Crossing Waiyaki Way

<p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The award-winning true story of one boy's winding yet determined rise from impoverished orphan to national leader set against the cultural backdrop of Nairobi's Kangemi slum.</strong></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Before he became a political asylum seeker in the US and later an American citizen Gordon Okumu was just a boy growing up in Kangemi. Despite living in abject poverty Gordon dreamt of a bigger life beyond the labyrinth of dusty roads and rusting corrugated iron sheet structures. Since Gordon was his mother's only child and the Okumu family had disowned them both after his father died it was the two of them against the world. Mary Auma taught Gordon everything: how to escape corrupt police; how to send away restless spirits that roamed the shores of Lake Victoria; and how to make </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>ugali</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> (even though their tribe forbade men from cooking). Most of all she instilled in him an unwavering belief in his own worth and ability. </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>When Gordon was 14 he held his mother's hand in their Kangemi home as she succumbed to typhoid fever. From then on Gordon vowed to make his mother proud and forge his own way even if his culture said he was cursed and even if he had to break the confines of what was considered possible. His ensuing path through adolescence and early adulthood was full of twists and turns including studying to be a Catholic priest in the Jesuit order; becoming student body president at university; entering national politics with a vision of honest leadership (inspired by Obama's example in the US); surviving assassination attempts; and finally leaving Kenya in 2016 with no idea if he'd ever be able to return. </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>With vivid detail drawn from </span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>languages song lyrics proverbs</span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> and prayers </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Crossing Waiyaki Way</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> presents an immersive look into Kenya's rich culture. It</span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> </em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>is an inspirational character-driven story of overcoming adversity that</span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)> </span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>reminds us how certain struggles beliefs and dreams are universal and </span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>how</span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> a seemingly ordinary life can be extraordinary. </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Crossing Waiyaki Way </em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>is a testament to courage resilience and-not least of all-the exponential effect of even one small act of kindness to change the course of an entire life.</span></p>