Jomo and Raila also joined the morning meal.

Onlookers were extremely proud of this momentous occasion.
It signified the strength of our heroes during a time of swift, albeit dietary, transition.

I went on vacation for a week. While I was gone, my roommate decided to check which kittens were male vs. female. The results: one F, two M’s.

When I went to HJSC (Hippy Jew Summer Camp), my counselors read me a story called Baby X. It was about a child with no gender who wore red overalls, and was good at both sports as well as arts and crafts. Some of the adults in the story were angry because they wanted to know if X was a boy or a girl, but the parents and the scientists – this was a top-secret government experiment of course – insisted it didn’t matter. It would reveal itself when X went through puberty, and until then X would live a blissful androgynous life.

For now, I will follow this HJSC lesson. I’m not telling which one’s the girl. But, for fun I’m taking guesses if anyone cares to leave a comment.

Raila, Jomo, and Barack, meanwhile are getting BIG. They have graduated from cornstalks, and are often found exploring the yard or wrestling. Mama Cat is still breastfeeding. With the kittens getting bigger and more active, hence their an enormous appetite, MC is desperate for protein. Last week she broke into our house to steal some fish from the trash basket. We understand the stress of being a single mother of 4, and are all hoping this does not turn her to a life of crime.

Tom Mboya is being helpful, keeping an eye on the heroes while MC takes a rest. For now the sibling rivalry has waned, as he assumes the role of guardian.

As for the paparazzi, it’s been difficult to approach the kittens with my camera. They hate people and run to the cupboard. I’ve been diligent, have endured a few scratches and hissing, and am pressing on in this last week of my trip.

More to Follow. Check back soon.

1) Kittens are both camera shy, and terrified of humans
2) With a few weeks left in Kenya, my projects are wrapping up. In the midst of writing a protocol and editing film footage, there hasn’t been much time to be a pet Paparazzi.
3) The compound – where I live – had a lot of people traffic. Two teachers from Boston just left, my boyfriend just arrived, and another volunteer is moving in soon. We have renamed the house Hotel KMET. Along with more people comes more chit chat, which ultimately leads to less time for blogging/photography/general kitten observation.
4) I kind of forgot. Again, sorry about that.

Please forgive the neglect.

Now, to update …

The heroes are sticking to the stalks. For a few days, they weren’t available for photos. They would run under the leaves when I approached. I resorted to taking pictures of other corn-stalk-creatures.

Jomo Kenyatta and Raila Odinga reportedly had a dispute over a bird wing they found, but Tom Mboya settled the conflict quickly.

Tom Mboya is having an identity crisis. Like most elder siblings, he is stuck between the roles of caretaker and fellow child. Last week he tried to nurse alongside Raila Odinga… Did he simply want to feel included?

On the other hand, Mboya rules over his brothers with loving yet stern discipline. This seems both entertaining and empowering. One wonders if he intends to assist in child rearing, torture the kittens out of natural sibling rivalry, or a combination of both.

Last weekend, their father showed up. He was shunned by his offspring. They hid under the corn stalks. Even Mama Cat ignored him. Seeing he was not welcome, Baby-Daddy-Cat lost interest and left (as usual). We were all proud of MC for not being seduced. As a reproductive health organization, we are encouraging her to consider family planning options. The team at Hotel KMET is also researching what dosage of Depo would be safe for a cat.

Today was a major break through for Barack. This morning, rather than run away when I approached him, he stayed still. Perhaps he’s gotten used to me. Perhaps his MC being there helped. Whatever the reason, he let me pick him up. We hung out for a while. He even posed for the camera without any fussing.

It’s rare to see a family peacefully hanging out nowadays – feline or otherwise. But here are Barack Obama, Tom Mboya and MC having some quality time in their hideaway.

A fun family fact: Barack Obama (the presidential candidate, not the kitten), has a grandmother who lives just outside of Kisumu in Siaya.

There was a thunderstorm last night. Here are Barack (left) and Jomo (right), dry after the rain. A pile of stalks seems to be decent enough shelter. This might be good information to know… in the event that you are stuck in a cornfield and need a waterproof roof.

And I missed it.

On June 24th, the day I returned, the kittens were nowhere to be found. Barack might have been campaigning in the kitchen. Perhaps Raila went to Nairobi. Jomo Kenyatta had simply vanished. Tom Mboya made no comment on their whereabouts.

When Mboya was their age, he and his litter mates had similarly disappeared. MC reportedly brought them to the father – an absentee feline who typically denies custody of his offspring. In spite of Mboya’s safe return to the yard, his brothers and sisters were never found. Since then, he has taken out his post traumatic stress on smaller animals around the property. Given his sensitive background, we did not press Mboya for information regarding his family.

By June 28th, there was still no sign of the kittens. We watched and waited.

By the 30th, I gave up hope. This seems to be the best way to get what you’ve ordered, whether a meal in a restaurant, something in the mail, or small furry cute animals that have been missing more than a week.

On July 1st, the kittens were discovered. MC had prepared a home for them in a pile of cornstalks. I can’t say I blame her. If my children were harassed daily by a giant with a camera, I would try to find them some privacy.

Luckily, she didn’t seem to mind when I brought out the Nikon.

And so, after a brief intermission, our saga continues. Please stay tuned.

I will be away until the 21st. In my absence, there will be no updates on Raila, Barack, and Jomo. Please stay tuned…

Thanks,

Roz

Barack Obama and Jomo Kenyatta snuggled in the middle of their native cushion. They did not seem to notice when Odinga set off on his expedition, nor did they react when he rejoined them.