Kamba Gospel artist Meshack Mwengei shed tears as narrated how he struggled while growing up.
Speaking during the Meshack Mwengei Foundation launch over the weekend in Syokimau, the artist revealed that they grew up in poverty and he had to do small hustles as a child to ensure they at least got food.
“I was born in poverty and grew up in poverty. We used to borrow basic things like salt and sugar from all our neighbors. When I was in Primary school I used to sell water so that we could get some money to buy basic items at home. I grew up knowing life is not easy and children should have discipline.” Meshack narrated.
“In the upper class, I started selling charcoal in Wamunyu and Miondoni. In class 7 I started a photography business and used to go to Machakos to have them printed. When my sister was married they had a bicycle that I used to borrow to distribute photos…At General Mulinge High School, I was very shy and could not sneak out of school like other Boys did, i just used to send them as I could not imagine being caught and suspended from school.” He added.
From his hustles, he had managed to save 5,000 shillings by the time he was clearing High school. He wanted to start a business to sell trousers from Gikomba but at the time her mother had a heart condition.
Meshack also spoke on the fateful Sunday that his mother passed on, she had requested her not to go to church but instead go herd cows, he went to herd them and returned home early so that he could go to the marketplace as he did on Sundays. On his way, he was informed by a friend that her mother had collapsed during a crusade.
“My mum was born again, they had left church and gone to a crusade in Miondoni and that’s where she collapsed. When I got there People were surrounding her and I touched her chest and went back. We then started looking for a vehicle to take her to the hospital despite not knowing anyone. Dr. Mutuma came and broke the sad news that Mum had died,” Mwengei narrated as he broke down in tears.
