AN ICON OF PEACE, LOVE AND UNITY HAS FALLEN: PAUL M'IKIUGU

"Age is just a number", a common saying by an anonymous writer that we commonly use to defy our wrinkles and the age factor. I indeed agree with the anonymous writer that age is absolutely a number. That was a saying that never got erased from the lips of one old man we will live to treasure; an icon of peace, love and unity- Paul M'Ikiugu Muriorema. 

A hero has gracefully fallen. A hero to the society and a foundation of success to many has fallen. A well of wisdom has dried. Paul M'Ikiugu Muriorema, 105 year plus defied the age factor to live a life of success against all odds. He is my grandfather, our grandfather and a great-grandfather to many grandsons and daughters. Your fall was a strong fall that has left positive impact in the lives of your generation. We therefore, celebrate, rejoice and make merry of the positive impact that now rubs across the shoulders of all your descendants. Rest in Peace Cucu Pauru.

You were a bright and intelligent man whose talent was as natural as the pattern that is made by the dust on a butterfly's wings. Many a times, you understood it no less than the butterfly did to not know when the pattern was brushed or marred. A sign of intelligence we will live to recognize Cucu. We will miss your great wisdom Cucu. Rest in Peace Cucu Pauru.

Every time we visited you at home, we would find you seated on your favourite 'couch', most often than not lying, on your traditional sheep made mattress basking in the sun after a hard days work. We would engage you in a talk, a conversation that we would all get drowned into. Listening to the beautiful Mau Mau stories and episodes of yester-years long before we were born. Stories that made us embrace the need to love, to unite and most importantly, tales that made us see the need to remain hard working descendants and push on through life despite the hardships. Pauru, we shall all miss you greatly. Rest in Peace Cucu Pauru.

Pauru, you were the pillar and corner stone of your family. Your knowledge, intelligence and wisdom in keeping close your descendants will never go unnoticed. Your earthly happy moments will remain deep into our hearts and a driving wheel to keep us intact and true to your wishes of embracing peace, love and unity. We loved you and we will not let you down Grand Pa, now and forever Amen. Though you are now gone, its no doubt that you are now happier with the Almighty. Rest in Peace Cucu Pauru.

You may not have been recognized as a hero with those prestigious heroic awards but in your own eyes, mind and soul, you were a hero. In your descendants eyes, mind and soul, you were a hero. You will remain a hero Cucu Pauru. You have built and left a legacy that will live on and on in your children, grandchildren and generations  to come. Your attributes of humbleness, love for education will not be neglected regardless of any circumstances. We loved you Cucu, we will miss you Shush. Rest in Peace Cucu Pauru.

Clearly, we can not know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young. Therefore, we will not forget our past when we become of age. We will not forget the good deeds done to us by people now and when we become of age. This was your lesson Cucu. We will embrace our enemies and love them Pauru. More often than not, you taught us how to handle and embrace an enemy with your great saying, "if an enemy corners you down in the dust,  don't say to him, once I wake up, you will know who I am". We clearly understood this lesson that was all about tackling hard situations. Truly, we will carry on this wisdom on and on to your generations to come. Rest in Peace Pauru.

Though you are now gone, much abides; we are now that strength which, in your days moved earth and shook the village trees. Your heroic heart has not left us weak by time and fate, but strong in will to always strive, to seek, to find, and to yield. Rest in Peace Cucu Pauru.

Bye bye our Grandfather. May you shine with the angles till we meet again. We love you Cucu. With the wish and the blessings of the Almighty God, we say REST IN PEACE CUCU PAURU.