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THE KANISA MADUKANI INITIATIVE BRINGS MUCH NEEDED TRANSFORMATION IN GIKUNI

Upon the sleepy Gikuni Shopping Centre and its environs in Kabete, a new dawn breaks swiftly.

As Nathaniel is quoted in the Scriptures enquiring if anything good could come out of Nazareth, Gikuni embellishes that very notion, notoriously renown for insecurity, burglary, drug abuse, absence of development which necessitated the shopping center to be derogatory likened and named Cuba at the height of the Cold War.

However, a swift wind is now breathing to life a new epoch of transformation after the inception of Gikuni Kanisa Madukani Innitiative spearheaded by ACK St. Peter’s Kirangari, under the leadership of the Vicar and resident Archdeacon Ven. Canon Perminus Muiru.

“We were as lost sheep looking for anyone or anything to shepherd us to any direction until Canon Perminus came to our rescue.” Mr. Martin Kinyanjui, a reformer, unshackled from the chains of alcoholism for the sixth month now, confessed.

”Many youths growing up in this volatile, closely parked area with scarcity of positive mentors, easily get entangled with alcoholism, crime and hard drugs putting them at loggerheads with their parents, family, community, law enforcers and the church, further escalating their predicament.

This the very first time in the not-so-pleasant history of this area, that such people are finding any solace.

The church has stretched forth its hand to the shunned; drunkards, substance abusers, criminals, bar maids, the down trodden and depressed by hosting them to a 3 hour outreach service at the heart of Gikuni shopping Center as well as regular follow-ups for the reformers.” Martin who in now, walking with reforming youths in the area revealed.

The 7 months old Reformers Church at Gikuni Centre now has over 90 attendees, of whom 30 are ladies meeting each Sunday from 6:30AM – 9:30AM.

35 individuals have since completely reformed and assumed normalcy since the inception of the initiative and are actively reaching out and positively influencing their comrades.

“Alcoholism and drug abuse among ladies is rampant in this area. After being clean for more than a year and experiencing the spiritual and financial benefits, I began attending the Reformers Church keen on walking and mentoring ladies struggling with drug abuse and depression.” Martha Wanjiku the Gikuni Reformers Secretary spelt out.

She is among the five individuals who were selected and financed by ACK St. Peter’s Kirangari for a Recovery Coaches Allies and Peer Training Course at the Kiambu Polytechnic. The four are already using the skills garnered plus their individual experiences to bring the change that is badly needed in the area after graduating last week.

Notably, this part of the larger Nyathuna region in upper Kabete last year made headlines nationally due to the soaring cases of suicide cases, especially among young men.

“After seven suicide cases involving youths in the area in November and December last year, we have not registered any this year, especially due to enhanced and specialized outreach by the church.

Previously, a hot bed of moral decay, synonymous with exporting criminals to Nairobi and beyond - only for them to return home in caskets - is now experiencing a resounding reformation and improved security.

Ven. Canon Perminus Muiru has made it his personal duty to interact with all reformers to know us and our needs by name. He and Christians of St. Peter’s Kirangari have beheld something we, our families, community or law enforces would seldom have seen in us. In October last year, Ven. Canon Perminus organized and spearheaded my Ruracio ceremony accompanying me to Meru County for my dowry obligations. He has further encouraged many young men to marry and stick to their partners, even travelling to other counties to reunite separated couples.” Martin Kinyanjui attested.

The Sixth Mt. Kenya South Rt, Rev’d Canon Charles Muturi visited and fellowshipped with a section of the Reformers at their homes during last week’s Bishop Mashinani Initiative and blessed their place of worship at Gikuni Shopping Center.

The residents of Gikuni, after decades of wallowing in the miasma of a blacklisted, and deteriorating neighborhood are now acclimatizing to a new dawn that promises, soberness, peace, coexistence, prosperity, solely and fervently fueled by the Church of Chris