Meet Mokandu Atandi: a handsome gentleman who looks younger than his age, outgoing and charismatic, and very informative on social issues. This is the man who succumbed to HIV/AIDS a decade ago but still going strong notwithstanding confessing: “I have never used the Antiretroviral drugs (ARVS).”
Whenever he is invited to address, one question is handy: “from your view, is there a difference between you and me?” physically, “No,” is the definite answer. Then he goes on to elaborate how looks are deceptive in knowing one’s HIV/AIDS status.
Mokandu was born; 41 year ago into a family where putting a meal on the table was a night mere. His primary education was a struggle against economic forces. After undertaking his C.P.E examination scoring 22 points out of the possible36 points which would have earned him a place in a good secondary school, he repeated the following year with the hope of my parents will muster financial ability to educate me. He registered an excellent performance of 62 points out of 72, in K.C.P.E examination that secured him a place at the prestigious Cardinal Odunga Mosocho High School: “I negotiated my way to Nyanchwa Mixed High School, with the buoyancy that its relative low school fees will be met. By the end of Form One my academic path was growing from narrow to impossible, from rough to elusive - from lack of school fees,” he articulates.
His heart-rending situation drew sympathy from one of his cousins who introduced him to a willing sponsor. “We first met with this sponsor (lady) in one of the hotels in Kisii town one afternoon. After brief moments my cousin excused herself to meet an urgent appointment. This lady who was a decade older than me left too after ordering for me a delicious meal which I have never taken in my life,” he testifies. The young-needy student waited till 8:00 pm when the lady called him to a lodging room by a hotel attendant.
Mokandu’s breath was held at the sight of a totally undressed lady on a bed. The lady encouraged the wavering young man not to worry and take a seat by the bed. From here the deal was struck for sponsorship with conditions attached before spending a night: He was not supposed to have a girl friend; transfer from a boarding school to a day school; and to be spending weekends together.
By the following day Mokandu had taken new status in spending, clothing, and socially. The lady parted with Kshs 4,000 by 2:00 p.m. the following day translating his dream to a reality. He transferred from Nyanchwa to Mosora Secondary School at the present Gucha district –joining Form Two. The following year he transferred to Bishop Mugendi Nyakegogi Secondary School which is by the road for her to pay him a visit if she wished despite spending weekends in Kisii town hotels. He admits that the lady lived up to her vow as she paid school fees promptly and met all other expenses.
”As I was preparing to take my Form Four exams the lady disappeared. I didn’t sink into worry, for she left with me enough money to see me via the finish of my schooling,” he remembers. After his K.C.S.E exams he moved to Narok for farm contracts. The 1992 tribal clashes robbed him his aspiration, as he was forced to return home. On visiting one of the hotels where they used to spend the weekends - One of the workers tipped him of the death of the lady: how her corpse was rejected by the husband before burial – claiming that she was a disgrace as she died from AIDS. He brushed away the idea on the grounds of witch craft. His first wife of 4 years passed away after one year illness without bearing a child. He remarried a two kidded single mother to save him from the shame of the “inability of siring.” Whenever he used to feel sick he used to secure medication from a Tanzanian herbalist at Mwembe in Kisii town. These are the same herbs he has been using ever since with total reformation in dietary.
The second wife too started showing the same symptoms of the first wife that strained me to take a bold step for HIV/AIDS test at Kisii General Hospital. “I needed little counseling since I was abreast with Joe Muriuki (the first Kenyan to testify of his HIV/AIDS status publicly) radio program. Ever since I have lived a reality of being HIV positive.” The wife too tested positive. Paradoxically they have sired two children who’re HIV negative. He decided to make his status public albeit the stigma that earlier accompanied it. He encourages those who’re in darkness about their status to seize the VCT services and come in term with their health status.
Since coming public, Mokandu has been blessed to work with various organizations. He began with the ministry of health Bosongo community Health outreach services (BCHOS), Adventist AIDS Network Kenya chapter (AANKC) to sensitize pastors and church members on HIV/AIDS and prevention in the western part of Kenya.
Later he worked as an advocate with Population Services International (PSI) in kisii central, Gucha and some parts of Nyamira since the year 2003 to 2005.
At the present he his the District contact person in Kisii Central and the new Kisii South for the National Empowerment of people living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya (NEPHA-K)
At the same time he his working with their newly registered NGO reach women and youths Development organization (RWAYDO) based in kisii central and Kisii south in Nyanza.
Mokandu feels that much needs to be done on HIV/AIDS in the platform of culture and practicing the various religious we espouse. “We can not live two beliefs simultaneously,” he insightfully says.
Mokandu draws his encouragement for daily living from the Bible which he has since embraced after giving his life to the Lord. He administers herbs to other patients, farms sugarcane in his Bogiakumu – Bonchari home. Yes, books are a treasure to him: How to Survive in the 21st Centaury by Herbert E. Douglas is handy. He is aspiring to pursue a degree in alternative medicine once the opportunity will be available.
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