During Saumu Mbuvi’s upbringing, she resided in Malindi with her mother, while her father, Sonko, lived in Nairobi, striving to make a living. Due to their living arrangements, Sonko was unable to be present in Saumu’s life as she grew up. Nevertheless, Saumu spoke to SPM Buzz and mentioned that her father made sure to work diligently to provide for their family.
She recalled a particular instance when Sonko visited her in Malindi and gave her a generous sum of 30,000 shillings. Despite the sacrifices he had to make, he ensured his presence in her life. Saumu expressed that she had no regrets about her humble upbringing, stating, “Even though he was busy, there was a time he came when my mom was financially struggling. He had just attended a meeting in Mombasa. He made sure to drive to Malindi and called me to meet him. He handed me the money and said, ‘This is for your school fees and personal expenses.'”
Sonko also provided his daughter with additional funds, advising her to purchase a mobile phone. The sudden change in their financial situation led some people in their locality to assume Saumu had obtained the money through illicit means. She had never seen such a substantial amount before, almost as if he had given her thirty thousand at that moment.
Saumu expressed her gratitude that, despite his exhaustion, Sonko made time to see her. She was ten years old when he gave her that money, back in 2005. Sonko, at the age of 18 or 19, had the dedication to ensure a better life for his children and prevent them from experiencing the struggles he endured.
As the eldest child, Saumu faced numerous challenges, but she never went to bed hungry, for which she thanked God. She commended her father for the sacrifices he made for the family. They lived in a thatched house in Malindi, where rain would pour inside, but they managed to live within their means. Saumu expressed her gratitude for God’s faithfulness. Currently, Saumu is the founder of the charity organization Pamoja We Can KE.
