The government unwittingly posted Mr. Joe as the public health officer in his neighbouring Muhuru Division, a job that made him the unrecognized messanger of change for the entire region. Hardly ten years into his job, Mr. Joe met a group of Mzungus, supposedly looking for a place to settle. They had been visiting the region severally but no one seemed to have been taking them seriously, not even the administrative officers. It was going to be their last week of attempt, after which they will have to try elsewhere.
The Mzungus seemed to have fallen in love with the splendour of Lake Victoria shores, the beauty of the huge waves rolling across and the gentle breeze of the afternoons and the biting need for a better health care. Indeed, it would be an ideal place to set up a small hospital especially for someone who has left the comfort and pride of the American life to serve humanity several miles away in the remote africa.
“Hallo sir!” said Hugh as he approached Mr. Joe. Mr joe turned and shared the pleasantries in the typical Luo fashion. “I’m fine, thanks. How can I help?” The look in his eyes must have been intimidating to the soft spoken Deacon from Kansas, considering he was in his line of duty, inspecting meat in the butcher shops. Nonetheless, he had the heart of a calvanistic priest inspite of his stern looks, just like Hugh and his sweet wife Marty. They were able to agree and planned to meet the following day at a nearby shopping centre, close to Mr Joe’s local home, for he understood it better and knew all the people who owned land around the shores because that was the Hugh’s preference.
When they finally met the following day, Hugh was expectant, hopefull as ever and Marty so eager to clear this task so she could embark on the noble task of setting up a Community Hospital. Fortunately, Mr Joe Odida was not to disappoint. In fact he had already made a deal with his long time friend who had shown willingness to part with part of his land at Matoso Beach. This was to the sweet relief of the otherwise frustrated couple.
A few months later, Hugh had settled down, got more friends who helped him put the foundation for his hospital building, after all he would pay them at the end of the day. Things seemed to get on more smoothly thereafter that he did not need Mr Joe any more. In fact their encounters diminished slowly and almost eventually completely, because he got a transfer soon after to Karungu Division although his profile among the villagefolk was already greatly elevated.
Meanwhile, Mr Joe’s life continued smoothly. As expected he was a man who put his family first and indeed his job. He was my beloved
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