NAIROBI: Salome Murugi, 75, has fond memories of Mother Teresa whom she last saw over three decades ago.
Her wrinkled face lights up when a photo of Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who devoted her life to helping the poor, is flashed before her.
"Yes, I remember her. This is Mama Teresa," says Murugi who last saw Mother Teresa in 1982.
"I even washed clothes for her." "In fact, her house is just over there," she says pointing to the Missionaries to Charity Mother Teresa Home.
St Teresa put up a children's home in Huruma, Nairobi, an estate that was conquered by hopelessness. The home later became a refuge for children whose mothers had wanted to abort them.
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"We used to come here whenever we needed treatment and she would give us medicine for free. In fact, my granddaughter was treated here...but I refused to give her away even after my daughter vanished," Ms Murugi.
Ms Murugi's granddaughter later died when she was 12.
Diana Muthoni, 60, echoed her sentiments.
"Earlier, we used to work without pay, bringing firewood. But later she started paying us when she realised we really needed the money," she said.
SISTERS FEAR
However, Muthoni says these days they rarely go in.
"Security here is very bad that even the sisters fear for the children. It is not easy to get in. Besides, there are many sisters now who do the menial jobs we used to do," said Muthoni.
Teresa's fight to save unborn babies from abortion is one of the outstanding works a majority of Kenyans remember her for.
As she was being canonised yesterday at St Peter's Square, Vatican, many Catholics could not hide their joy.
"This is victory for the church over evil," said Father Peter Kamomoe of Holy Family Basilica.
Fr Kamomoe described Mother Teresa's canonisation as a beacon of hope not just to the Catholic fraternity, but to the secular world as they were impressed with her works that they awarded her a Nobel Peace Prize.
"It is the reinforcement of Christian character which is an encouragement to all of us. Mother Teresa was like other ordinary persons who led a poor life living on donations," Kamomoe said.
However, of all the outstanding works she did, Kamomoe cited her zeal in preserving life as a trait that everyone should emulate. Other areas Teresa's mission is still in operation are Mukuru kwa Njenga, Korogocho and Nyumba ya Wazee.
"She highly supported acts that dignified human life upholding highly the institution of God's mercy and love," said Kamomoe.
