Interview with Esther Kotwemu- Guest Post by Benedict Musee

 

 

Esther is a Salonist, Teacher and gospel Musician. She lives in Nairobi with her lovely daughter.

Can you bear what Esther went through? Admittedly, it requires God’s grace and power to endure all this and remain standing and hopeful.

I interacted with Esther, and this is what she had to say,

Esther, how was your life as you grew up?

My life as a single parent child and later an orphan***

 

Yes, I am the third born in a family of four. My parents separated when I was two years old. My dad was a drunkard and was very violent to mum whenever he came home drunk. Together with my siblings, mother took us to our grandmother’s home (her mother). Due to financial constraints, our mother was forced to go to the city (Nairobi) to look for employment. We were left in the custody of our grandmother.

You have said that you have gone through a lot if you do not mind; can you share your journey through tribulations/challenges?

I was left alone***

 

The first and the most painful experience was when I lost my mum in 2002; she became sick in 2001. Throughout her ailing, we were with her in Nairobi with my younger sister. As the mother’s condition grew worse, our oldest sister who came and took her for treatment and nursing. At the age of 10, I was left to take care of my younger sister and the house rent. Our sister could not take us with her due to financial constraints. What! Where was I to get money to pay rent and other obligations at my age? Our aunt who lived in Nairobi came and took my younger sister. I thought she would go with both of us, but it would not be. She claimed that she was cash trapped hence could not take the two of us. I was left there alone with no one on my side. I had no option but to look for a house help job to sustain myself.

Approved school, oh no, why***

 

Some months later, my uncle took me to an approved school. He had to lie for me to be admitted to the school. He promised me that he would be visiting me since it was a boarding school. However, he did not honor his promise. Thank God, my teachers noticed that I was under depression… they decided to take me for counseling sessions.

My uncle raped me***

 

I sat for my KCPE in 2004 and my uncle (dad’s brother) offered to sponsor my secondary school education…So I went to stay at his place with the hope of joining high school. Wah, Another bitter experience, the person I respected as my dad, ended up raping me at that tender age… I had to run away from his house and went to stay with my aunt (mum’s sister). It is the first time I am sharing the rape incident, I have kept it for that long, but I have decided to open up to uplift somebody. Remember sharing is healing,

It was during that time another uncle (mum’s brother) came to know of my predicament. He had a friend who owned a children’s home. He went over and told him about my situation, and he offered to assist. God came through for me through my uncle’s friend. He told my uncle that I should choose a school of my own choice and offered to pay the fees. I say God came through for me because my uncle wanted him to take me to one of his children’s homes. However, he offered a better option. God bless that caring man.

Am I pregnant? ***

 

I completed my high school education and qualified to join college. However, I was not lucky I became pregnant. Oh God, pregnant, but why was I so foolish? How could I allow this to happen? I dropped out of college and went to live with my grandmother (mum’s mother). I know you are asking where the baby’s father was, but he was just another baby father who was not responsible. He was double-dealing me with another woman. My relatives were mad at me for letting them down despite everything they had done for me. It was only my Cucu (grandma), who accepted me and assisted me until I delivered. I never gave up though… I was determined to go back to college, and God made way for me…After completing college, I started searching for a job.

I had no luck with jobs***

 

Getting a job was not an easy task as I thought…The jobs I got, ended up in disarray or even not being paid. I decided to move outside Kenya to see if things could change but the story was the same. I decided to come back to Kenya and requested my cousin to host me until I got a job. However, his mother told me to leave her son’s house since he was married to avoid chaos. I took a house help job since I had nowhere to stay… That was in 2017 September. In January 2018 I got a job in town (Nairobi) however, it did not last long. With business being down, I was laid off with a promise they would call me back once the market picked up.

What has been your strength throughout that problematic phase?

During those awkward moments, sometimes I felt like giving up, but when I remembered my daughter, I got the strength to keep on fighting. I also contemplated committing suicide, but I told myself that committing suicide was the shortcut to hell. It was during those moments that I learned to depend and trust upon God.

 When did your turnaround towards progression START?

After losing my first job, I got another job that enabled me to pay rent and my daughter’s school fees. I was working in a salon, and things were not very bad. I worked extra hard and started saving the little I could. I had a dream of owning a salon, and this was the motivation behind my saving.

Esther, you are a salon right? How did you become a salonist?

Yes, I have my salon***

 

I had this passion since childhood. Yes the desire to own my Salon someday and yes, I now have one by God’s Grace. My dream came true in September 2018. I used the little savings I had and started the salon and so far so good, God has been faithful. All the glory to God for making this a reality I will surely worship Him until my last breath.

Apart from being a salonist what else, do you want to achieve?

A school***

 

I would like to own a school one day since I was once a teacher. I also want to assist others to attain education.

A children’s home***

 

Since I am an orphan, I have the burden for orphans in my heart, and I have a desire to start a children’s home someday to take care of the orphans and the less fortunate in our society.

Become a musician***

 

I have composed and written many gospel songs just saving to go and record them one of these coming days.

 

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

I want to help those who have been through rape or have gone through other traumatizing experiences, through counseling, encouraging, and equipping them with knowledge. I will ground and support them in the word of God and show them the plans God has in store for them. God still loves them as per the book of Jeremiah 29:11

What are your parting words to those who think that they cannot make it in life?

I am an orphan, having lost my mum in 2002 and my dad in 2010. I also lost my eldest sister in 2007. God has been faithful to me all through why not you? Put your trust and hope in God, and all shall be well. The only mistake you can ever make is by putting your faith in man.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to tell my story. I feel like a huge load has been lifted from me. I wish to forgive all those who wronged me and pray that God also forgives them.

 Thank you so much, Esther, for sharing your story. I love it when you say; you have forgiven all those who wronged you because this is the first step towards healing. All the best as you pursue your dreams, however, let God be your number one in everything. I wish you all the Lord’s blessings, mercies, and wisdom.

Thank you, Benedict, for sharing this important information with everyone so that we too can better understand those who have faced some of life’s most challenging moments and overcome them. Esther’s story in motivating, inspiring and a reminder to be thankful for what we have in our lives and to make the most out of each opportunity that presents itself to us. 

Benedict is a Skilled Web Content Writer/Interviewer/Blogger and a Creative Writer.
He has worked for various websites among them Faith Filled Family Magazine and Stan ventures.
Benedict is also an upcoming Author.