Games and Sports
Chweya Son Traces Kin
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 17 July 2007 23:16
Perhaps this is the kind of agony few unlucky people have to undergo throughout the world. But for Nathan Saul Chweya-Austen the emotional anxiety and awe must have been just too much for him as he stepped on the Kenyan soil at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Monday last week.
Shem Onsare Chweya, the most accomplished body builder Kenya has ever produced, died mysteriously in January, last year, at Wangige in Kikuyu. However family members said the post-mortem carried out on the body showed that Shem had died of typhoid.
Nathan, now 16, accompanied by her mother, Ellie Austen, had flown from London to Kenya on a mission to meet his uncles, aunts and other kin whom he has never seen since he was born on January 13, 1988.
Ellie was overcome with joy on arrival in Kenya. "This is great," she said, "it was natural that Nathan should meet his kin, it would auger well for the boy." One of Shem's younger brothers, Hesbon Chweya, a teacher at Kisii high School, had travelled to Nairobi from Kisii to welcome his nephew. "When news broke out that Shem had a son in Britain, we hardly believed it, but here is the reality," he said excitedly.
"If it were my wish, Nathan would remain here with us; he is our blood," said Hesbon. However, he said they would have to discuss the matter later as a family. The two had been booked at the Meridian Court Hotel where they stayed for three nights before travelling on Thursday morning to Kisii for a few days.
In 1986 the late Shem Chweya went to Britain to do a Masters Degree in Economics at the Manchester University, a fact that not many Kenyans, even in the body building circles are aware of. As fate would have it, Shem and Ellie met and became more than friends.
"I was there to do my Masters in Adult Education and Community development. I was not in education then, I was an ex-journalist and charity worker and my thesis was on overseas students studying in the UK and I was lucky to be living in International House with 12 others," said Ellie as we sipped coffee in the hotel lobby.
She said the role of the International was to host events by the different international groups at the university. She vividly recalls that another Kenyan, Robert Kangethe, was the chairman of the society and lived at the house.
Ellie said Shem stayed there temporarily at the beginning of the term while the university was sorting out permanent accommodation for him. "We also used to meet when he came back for the Kenyan events at the house," she said.
Many Kenyan football fans like to be identified with certain English Premier League clubs, and Shem was no exception, he was an avid fan of Manchester United. "He moved to Moss Side first near the Manchester City grounds even though he was a United fan," she said.
However, the new location was quite a rough district, and as the house became damp Shem and a fellow Kisii student, Ben Onyango, decided to move to Rusholme - a district famous for its Asian restaurants.
"It was at this place that he and I went out briefly. I was only on a one year course and so went back to London where Nathan was born," said Ellie.
But after the birth of Nathan on January 23, 1988, the two lost contact, "until I contacted the university and met one of the lecturers who was due to travel back to Kenya. I requested to pass my message on, and from then I maintained sporadic contact with Shem," says Ellie.
Ellie and Nathan kept abreast of Shem's achievements in the body building circles both locally and internationally. "Shem felt that it really helped him get his head together. I always hoped Nathan would meet his father, but it was not to be, despite two visits to Mombasa.
An obituary carried by the East African Standard of February 1, last year, under the paper's website broke the sad news to Ellie and to make the matter worse, she was sick at the time.
"I was off sick when I found the obit written (March but written Jan) by you - referring to this writer- which said he was dead. Through you I was able to make contact with the family of Shem," said Ellie. "I was too ill and saddened to visit Kenya at the time, but felt it was vital for both Nathan and the family that the two get together," she said.
"But most importantly we felt we had to come and meet his uncles and grandfather and mother, to bring the grandson of their first born son to his place within the family and show our respect to them, and introduce Nathan to Kisii lifestyle and responsibilities," she said.
She said Nathan tones his body the way his dad used to do, which Ellie feels as just a part of him. Accompanied by Shem's training partner Ken Ragos, they visited Image Health and Fitness Centre in Westlands where the late used to train. "So I felt important that Nathan sees where his dad trained and meet the people with whom he trained and see some of this world," she said.
"A world that has been a source of great pride to Nathan, and some pain."
Nathan said he is quite uncomfortable at school because he is bullied about his dad and sometimes shunned by other students on racial basis.
The late Chweya came into the body building limelight during the 1992 Mr Carnivore championship. Though he started by competing in the lightweight category (under 65 kologrammes) he felt more comfortable in the middleweight (under 70 kilogrammes.
She proved the notion that only heavyweights could be crowned national champions by defeating the then indefatigable heavy Mickey Ragos. He went on to claim the Mr Kenya title three times and in 1997 qualified he carried the Kenya flag when the country made its debut in the Mr Universe contest. He qualified again for the global event the following year.
Shem collected every title on the local scene thus his name became synonymous with the game of bodybuilding. His latest achievement was the silver medal (over 40 years) category) he won at the Africa championship that Egypt hosted at the cities of Luxor and Kenna
