Keeping Hope alive through SIFA 101.1 FM Marsabit
Introducing Calvin Odero; Calvin is a building and construction site manager and a big fan of Sifa Fm Marsabit. He is commonly known as Engineer Odero and resides in Kiwanja Ndege village in Marsabit town with his wife and their three children. During our encounter Engineer Odero starts by recounting on his love for Sifa Fm Marsabit, which started 2 years ago when he arrived in the County to manage some construction sites.
Calvin says when he landed in Marsabit he took his time to listen to all the radio stations in Marsabit County before he resolved to settle for Sifa FM Marsabit. He gave us reasons as to why he decided to settle for Sifa FM Marsabit.First its because he was raised in a Christian family thus he always starts his day with some devotion and the Station plays an important role during the morning devotions.Apart from the spiritual nourishment, the music played at the station blesses him.
When asked to share his testimony about how Christ came into his life, he started by sharing a life tragedy that befell him when he was only nine years old. At that tender age he was forced to be a homeless child and streets became his home. This was after his mother found new love and got married to a man who then became his stepfather. His stepfather did not embrace him and would later kick him out of the home and thus the alleys of Eldoret town became his home.
After two years in the streets, one day during Easter celebrations he went to a church in Eldoret to get some food because they had some celebrations to mark Easter. In the streets, you always have to be on the radar where there are celebrations that would offer you free food. Unknown to him the Church was also hosting the Bishop. The Bishop spotted him and later approached him with a request if he would agree to go and stay with him. He agreed but with some skepticism, and that would marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life.
The Bishop took him to his house at Mayanja in Bungoma County and adopted him as his Child. As the Bishops’s child, God enabled him to get all the basic needs and that fatherly love through the man of God. Its during his stay there that he surrendered his life to Christ. Years later he graduated from college and he decided to open another chapter of his life by looking for ways he could earn a living and start his own family journey.
The necessity to fulfil his life journey saw him travel over 775 KM from Bungoma to Marsabit County and after settling to the cradle of Mankind County, Sifa Fm Marsabit became his number one radio station. He attributes his spritual growth to the devotional programs that air in the station and most importantly during Corona Pandemic when churches were closed the station became his Church.
“I am a member of JCC Marsabit, during Corona pandemic I was unable to attend church services but Sifa FM made me feel I had attended a church service because pastors were preaching via the radio, something other radio station in Marsabit county could not do.’’ Calvin stated .
Calvin added that Sifa FM gives him comprehensive news in that he is able to know what is happening in the County, nationally and even internationally if compared to other radio stations in Marsabit County. He says he is a big fan of Mpango Kazini show, which he frequently calls to participate in the discussions. Calvin reiterates that he likes Mpango Kazini because of the current affairs topics and the opportunity he is always accorded to share his opinions during the program.
He also alluded that his loyalty to the program is largely contributed by the fact that it is broadcasted in Swahili language the he loves and understands well.
“Sometimes When I am not busy at work my earphones are always connected to my mobile phone, as I follow to the Sifa FM programs, and when I get back home my radio is always switched on to the station. WoW! I love-Sifa Fm Marsabit.” He concluded.
Calvin’s testimony is reminder that no matter the situations we go through, God always has a God plan for us if we allow Him to speak to us. That need to get food allowed Calvin to go where God had positioned a helper (Bishop) for him. Through the helper, Calvin has turned to be a great man of influence and we can only join him in giving God all the glory as we thank Him for enabling us play a role in his spiritual journey through our station.
Story by Albert Mwanyasi, Sifa FM Marsabit.
