11/12/2025
FAMILY GATHERINGS IS A WASTE OF TIME.
By Mr Sam VIDAMBU.
It is the season. It is the time. It is the moment. The moment when relatives converge at grandparents’ place to share ideas, great ideas on how they can make the whole extended family to be more united.
Uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces, brothers, sisters and in-laws are all seen coming back home after a busy year. The uncle from Mombasa is seen driving his Lexus 2016 new model back home, the aunt from Nakuru famously called ‘Aunty wa Harrier’ is also seen coming home, the flamboyant 27 year old cousin is also seen driving home with his Mercedes Benz.
When they come home they will always park their vehicles in the open field where all of the family members and neighbours can see them. They will always walk with the car keys in their hands and whenever they need anything they will always point with their car keys. They will always command people who they deem to be less important in the family.
It’s true, if you don’t have money your opinion doesn’t matter in family gatherings. Your questions are termed as a source of confusion. If you don't have money, you are the one to slaughter the chicken and eat their legs and heads.
Things have changed. During our childhood days families used to meet frequently, with purpose and meaning.
Nowadays families only unite when preparing for funerals. They can’t unite to start a family business to employ some of the unemployed family members. They can’t unite as a family to break the chains of generational poverty that has enslaved them for decades. They can’t support the less fortunate family members because they want them to remain poor and continue feeding under their feet. Family members are competing each others instead of completing each other. Some family members develop chest pains when they hear that son of so and so has flown to Atlanta, Georgia, USA to further his studies. Some family members even visit witches and sorcerers to try and prevent others fr