A Kenyan woman based in Australia made a gruelling intercontinental journey to celebrate her mother’s 70th birthday in Busia, western Kenya, in a family reunion that has since moved viewers online.
Angie Owoko flew from Australia via Qatar Airways, stopping over in Doha before landing in Nairobi and catching a connecting flight to Kisumu — a journey of more than 21 hours in total.
Angie travels with daughter Salan
She travelled with her daughter, Salan, who had visibly grown several inches since their last visit the previous year.
The birthday celebration, held at the family home in Busia, brought together siblings from as far as Germany, with sisters, a brother, nephews, nieces and aunties all converging for what Angie described as “the best time ever.”
The children secretly organised a refrigerator as their mother’s milestone gift, upgrading her old fridge in a moment that drew loud cheers and laughter from everyone present.
Busia family prepare buffet for birthday Once the gift was unwrapped, preparations for the birthday lunch began in earnest. Angie was assigned the task of stewing chicken over a firewood fire, an experience she admitted was not easy as the smoke made her eyes water.
True to tradition, she noted that no celebration at the family home was ever complete without chicken.
The spread that followed included pilau, chicken stew, chapati, ugali and vegetables, served to grandchildren at the veranda and to guests across the compound.
Busia family crosses border to Uganda
Birthday songs were sung in full voice, candles were blown out on a countdown, and photographs were taken in clusters: mother with her sister, with each of her children, with all her grandchildren together, and with neighbours and friends. The trip extended beyond the birthday itself.
The family crossed the border into Uganda, visiting a place called The Breeze where the children went swimming.
After several days in Busia, Angie and Salan spent their final nights at her elder sister’s place in Nairobi before heading to the airport.
Angie disappointed to return to Australia
Angie reflected warmly on the trip as her departure approached, noting that nearly a week had been spent in Busia and a couple of days in Nairobi.
Salan, for her part, was visibly reluctant to leave, caught between the joy of the visit and the sadness of saying goodbye to cousins and friends.
It’s been like 10 days, but it’s gone by really fast,” Angie said before checking in for their return flight. “Time to go back to reality.”
