Samson introduced the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Brian and he investigated the teachings of this religion for two years before he was baptized. Today both Samson and Brian help those in extreme conditions by bringing them to Jesus Christ. Samson has a calling in the Riruta Ward as mission leader and Brian is Sunday School President. But their full-time concern is the rescue of their many brothers and sisters.
At the news of a political disturbance and fire in the Village of Kibera—Samson Obwaga Otil rushed in to save his brothers—the year was 2015. Brian Kigundu was among those rescued. Just three years ago Brian was a leader of an angry rebellious gang who had purchased guns. They were out to cause trouble and the police were in the habit of shooting at the boys at night. Samson talked Brian into giving up his gun and to change his life before it was too late.
Today, Brian serves as treasurer of the Kibera Vision Youth Group and Samson is Elder and spokesman for the youth group. They are known and valued throughout the village. The Chief of the district and the assistants of the county commissioner recognize and respect Brian and Samson for their efforts. They learned of the missionaries and the Church and welcome them any time they want to visit.
Brian and Samson teach the Word of Wisdom and empower these young boys and girls, by helping them get started with small entrepreneurships and become self-reliant. In 2007 Samson began with car washing. Today they have various jobs, such as making sandals out of cast-off tires, welding, motor-cycle mechanics, and recycling plastic and iron. They have them organized to be taxi drivers on boda-boda’s and conductors on matatus and established a football team.
“Our aim is to reform these young people and they relate well because we are part of them and they see the change in our lives,” said Samson.
Alice Maweya, a young woman, manages her family best as she can with her blindness. She and her five children, the oldest is seven years, youngest two-years old, lived on the street with friends and finally found a home in Kibera. Her story is painful. Alice was 17 when she turned to addictive substances and sniffing glue which took her eyesight. Alice’s neighbors, Tom and Reginah Akel, look in on her daily. Polyne Njeri sees that the two oldest attend school and manages the younger children. Polyne reports that Alice, though blind, does an excellent job with the scrubbing the family’s clothing.
Alice and her neighbors dwell in tiny shanties next to each other, sometimes unable to pay their Ksh 2500 ($25) monthly rent. Many of the 250,000 Kibera villagers struggle together, scarcely able to feed themselves, yet they live and laugh and dream of better days.
Samson and Brian acknowledge requests to guide people through the area. They first introduce visitors to the county Chief and his assistants and arrange to have armed guards to guarantee safety. But Samson assures his clients that Kibera is safe these days. The residents visited enjoy meeting people from outside the village.
