boy changes family's fortune

Isaac Analwa and his son at home. A benefactor has changed the family’s life for the better. [Photo: Jeckonia Otieno/Standard]

Luck smiles on people in different ways. It could be through a lottery win, a presidential invitation to State House or even philanthropy from the most unlikely source.

Year after year, it was a struggle for one man and his family but his prospects changed early last year and as he counts his blessings one year later, Isaac Analwa, 35, from Matete in Kakamega County can only hope for better tidings this year.

Luck came to the family through Analwa’s nine-year-old son, Kevin Eseremi.

The third-born in a family of eight children has dramatically changed Analwa’s household.

His struggles to raise his eight children are now in the past courtesy of Eseremi being connected to another child in the US and getting sponsorship.

It all started in 2011. Eseremi regularly corresponded with his benefactor but the friendship came to fruition towards the end of 2013.

Analwa says, “I was seated here one afternoon and I saw a World Vision Kenya vehicle enter my compound but could not understand their mission. First, I thought the visit was to offer a vaccine or even the census but I was wrong.”

As it would turn out, the visit was not an ordinary one because the struggling father would get more than anyone could bargain for.

From a grass-thatched hut, he got a two-bedroom house and a kitchen. He also got a dairy cow, two sheep, a motorbike, a sewing machine and sponsorship for his children’s education. All these would come because of Eseremi.

Initially, Analwa says, he and his wife would fight over nothing because times were difficult and both just relied on their small farm to feed the family.

The farm was not producing enough and he was blamed for being unable to feed his family.

“These accusations would definitely lead to a fight because a man does not take being chided lying down especially if he sincerely believes that he is doing his best.

“He is therefore, bound to respond violently but that is in the past, we have better things to do now and we are busy growing what we have for a better future.”

But how did Eseremi get sponsorship?

Sponsors are sourced for children through World Vision Kenya; in this particular case Eseremi was connected to a benefactor through the Matete office.

Lilian Dullo, who works with the organisation’s sponsorship programme in Matete says that through the US office, Eseremi got a sponsor who has never communicated ever since but just decided to do a charitable act once by donating slightly more than Sh250,000 towards the boy.

She says the benefactor’s help turned out to be a boon for the whole family.

“Since we do not give cash, we went to the family, told them about the sponsorship and asked them what they would like to invest in. The money was used to do what they had asked for,” says Dullo.

Dullo also says that since sponsors can be unpredictable, the office made sure that the family’s plan was sustainable.

The cow provides the family with milk for use and sale. It produces about ten litres daily.

Eseremi says that his dream is to be a teacher and he is happy that apart from having the family’s fortunes change, he also got new uniforms, shoes and clothes from the sponsorship.

The only boy in the family hopes to see his sisters grow to be successful people in the society.

Eseremin, who is in Standard Three, believes that he will also grow to make an impact in the lives of others just like his life — and that of his family - has been transformed.

His mother Everlyne Naliaka says that there is no way they can pay the boy back but it has definitely changed her life since she is now self-employed. She makes and repairs clothes for locals.