Recently elected Ganda Ward Member of County Assembly Reuben Katana has recounted his struggle with abject poverty while growing up.
Speaking during a burial ceremony for his uncle Michael Ngumbao Jola that was attended members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) top brass led by Raila Odinga, the MCA-elect laid in visceral terms the hardship that defined his upbringing.
Katana said that he shared a room with his siblings and parents that had a leaking roof that allowed water to seep through when it rained.
"I started in a very difficult place. It was a place where my mum and dad were preparing and selling liquor. We all slept in one room, my siblings and parents, and dogs. (Pale nilipoanza, nilianza pahali tena pagumu sana. Mahali ambapo baba ni mgema na mamangu anauza demo ya mnazi. Tunalala mahali hiyo nyumba baba na mama na sisi watoto tuko hapo wote pamoja na ukienda kando hapo kuna mbwa ambao wamelaa hapo)," he said in part of a video shared on YouTube. (25:07-25:35)
Looking back, the newly-elected MCA said that he had made progress in life and thanked the ODM leader for holding his hand and seeing that he was given all the support that he needed to win the Ganda ward seat.
His uncle was killed in a confrontation at their homestead between his supporters and Malindi Member of Parliament Aisha Jumwa, who has strongly denied any involvement in the death.