Jenipher Atieno is a Kenyan woman born in Siaya county the 1960s. Her dad worked in Nairobi while her mum lived in the upcountry. She later joined her husband in the city. She is the second last born in a family of nine. She studied in Nairobi (both primary and high school). She feels that she was her parents favourite together with her youngest brother. This was evident in some of the things her parents did. For instance, Jenipher and her last born brother would be favoured and defended by her mum against their older siblings even when they were wrong. This brought hatred between them (Jenipher and her last born brother) and their older siblings. Things in her family home went along well enough until when her mother fell ill and was sick on and off. Because of her mother’s illness, Jenipher’s father took an early retirement to seek further medical attention in the up country. Jenipher was left under the care of her older siblings who because of their history with Jenipher and her youngest brother treated them badly. She and her brother were often not given enough food and had to survive on left over foods that were thrown in local restaurant bins. Because of her struggles, Jenipher chose to get married at the young age of seventeen hoping to find caring and security with her new husband. Unfortunately things did not go well as she expected and she found herself with a man who was both irresponsible and verbally abusive. He left her to manage all the household responsibilities and had affairs outside their marriage. Jenipher’s suffering was extreme and at one point her desperation was so severe that she considered suicide.
The only person she would turn to when suffering in her marriage was her mum. She however had a different opinion and always advised her to stay in the marriage despite the challenges she faced because her father in-law loved her. She also feared what people would say if she left the marriage. She heeded her mother’s advise but started looking for other ways to feel happy. She eventually started getting into extra marital affairs. Later one of Jenipher’s friends introduced her into their illegal business which in turn landed her in prison. Prison life was very difficult and stressful. She worried a lot about her children who she left without proper care due to her husband’s irresponsible conduct. She worried about how they would get school fees, food, and care they needed. Her worries made her bitter and hopeless and drove her to suicidal thoughts.
During her stay in prison Jenipher was diagnosed with arthritis, high blood pressure and numbness of the feet. She was introduced to a support group for women who are HIV positive. They met twice a month and gave each other hope and a reason to strive for a better life. She slowly started opening up and accepted herself and the situation she was in.
One day a lady named Gloria who ran a group with Harambee Arts visited the prison and Jenipher fell in love with the work she and her organization were doing. They were warm and non-judgemental. After the first session Jenipher noticed a sense of relief and a letting go of things she’d held in her heart for many years.
Jenipher says that out of this meeting with Gloria: “Gloria was like an angel sent to save my soul at a time when I was very low and had many negative thoughts.” Slowly Jenipher was able to learn to think more positively which ultimately brought her back to a life filled with happiness.
When she was released from prison, she lost contact with Gloria. She looked for her through different people. When they connected finally, Gloria gave Jenipher an opportunity to work with the special needs children at City Primary. The children loved receiving visitors and people who were taking an interest in them. This reminded Jenipher of when she was in prison and how she and the others loved receiving visitors. Some of the women prisoners were not accepted by their families in the same way some of the special needs children were not accepted. She loves and accepts the children how they are just as Gloria showed her love without caring of her status then and gave her hope.
The Harambee Arts program has impacted Jenipher’s life in different ways.
- Working with the children gives her strength. At times when she goes to the sessions when feeling low, upon meeting the learners she always feels energetic and happy.
- She has also learnt how to understand other people’s pains.(Relates what the children and their parents are going through with what she went through in prison).
- She appreciates having an employer who is like a sister. She stands with her in all she goes through. Something that not all leaders do.
- It has helped her heal from her traumas. She shares a lot of her story during staff debrief meetings and this has helped her let go of things she has held in her heart for a very long time.
- She also gets a chance to earn a living. Through the program she’s able to pay her bills, buy food, and pay for some of the medications she needs
- She appreciates getting an opportunity to work with a team that is non-judgemental and are always ready and willing to stand with her in all circumstances. Some of the things she shares with the team even her siblings don’t know about.
- She has become vocal and is able to share about the stigma and trauma she went through and the team are ready to hold the space for her.
- The opportunity she got to work with the children makes her feel useful and connects her to sensitivity. She keeps learning as she works with the children in different sessions.
She has a vision of living peacefully and inspiring people with her stories and her dedication regardless of how others may perceive her.
