Ja-dear's

Human or Animal

2009-10-26T15:19:00.002+03:00

There seems to be a shortage of women in the country men have resorted to screwing goats and having kids with them. If this is so right in their eyes, why can't they come out and claim paternity so save us all the trouble of wishing we knew who had done such an unspeakable act.

Can DNA prove who is the father to the goat-kid?

And what is the world coming to? Is it that goats are timid so it reminds men that they can do the unnatural to them? Or was it a case of '2 consenting adults' so it is ok.

Will the real man please stand up!

TORTURE

2009-10-24T09:51:00.002+03:00

I wonder what goes on through a parent's mind when they beat a 4 year old senseless, leaving them with scars that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Watching KTN news yesterday, seeing the cuts on the young lad's back, swollen eye such that he couldn't even open the bleeding eye, all because of a book. Is is frustration that leads them to do that? There is no money for food and a kid comes home without a book that must be bought using the money that is already not there.........

Its a sad, sad world out there.

Pangani Girls, no thank you

2009-10-21T11:23:00.000+03:00

Not to discredit anyone who went to Pangani Girls, but a lot of questions run through my mind right now. From the stories I had yesterday, I do not think I would want my daughter to go to this school, as good as it is. I will pay for a private school for my girl.

I visited my brother's wife and she was claiming how tired she was, Monday had been hell for her as she had taken her daughter back to school after her 'suspension' for the fourth time in 2 months. Every suspension is not less than a week, and the girl has only been in school for two weeks in the last 2 months, the rest she has been suspended, staying at home, poring over books, watching telly, eating and sleeping. Her 'sin', she lied to her matron and the matron reported her to the head teacher who told her to pack and leave the premises.

Apparently, in Pangani, what you do during the holidays does not stay at home when you resume your classes, it follows you to the day you do your last paper and bid goodbye to the school. I'll try to narrate in brief what happened.

My niece reported back to class at the beginning of September. She decided to go to her best friend's dom to catch up on what they both did during the holidays. I think the excitement was too much she lost track of time. This happened after preps. When the students were making noise in the dorms, an alert was sent out as the head teacher had to leave her house to go see what the commotion was all about. She checked around was assured by the matron that all was well. By this time, the matron already knew that the girl was missing from her dorm. When the girl came back she gave a cock and bull story of how she was looking for her bucket. Of course you cannot look for a bucket for one and a half hours. She thought the matron bought her story so she slept and woke up as usual on the second day. Life was back to normal for her. The day ended well and she went to sleep and woke up on day three. She got called from the class to go face the disciplinary committee. The matron had mentioned to the head teacher what had transpired three days back and she was called to go do some explaining. Of course being the cheeky girl that she was, she went over the bucket story again. She got questioned and she insisted, the bucket story stays till she dies.

What does the headteacher do? Sends her home to go think of everything she did over the holidays and come and tell the disciplinary committee.

What caused all these? Her best friend had been called and she told the panel what they had discussed. Their boyfriends, the places the visited, who they met, when and where, what they did, what they wore, basically, EVERYTHING. So they wanted her to just confirm what they had been told, she refused. Girl gets home and parents want to know what happened. Same story sticks. The parents wonder why a girl can be sent home because of a bucket story. Luckily, one of the girls aunties is a teacher at the school. So she calls the sister and explains to her everything and tells them to ask the girl to tell them the truth. This time round she does, or so they think. After the suspension week ends, they take the girl to school. Same panel. She tells them what they had discussed and all, the nitty grittys. Is that all? Yes. No there is still something you are not telling us.

Now what? Both parents have taken a day off to take the girl back to school. They too are employed just like the teachers. Guess what, the girl is sent back home with the parents, again. WTF???? Thi is the short for Wed, Thur and Fri, in case you are wondering. If they thought this was over, they gatta get back to the drawing board again. The issue? The girls had a sleep over at their step mother, and they went to Carnivore. Yes that's it. And that's all the girl did not mention to the panel. Her best friend had, and since she omited that part, she starts another week as suspended, until the day she will say the truth. Now, the parents do not know this, and they cannot believe that in one of the sleep overs, they under 17 girls had been let out at 10pm to go to Carni on their own. These are two 16 years old girls and two 15 years old girls. In Carnivore. Alone. One of the girls is the step mother's daughter. She's damn lucky she schools in Machakos.

Anyways, the girl has to wait for a week before she goes back to school, yet again. The mother calls the step mom and questions her. She denies it all. But its because the girls said that they had gone with one of their aunties who at this point is unreachable on phone. The step mom 'promises' to investigate and get back to them. They must have sneaked out when she went to bed as she normally goes to bed at 2100hrs. Well enough. I believe you. This is before the parents had been told the truth. So they ask the girl how they went and she claimed that they went with the other older girl who's in campus. But who gave them the authority to go to Carnivore and what time did they go and come back? She says they went at 10 and were back by midnight. Two hours is not bad at all but these are my kids.

The beauty of all is that the sister to this girl is in form one at the same school. So next victim, the sister, an innocent 14 years old girl. Well, call her from class and explain her escapades over the holidays. In the meantime, the sister is at home, waiting for her probation to end before she is called back to go through the same harrowing experience infront of the disciplinary commitee.

Being the innocent girl that she is, she spills ALL the beans. But I wonder how teachers in such a national school can be so petty. The beans weren't juicy after all. They must have been so disappointed. The Carni trip started at 10pm after step mom called a cab for them. They left Carni at 0600hrs. When the mom found out and called the step mom, she is yet to pick a call from them or respond the any texts sent to her. The 'hubby' is likewise dumbfounded as he had protected 'mama mdogo', that she cannot do such a thing. Thanks to the little girl, it all came to light now. Now, the two dames aren't talking. First, how can you let my kids that I trusted you to look after leave your house at 2000hrs, to go to a night spot (she has a daughter who's 15), anywhere?

Isn't that too young? I would be upset myself. Very upset I think I'd ban her from talking to any of my kids. And lie about it. Apparently she had promised the girls that if they were ever busted she would deny!!!!! And she does keep her promises, she should be an MP.

Now parents sat down the older girl to ask about all the details they had gathered. Only then did she tell the truth and also mentioned the part that if they were ever found to have gone to a night spot at night, they were on their own. Some parents! NKT.

Back to Pango. Why would a teacher in such a prestigious school resort to such methods of discipline? Rumor has it that she does that so that parents can transfer their kids from that school so that the waitlists can come down! How unfair can one be. Yes, the girls erred in lying to their parents and teachers but to send them home for 3 weeks until they get what they want. Isn't that just a waste of parent's time and money. You are paying for a service that you are not getting. And as for mama mdogo, she needs talking to.

Another issue that came up is that when you school in Pango, you do not say where you live, apparently if you live the leafys you get victimised as you do not get to work hard enough like your sisters in the 'unleafy' surburbs. Now what give anyone that impression? And a teacher who has been in the same school for the last 40 years. Victimization I tell you, and woe unto you if your parents have 'good' jobs, it becomes worse. You become the SI unit of strikes. Anything goes wrong, its you. Some students have said no and decided to quit, going to better private schools, but how many parents are rich enough to afford that? To me, this woman is going too far. She made one of our prominent MPs sue her personally (not the school), for always picking on the daughter. How can one girl burn a dormitory. And despite her alibi, she still went through the same experience making the father go to court. How can a teacher tell a student in front of her mother that if they loved her and with all the money they had, they would have taken her to a private, not a public school. And this is an A student. This is said without the slightest feelings, you would think that she was born like that.

Do you know the reason for all this? Strathmore. Yes, Strathmore. That the kids are so disciplined and they carry themselves with airs that you would want to see in your students in school and kids back home. They behave themselves in and out of school. Imagine one of the teachers from Pangani died and since her village is next to ours, my niece could not go for the funeral but chose to stand and watch from afar lest she is punished when she goes back to school for not wearing what is appropriate while she is on holiday.

To end it all, the girl was taken back to school on Monday and is now back at her desk after repeating the same same story that the disciplinary committee had heard over and over again from one of the girls who had told the truth the first time.

Pangani?

Eastlands

2009-10-12T11:44:00.000+03:00

Yesterday I woke up early to go to church, as has been the tradtion for the last few months. I now feel quite naked if I do not do church on Sundays. I love praise and worship though yesterday I was late as I found water baptism just ended. I love watching those hydrophobic dudes and ladies and say a loud 'Hallelluhyia' as I know I am not alone. My fear for water hasn't improved, I still get the jitters thinking of a pool.

Later in the early afternoon I decided to chill with my son and watch some comedies I bought him. The boy is not into 'white kids' comedies unless they are acted by black kids. I dont know what he thinks the white kids are. Strange but true. I don't know what goes on through his mind when he watches comedies. Anyway, I decide to make him 'chakula', as he calls rice. He believe anything that is not rice is not 'chakula'. Weaning him off this has been the hardest thing since getting him off breast milk. I just can't get him to eat anything else. So I have to have a permanent supply of rice, and oh, chapati! He has sure started early.

After he finished eating his 'chakula', I get a call from a pal to go eat out and knowing my love for food I couldn't say no and off we went. Some joint along Outering Road in Embakasi, or is it near Pipeline. It must be more of pipeline. I enjoy my meat as usual and roast chicken. My son is not one to enjoy meat and I noticed he took piece after piece of meat and only later on did I realise why. The salt! Damn boy, I put a pinch of salt in his food and he must have discovered what he has been missing all his 3 years and 331 days he has lived on this earth. I had to stop him but then he stopped eating. Kids!

I used Outering road towards Donholm and hasn't the place changed. Some 6 or 7 years back there used to be an estate called Tassia and there was a field such that from the road I could see my house, whatever happened to that estate. And you could not build a house that was more than a storey high, now its all clogged up with uneven ugly dark corridored flats. It is so damn dirty and smelly. Whatever happened to the rules then. Or the town clerk. There's a Secondary school though I wonder if there are teachers, in a block of flats. I hate the way this country is being run to the ground. Its like there is a competition for the biggest grabber.

Anyway, I drive down Jogoo Road and go past the Total Petrol Station just next to Uhuru Market. Those days you could watch 6 movies for the price of 1, and they were all porn. There was once a huge field and the building was visible from the road, not any more. The same ugly dark corridored flats litter the ground. This used to be such a nice place to just walk and shop for groceries and second hand clothes and shoes. Its was so clean as compared to now. It is so run down it pains.

After a disappointing afternoon I retire home to have a siesta. I plan to go back soon and just take down notes of what is so wrong about the place. I cant even say how the estate I grew up in looks now. I cant even walk during the day but I will so day.

Soon

Day one of school

2009-01-13T11:34:00.001+03:00

On arrival in school that Monday morning, the gate is closed and the security guard tells us that the school is to be opened the next day. This is after being in communication with the teacher the whole of December and Jan 2nd.

On calling her the answer is simple, 'I could have forgotten to mention that only the teachers were coming on Monday and the kids on Tuesday.' ARRRRGGGGHHHH! Did I look like a teacher?

I drive back home but the powers that be will not take it lightly. I think next time I should reconfirm if EVERYONE is opening on Monday. I wonder how some minds reason, but hey, could be what makes them who they are, right.

Ok, so its next morning again on the road.......I kinda like driving to Westlands, the traffic is so flowing I could zigzag on the road without a care in the world, only I can't do it.

Day one is school is uneventful, toto looks happy to be with other kids and he bonds and blends nicely. The school transport is late in dropping him, apparently there's a snarl-up on Mbagathi and the dere cant overlap.........blaaaa blaaaa blaaaa. The toi is so exhausted when he gets home that after a shower he cannot even talk, just dozes off after a quick snack.

Day 3 is ok though the boy starts acting up. He doesnt want to go to school...... Did I speak too soon? Well, I just dance to his tune but I know how to handle him, manage to carry him down to the van. On depositing him in it, its drama again, he either wants me in it our with him, outside. I try to convince him how nice the other kids are and will be nice to him but he doesn't seem convinced. They drive off but I know he will not cry as he cannot do that infront of other kids, PRIDE.

Day 4, which is a Friday is the hardest days of all. He will not even look at his school shirt, he wants to wear his red t-shirt and wont wear his shoes either! Damn! What to do. Daddy comes to pick him up and he still is not happy. In the car he looks at me with those 'woiye' eyes I want to cry but he has to go to school.

15 mins later daddy calls..... the boy is hysterical. He doesnt want to go to class and is just screaming at the top of his lungs. So? Mummy comes to the rescue. My assurance that he'll be fine doesnt do much to calm both nerves. Men! Arrrrgggghhhhh!

Solution...call teacher Mary to come pick him from the car and he goes about screaming and daddy is lost. Teacher says that he only cried for a short while coz daddy was there and when in class he's a perfect gentleman. I find that hard to believe. Not the toi I know. But was not an eventful week as such. And he looks cute in uniform.

Its a new year

2009-01-12T15:57:00.000+03:00

The year started quite well for me, I can't complain. What with my dearest starting school. Having looked for a school for a better part of the last part of last year (if that makes sense at all), I decided to settle for Jonathan Gloag which is on my way to work so would just drop him off. Shock on me.

I took the toi for an interview in November, just two days after his 3rd birthday (apparently they do not take tois who are not yet 3), you'll have to ngoja until they fika that age. At the interview room, he decided he only wanted to play with the toys available there, he didn't care about anything else.

We were told to wait outside for a while so I decided to take a walk round the school. On seeing the play ground, the young man decided that would be his home for the rest of the day. Nothing I did or said could make him budge. After begging, babying, cuddling, he finally agreed to leave the compound. I don't know if the idea of watching cartoons the whole day appealed to him, but it did work.

Two weeks later I get a text from the school that he did not get a place. Panic settled in and since it was the last option, I just did not have a plan F. Having chujad all the other schools, I had nowhere else to turn. Think hard and fast. What to do. I called the school asking for the reason why and I didn't quite place it. They said that due to very high demand, they had decided to now look at the kids' ages. The last kid taken was turning three and a half in January 09. My son would only be three and one month. I wanted to cry coz now what was I going to do. Having everything left for me to work out, I was out of options.

Well, I was advised that if I wanted to, I could take him mid year! To join them that had been in class from Jan or what? I didn't quite understand. Well, shit happens.

I spent a better part of the morning calling kindergartens, nurseries that I thot were 'good' or 'up to good schools' standards' and ended up calling Strathmore school, just to check. We'', I'm so green in kiddos schools they told me they only take kids from 7 years of age and not just from any school. They gave me three schools to call and I settled on one that I'd been advised by my good buddies.

Clearly this school issue is a bizna that's doing so well I will start one myself. I know I won't go wrong. I called the school and got an appointment and went to see the teacher who just asked for cash and all is set. I took the docs to the relevant authorities who claimed it was expensive. Duh! If you don't pay then I will. A good foundation is a must.

Well, come end Jan I go shopping for his uniform (yes, they do wear) and one look of himself in uniform and he refused to leave the changing room. Drama before he starts school. I undress him and once he's back in his 'kawa' clothes he leaves the changing room. So relieved.

We wait for Jan for him to start school.

of men, women and clandes

2008-08-25T08:22:00.001+03:00

Just the other day, I met this chick I went to primary school with. She was one of these girls I wondered what would happen to her when she grew up. She was quite timid, liked crying at the slightest of anything she didn’t like and was just a mess. She did have the brains though, that I can’t deny. We parted ways when we went to different high schools and they moved estates. So following up on her was impossible.

Towards the end of last month, I happened to meet her together with another guy we went to school with. We had a few drinks (truth be told I was on Sprite coz there was no ginger ale), and that’s when I can say all hell broke loose. To say I was left dumbfounded would be an understatement. After all was said and done I was left wondering where I had been all this time.

I wonder why a little alcohol in the blood changes people quite a bit. That’s when women/men end up bedding people they just met, without a care in world, and not caring if they are married or not. They throw caution to the wind. I don’t think I have ever gotten to that state where I lose my mind and do something I would live to regret or even wake up the next morning wondering what I did and why I did it. I believe in self respect, any day, any time. I just don’t understand why people do the things that they do, married, in so called relationships or single. Growing up a Catholic for that matter, I knew what was right and what was wrong. The Ten Commandments clearly states that. I wonder why these are the same people who go against their religious teachings, then come and claim that they are Christians. I so do loath such human beings.

Well, back to my story. After a few drinks, it was confession time. And after the night was over, I believe I was the saint of all saints, please call me Mother Teresa for ever. This chick went overboard. Apparently she used to be married to some dude, must have been a ‘come we try’ marriage. Having to live with the said dude for 3 bloody years, the dude comes in one morning from one of his outings with another clande in tow, orders her out of the house at that ungodly hour, she doesn’t live in Nairobi mark you, and it is one of the coldest towns in Kenya. Where do you go at such an hour? It is 2 am, its freezing, and your replacement has come too. I don’t understand what goes through such a chick’s mind. Anyway, they say what goes around comes around. Here you have a man who has come home with you to throw out his live-in girlfriend and you go ahead and thump your chest feeling on top of the world.

Anyway, I felt it for this girl. She spent the night out in the cold, waited for morning, packed up and left for her mum’s. Of course our mothers will never fail to accept us back. She mourned for ages. Those were her words, she just could not understand why the man she had given her all did this to her. If she could turn back the hands of time……….. what had happened had happened. She could either live to regret or move on and be happy at least she was safe.

Well, one day after crying for hours, she thought to herself, ‘why I’m I crying for a man who has moved on with his life?’ She claims that she felt pretty stupid but I do not blame her. We as women love with every part of our bodies, unlike men. A man will take you to bed just to satisfy his urge and then that’s it, it does not matter what he tells you. If its for sex, that’s it, its sex. He will of course try to justify his reasons for doing what he did which most of the time does not make sense. He will claim he does not enjoy having sex with you but give him that woman he’s been ogling, he will not care. He will enjoy the sex.

The story got quite interesting. We actually sat at one place until 3am just talking about relationships. There were some Tanzanians who had come with one of our friends who I think could not believe what was coming out of some peoples mouths! I too was left in shock.

The talk got heated when an argument started about CFAs. Apparently this guy married the said woman and has a kid with her. Good for her, at least she got to be recognized as the wife.

There was talk of keeping a man/woman happy in a relationship and there were all these crazy ideas from sex to respect. What was discussed was quite true. We are not angels and we do make mistakes. What happens when the man you think you are dating has sexual affairs with other women? And you have the proof even if he denies it. Is that cheating or this only counts when you are married? When you are in a relationship, are you wholly the man’s/woman’s or you are also allowed some spice on the side? And the man/woman he/she is cheating with. What makes them stoop so low as to have sex with someone who is not even theirs, I fail to understand. I just don’t understand.

You must be wondering where I’m going to with all this. This chick talked about being in a relationship with a man she feels nothing for. He is there to be called when she needs sex and sex alone, no feeling attached. She calls him up and he shows up whenever he can. Most of the time he does. So how comes they are not in a relationship? She does not want to be in a relationship with him, and I wondered out loud why. She did explain to me in detail. Since being hurt by the man she thought loved her, she decided to go all out and do the same to another man. Have no feelings whatsoever towards men. Be they single or married, she stopped caring.

She claimed that as long as the sex is good and both enjoy, that’s all there is to it. I tend to differ. I don’t believe you can just have a relationship based on sex only. Another instance is when apparently one of her friends got a text from her so called partner to another woman talking of not being sexually active because the woman was working somewhere outside the country. So what? Does it mean that if you get posted outside the country you will definitely go back on the promise to be faithful to one another? That means there can never be trust in the relationship because if when dating and just because you don’t live together you can afford to cheat on your partner and deny it even with such damning evidence, what’s the use? I know we’re all afraid of losing the person we have feelings for and its not because we cannot do what they too are doing. It’s all a matter of self respect.

I wanted to get to the bottom of this chick’s decision, and her revelation was even more startling. The man she was in a CFA relationship with is actually the ex-boyfriend who threw her out of his house and replaced her with another woman that he is currently married to. She claims the man does not love the wife which is true but what gives her the authority to mess someone else’s marriage. I do not agree with what she is doing. The man is now married. She is single, fine. Does that make what she is doing right? No, it doesn’t. I told her the same but I think she is still bitter and is punishing the other woman, but for whose mistakes? The husband for making the wrong choice? I just did not get it, truth be told.

A CFA is a Convenient Fucking Arrangement, so I came to learn. It is amazing how many people are in such relationships, as much as we tend to deny that they exist. From the man in our lives to ourselves. I wonder what the world is coming to.

I am meeting the said girl alone this weekend and I just have to find out what goes on in her mind coz I still need to understand. Enough people are in these relationships and it is not funny. Losing sleep because you just do not know what to do, but the other party is out having all the fun. Is it truly worth it? All I can say is that love or trust is not such a good thing. Especially if the other person doesn't give a damn about you. It is worse where kids are concerned.

Of women and men

2008-08-06T10:50:00.000+03:00

2008-08-04T08:40:00.000+03:00

I will pick up from where I left on last time.

You see, I woke up quite late on Sunday and had hoped I would go to Kampala to 'shop' for those small things women shop for as long as its not back home. Having woken up at midday did not help matters either. I wanted to run my errands in the morning and being a morning person, afternoon was out of the question. I wonder who else has the same problem. My stuff has to be done before midday otherwise it will just be a waste of time, and energy and things always go wrong for me in the afternoons.

Well, I still had to take my breakfast as I watched a very interesting movie. I can't quite remember the name though. We decided to go for lunch at some beautiful hotel just by the shores of Lake Victoria. Believe you me, if the other beaches were clean, this one was 'magnifique'. These guys do know how to take care of their beaches. Watched them do what they do best, show them booties! I have to admit, they do have them booties, and man! You can only envy them. My problem is with the young gals who look like they are competing for attention from the few foreigners, but cannot be compared to Kenya. Not too many white or even chutes.

Ok, back to my trip. After hanging around the beach and watching gals and boyz play beach volleyball, ate fish (they give Osewe compe, they can fry their fish so well), with chips (not from Kenchic, this was real fish with chips. These people do love chips, and its made so well I actually enjoyed eating fries. Left for home at around 7pm when the fun was beginning, they must be night crawlers. I was exhausted from last night.

Went home and since I didn't feel like going anywhere this evening. Read part of 9/11 history plus the aftermath of all that happened that day. Sad but interesting. Chatted till late, went to bed after 1am. Being a working day, Monday was going to be spent alone so I made up my mind that I would take myself to Kampala. Early morning I got dropped off at the 'taxi' park and took a 'taxi' to Kampala. It costs UGX 2000. Thats about KES80 for a journey of about 40kms. Was quite smooth, I got to nap abit. Getting into KLA was another issue. The taxi park is nothing to write home about. If you thought Muthurwa stage (I've been there once) is chaotic, you should visit the old KLA park.

Managed to get myself round, got a very helpful woman who was willing to take me round till I told her to just go back and man, 'or woman' her shop. They are too courteous, these people. Well the Kenyan in me had to keep calculating from UGX to KES to just find out how much I was being conned, they are fond of this esp if you are not from Uganda. But I had been warned, and i turned out to be quite a handful, all kenyans are husslers, goes without saying. Things are quite fair in KLA and I promised myself to be back there soon, to get stuff for biashara.

Finished my biashara, hoped into a 'taxi' but before that witnessed a chick being robbed of her fone with Ugandans turning the park upside down looking for the thug. I didnt want to wait and see what happened coz there was total confusion. I left in a hurry, jumped into the first 'taxi' and I was homebound. The journey back was quite fast. By the time I started dozing I had already reached Entebbe. Slept abit then waited for around 4pm, took a shower, left the house at 5pm to the airport. Took me 3 minutes, checked in and off to nairobi.

On getting to Nairobi, I get quarrelled for booking two vehicles, so that started off badly. Welcome home I guess, and I wished I was back in Ug, so peaceful...............

LONG, LONG, LONG TIME

2008-07-31T08:24:00.000+03:00

Hey all, been quite a while since I wrote down my thoughts in this forum. Actually, the thing is that my life hasn't been that rosy, things just seem to be going wrong. Anything that could go wrong, went wrong and there is nothing I could have done to salvage the situation. I could be doing something wrong, terribly wrong.

But that is a story in the past and I do not dwell on the past.

We I took a deserved break last week to visit Uganda. Needed the time alone to just go relax, refresh, rethink my options and basically just REORGANIZE! And reorganize I did. Ok, day one was ok, left Friday p.m. aboard Air Uganda (till last week I didn't even know they existed, but the gamble paid off). The flight was smooth, no incidents but I was kinda disappointed that they only served sandwiches. No option of a vegetarian meal. Sorry, the option was to take water or soda or juice (packed, and made in Kenya but I'm not mentioning names). Flight took an hour, just like going to Kisumu on KQ.

Surprise surprise, Entebbe airport has grown, shame on JKIA. Last time I was there I thought we'd been flown to Kisumu! But now, I'm embarassed to have an international airport that we call Jomo Kenyatta. I'm sure the all knowing will say the EBB airport has been build with help from the Israel Government, so what! We pay enough taxes to do a better job than that. We have a bigger uglier airport, but please don't ask what I'm doing about it. We pay for services to be provided and later cry foul when our money is misused on nothing at all. Ni sawa tu.

My drive from the airport was uneventful, I must have looked ridiculous through ooohhing and aaahhing about the state of their roads, paved, pothole-free, manicured grass, it was just lovely. Passaris would grab every bit of free space for her advertisements. The country is so green, even though kinda warm compared to the freezing temperatures in Nairobi now. Banana trees??? everywhere, taxis (matatus) and bodabodas (my buddy dint notice they were all the same color until I mentioned it to her).

Just a kilometre or so from the airport we stopped for dinner. Nice place and the food was great (the chicken was nicely done). All I can say is that Ugandans are generous with their potions. From there went home to sleep as it was well past 11 pm.

Woke up early (11am) the next day, prepared and had breakfast then went to the Beach. One of the loveliest, coolest, unpolluted beaches I've seen in ages. Those guys know how to preserve their stuff. Unlike Kenya where if you happen on a beach you cannot even find place to stand, in Uganda they have space, space and more space, you could actually somersault, roll on the beach, skip, dance 'naked' or do whatever, its was just lovely. No beachboys too. And Ugandans are so polite it hurts. 'How are you madam?'. 'What will you have madam?'. 'I will do so madam'. Imagine even women old enough to be my mom calling me 'madam'. I wish we could emulate just a potion of this kindness. From the security guard at home to the small kid wondering if a 'blakaberi' (blackberry) is a phone or a calculator and go ahead and have a heated discussion about the phone until you come to the rescue then they thank you and continue with their playing. Imagine sitting in a hotel having your lunch, or whatever meal and residents just pass through like its nothing big, where in Kenya would you get an open hotel where anyone can just walk in and out without having to be thrown out coz you are not a paying patron or you do not look like you can afford a square meal there. I was impressed.

After relaxing, went back home, showered and changed, relaxed a bit then left for Kampala, some 40 kilometres away. Took about 30 minutes. Went to the mall, (Called Garden City), and you should have seen the glow on my face when I saw Uchumi Supermarkets! So big, so spacious, so fully stocked, selling SEATS! Goodness gracious. I bought a Nation Newspaper (at 7pm). There was no Standard Newspaper, shame. Took the ramp to 3rd floor (they have lifts that they do not use, and yes, they work). I actually watched a movie.

After the movie we decided to go dancing. I remember the street where the clubs are from ages ago, hasnt changed much. We go to Silk Lounge (a real lounge). On entering, there's a barrier for those going in and those going out. In a corridor getting into the club? Please! Anyway, payed 20k for entry, ha ha. On entering the 'lounge' I cant help but marvel at the creativity of this guys, leather seats, different colors, lovely couches, OMG, I just sink into one but I have to move as the damn AC is on. We are the only ones here, and its at 11pm. I know in Kenya on weekends people start trotting into clubs from as early as 1pm. I politely ask the waiter to turn off the AC but he says it would not be allowed coz when the patrons walk in and start smoking, the place will stink like crazy. Too bad smoking in UG is not banned in public places.

I actually order for a pot of tea. In a club! Well, how else was I going to keep warm with the AC at a -ve temperature. Well, the lounge starts getting full at around half past midnight. And did I mention i was in jeans and a heavy sweater? Well, I happened to be overdressed. These guys do dress for the occassion. Nice tiny fitting outfits, clutch purses, very very high heeled shoes, the men are in ties are 1am in the morning, beats logic. I was damn impressed. My problem was with some two pregnant gals who just looked ridiculous in their tight tops with hanging bellies, I felt so bad especially when they started drinking and dancing (if swaying from side to side with a protruding belly is dancing). I couldn't say a thing.

The DJ was the most annoyed guy, he kept interrupting music and announcing events happening in Kampala next weekend, who will be where, and no one seemed to mind at all! Well maybe its the way they do things there so I just played along. Danced kidogo, to keep the cold away, and it did not help. At around 3 am a cake was brought and apparently it was one gal's birthday and the music stopped, she was sang for the birthday song, she cut the cake, served her friends while the rest watched and wished, then the music continued.

Anyway, left the city at around 3am when life was beginning to happen. I was exhausted. Outside there were as many people waiting to come in as there were inside. And there was a sign outside too 'HOUSE FULL'. It was great though, all was fine.

Reached home so exhausted and went straight to bed, waiting for another long day tomorrow, Sunday.

Long time

2008-05-15T12:26:00.000+03:00

Its been so long since I posted anything on this blog I guess I've even run out of stuff to write about. Not that my life has been uneventful, far from it. I had just decided to take a break.

It have been interesting watching things unfold day in and day out, especially after Safaricom's IPO. I heard that they are only allocating 30% of what shareholders wanted. Well, tough luck for all those people who took bank loans to buy the shares, wonder what they will be thinking right now.

I have my boss coming over this weekend and hope to have a blast, being the carefree man that he is. We have dinner for all our corporates, family and friend but the thing is that the dinner is at night. Kenyans have started complaining that they want to be invited for the drinks on Saturday or even Friday. I wonder when we started demanding on dates and times when we wanted our friends to hold their birthday parties, weddings, get togethers. If I have a bash I call you and if you cannot make it, there's a number I've put for you to RSVP, then I'll cater for the confirmed guests. But please dont call asking me to change the date and time so that it fits in your schedule, could be the reason I want you on a Sunday is because I dont want to to ruin my pocket, I have a budget I'm working on too, remember.

I'm hungry.

Oh and did I mention that I started jogging? Well, I did and I have respect for all the early morning and late evening joggers coz I don't know how the hack it. My whole body is in pain.

Gatta lie down. Unfitness!!!

Kids and accidents

2008-03-10T15:43:00.000+03:00

I'm still coming to terms with this even as a hit my keyboard.

On Sunday the 2nd of March I decided to visit a former colleague and friend as we hadn't linked up in quite a while. I had had an uneventful morning, decided to go shopping early afternoon, had lunch at Ronalo, then headed home.

When I got home I remembered I was to meet her. My son was downstairs playing and there was no way I was going to leave without him seeing me. So I called him and we headed to visit my gal. This was at around 5pm. We sat, finished watching a movie, made some coffee and decided to relax.

The boy had poured water on his jeans so I had to remove and dry the trouser. I stood up, headed to get the iron box and heard a thud. My son had walked out of the house, climbed the grills which are half way and fell one floor down. The sight of him down there, made me feel something I have never felt before. Was he dead, was he hurt, was he, was he? So many question ran through my mind and no answer was forthcoming. We both rushed down and just by the look of things, I knew all was not well.

The boy was bleeding from the mouth, and he had no upper teeth! I helped him cry. I hate to imagine the kind of pain he must have been going through at that moment. I picked him up, ran back upstair to clean his mouth but it was not helping. I cried some more as I gathered guts to call dad as we had parted less than an hour earlier. I think I was crying so hard my friend had to talk on my behalf. First getting him to a hospital. I knew I was to go but I didn't know which one, Nairobi Hosp was too far, I cant take him to Aga Khan, he settled for Gertrude's and said we meet there. Being in Kariokor, it wasn't far. I entered the car, I couldn't drive, my buddy decided to drive us to the hospital. When we reached the hosp. one look and we were ushered into the emergency section.

I was carrying him and by now, I was all blood. I didn't really care. I wanted all to be well. He was in so much pain and he was not being given painkillers. I hated those nurses then. They explained that giving him any painkillers would prevent them from noticing any weird behaviours if any, so they had to monitor his vitals first. The doctor came and asked that we put him down for them to observe him too. Off he went. He does not like anyone in a long white coat, he has a thing about doctors. When they saw him walking, they said he had no broken bones, the legs were ok.

Test number 2. Injecting him with the painkillers on his thigh. It was not easy. He fought on doctor, two nurses, myself and the dad who had by now arrived. This the doctor said was a good sign as it looked like most of his vitals were not affected by the fall. He put up a good fight. This was also one of the signs looked for from falls. If the baby cannot move, or is quite, not crying, the doctors worry. Well, what about the head? I needed to find out if they skull was cracked (God forbid) or he had any head injuries. Off we were again to the casualty department. But wait a minute. We had been booked for x-rays but we could not go until we got an invoice. We are standing at the reception, waiting for some slow accountant to raise an invoice, he doesnt know some codes and keeps calling the x-ray department to clarify, and I have a bleeding screaming baby with me. No the dad is carrying him and I've been given a mouthful, how I'm such a bad mother, etc etc. Ok.

The dad asks them if they will still send the invoice if the baby dies when they are still raising the invoice. I guess this caught them off guard as they all looked at him in shock but they anyway continued raising the invoice. I didn't know it took so long to raise one. We are on our way after about 20 minutes, place the boy onto the x-ray table. He is so strong, it takes 5 of us to hold him down for him to be x-rayed. After about half an hour we are done and the waiting begins.

The nurse comes and gives us the films, but will not explain as it is the doctor's job!!! Damn!! Ok, relax. We head back to the doctor's office, he comes and explains the films in detail. No broken bones anywhere. The headscan is fine, chest is fine, spine is fine, he's basically fine except for the upper gum where the teeth are missing. He has to be observed overnight. We get a ward at the Felicity number 28. The last time I got to stay overnight at the hospital was when I had delivered. I myself do not like hospitals and here I am, in a ward. The boy is now a bit relaxed having been given the painkillers. He goes to sleep. He's out completely. And I have to monitor him. He needs another jab at midnight and a drip too from that time as he is scheduled to have surgery early morning. Come midnight, I have to interrupt his sweet sleep. I feel so bad knowing what he's been through. He needs sugar as he hasnt eaten anything the from 1pm the previous day. Since he is going into surgery, no meals from midnight. 'NIL BY MOUTH', is what's at his door.

At around 1am, the boy wakes up, as hungry as can be. His stomach is empty. He wants to breastfeed and I cant. His lip still had the deep cut as its yet to be satured. And I cannot give him anything because it could jeorpadize the surgery. What to do. I don't like not giving a kid food and that touched a nerve. I felt bad that I could not feed him and I knew he was very hungry. His last meal had been at 1pm. I gave him water, he took it like his life depended on it. He must have been suffering. Well, he cried himself to sleep. Woke up again at 3am, still no food. This went on till 6am when he just had enough of his mean mum and pulled off the needle connected to the drip. Had to call the night nurse to redo it. He got injected on the right hand now and I had to keep watch lest he removes it again. Morning came (the night has never been this long as I watch the drip).

Come morning, I'm called for breakfast, but how can I eat when my son's been longing to have something to eat. I declined their offer. At 0930hrs he is wheeled out of his ward and to the x-ray theatre. He didn't want to go alone. I couldn't wait outside the theatre. His dad decided to wait there. It was the longest wait though. I went and took a shower, and since I was told it would be over in 45mins top, I was there just in time to see the anaesthetist leave the room. I asked how it had gone and she said great. These are the people who mess people by either overdosing or underdosing patients on the operating table. Behind her walked the dental surgeon. He told us the boy had woken up and was doing great. Nothing to worry about. They had removed three of his teeth!!!! Apparently the teeth had sunk into his gum during the fall and they had to remove them. Being milk teeth, they would still grow and all we needed to do was monitor and make sure his gums did not get infected. Then he also said that we could go home!!

I headed to clear the bills before leaving for home. I'd missed home and couldn't wait to get home and sleep. We are done at the hospital by 3pm and are headed home. The boy is also happy to be out of the hospital surrounding. As soon as we reach home, he's out. When we left the operating theatre and I was clearing, he fell asleep. Guess the anaesthesia was still wearing off little by little.

Feeding time is the problem. His food has to be mashed as he cannot bite anything as he is missing his teeth. Then he sees the famous bottle that brought about all this. He takes it, tries to pull up the nozzle but alas! no teeth to aid him. He starts crying and I feel his pain. He feels so helpless without his teeth. Should I get him temporary ones till he grown his permanent teeth? Dad says no, he will have to get used to staying without teeth for some time now. Well, at least he is learning to accept his condition.

He forgets that he is yet to recover and starts his games again. The next I know, he has rolled down the stairs! This shocks him and he just cries abit and is back on the same stairway again. Kids! He forgets so soon what he has been through. I need to get a dog leash to keep him in check. I don't want any more accidents with him.

I just keep praying that he walked out of his fall without any long term symptoms that I'm yet to notice. I believe my prayers will be answered and he will be fine, the boy I cherish!

The Star Review

2008-02-21T09:40:00.000+03:00

At our company, we have this thing called the Star Review. The company believes that one should have the opportunity to shine and I do agree with that. They want the staff to enjoy challenging jobs, to know what's expected of them, realize their full potential and be recognized for a job well done. It ensures that we are all focused on supporting our business objectives by achieving our own objectives, receive timely and accurate feedback on how well we perfomed against the agreed objectives and behaviors for our roles. The Manager makes an assessment of our strengths and development needs and puts in place a meaningful development plan to drive performance and aspirations.

Perfomance is rated under O (Outstanding), E ( Frequently exceeds Requirements), M (Meets requirements), NI (Needs improvement) and U (Unacceptable). It is like an exam and you have to prepare for it as it involves reading through Performance objectives, jotting them down and coming up with your own individual objective, reasons you think you met them and what is agreed about your performance with your manager. Then it is rated using the methods above.

This is also measured using the SMART method of setting objectives, meaning Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-related. You also need to inform of your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

Having finished the first section you get to move on to the second section, mainly discussing leadership principles and behaviours, how you have achieved it. How have you been bold and adventurous, focussed aggressively on profit (all employers want that), delivered the basics brilliantly and added some magic touches and stuff like if you inspired and engaged ur colleagues or ensured that great people could do great work.

Moving on to the PDP, you then had an opportunity to state your career aspirations, within and beyond your current role, your strengths and any additional skills, knowledge and experience you will need to develop to achieve your objectives for the next year (current as it is). Looking forward, its now you and you alone and if you need any help, where from. E-learning is made accessible for all so that is not a question. We can all make it if we put our hearts to it.

I wish all our politicians looked at this country as one great company that all wanted to work in, didn't feel like leaving until retirement beckons. Looking at the SMART method, we all should have a time-frame by which to achieve goals we set by, and seeing that nobody likes to take responsibility for their actions, why do we need them. Its is so painful that the same people who give deadlines are the same ones who will do anything to make sure nothing is done by the same deadlines that they give. How sad! Well, I do pray that sooner than later, we will all put aside our selfishness and strive to live together as one family like we did, without suspicion, without hate, but like friends, good neighbours.

Doing the star Review taught me a lot. We all have to aim to achieve some goals.

The Lancer

2008-02-08T09:42:00.000+03:00

I finally paid my last respects to Alari Alare yesterday. It was not easy. He was a dear friend. Well, RIP.

This year I decided I had enough of walking and hussling for mats and buses. I decided I'd get myself a small moty to take me from point A to B. Shopped around a while and settled on one.

Drove it to the office in morning and parked at my designated spot. Its bright red, just like my uniform. Turbo (well, not quite), tinted windows, alloy rims, the works. I was the envy of 'my friends' in our department. We had decided to shop for cars for those that didn't have just for the fun of it. Two of us got and we both came in our 'new' cars at the same time.

As the congrats were being thrown at us, I noticed one was not as enthusiastic about my new status as the rest. I didn't ask why. She is the same babe who'd decided she would never give me a ride in her moty as I earned alot of money. She passes right out of my hao daily and even if she saw me at the bus stop, she would not look my side and I too decided, I got this job knowing well how I was going to get to the office. I didn't understand her hostility. I don't know how much 'alot' is, coz according to me, its barely enough. Well, I have a sworn enemy because I have a new ride. And it is just a Lancer!

Well, here I come, I owe nobody an apology.

But my DL expired on 29th Jan and have to get it sorted out first. lol!

Is death this unfair

2008-01-28T16:02:00.000+03:00

It has been the most traumatic time for so many countrymen, countrywomen and countrychildren (if it makes sense).

In the last many days, we have lost so many of our people and we still haven't come to a solution. People are being killed any direction you look. It has gotten out of hand and I wish and pray that they stop. I don't know what can be done to stop it anyway. I don't have an answer to questions any more.

I called a very good friend of mine this morning and for the first time is so many months, there was no long wait at the other end. But the news was baffling. It was so short and to the point for a moment I thought I'd heard wrong. I was left speechless until the guy at the other end of the line jolted me back to my senses. You see, when you talk to someone literally every other day or once a week, it becomes routine to check on each other to find out how life's been, how the families are doing, jobwise - what's cutting, when you are meeting for drinks, just about everything. Then make fun about just about everything in life.

It suddenly hits you. The things we all take forgranted, the unsaid words, the anger when you don't get what you want, the silence when you feel you don't want to talk to the other party, the secrecy when you don't feel like saying some things, the privacy when you feel your space is getting too crowded, its all meaningless. So I got to realize this fine morning.

As I was saying, when I called my buddy, I was transfered to his department (happens to write the business column in the Standard newspapers). The guy told me, 'we lost him yesterday on Mombasa Road.' Just that, plain and simple. No he asked where I was calling from and I said from Nairobi. Then the bomb was dropped. Ok, I thought I heard wrong but hell no. I was silent for quite a while till the voice on the other side decided I was too quiet. Well, I refused to believe it. He was quite clear though, 'do u mean so and so?'. I was like, 'yes, that's the one'. 'Then we are talking of the same person, he died in a road accident on Mombasa Road yesterday morning.' I was lost for words, took down his name and promised to give him a call back.

I told my colleague what had just happened and she told me she'd read in the Standard that they'd lost one of their own. I went to look for the paper and there it was, in black and white. I couldn't believe it. I was shaking, read and re-read, but it was all there, he was gone. Then it hit me, all I knew were the buddies we were with in school (we went to Primary school together), then met by chance last year. I didn't know any of his brothers or sisters as when we were in school he used to commute every single day from Athi River to a primary school in Eastlands. He was known as the boy from Athi River. The pain I feel now is not anything I can explain. To lose a dear friend is so sad, too painful.

He had called me Saturday evening at 5.30pm, of course drinking somewhere in Ololo (kaloleni) with his buddies. He was to call me back to tell me where he was but didn't. As I knew him I guess well, I decided to let him nurse his hangover, I didn't know he'd be nursing it forever! Its really sad, I still have to get details from his buddy that he was with who is till at the hospital. I don't know if I should call him or wait. But I still need answers.

I remember the last time we were together was some time in Dec. Just before I left for shags. As always he was a happy person. He only switched off when he was depressed. I knew when to keep my distance and he always came to and discussed anything that had been the bother, but at times I guess he just found it hard to talk about and I didn't push him.

All I can say is that life's a witch spelt with a capital 'B'.

RIP - ALARI ALARE

The ghost town of Kisumu

2008-01-24T14:10:00.001+03:00

The schools in Nyanza are yet to re-open. Both Primary and Secondary school kids are still at home, wondering whether they'll ever go back to school. Its a sad situation. Thousands of kids don't know what the future looks like for them.

My cousin who happens to be a bursar at a certain high school says that they cannot re-open as some of their schools were burnt down or looted. The chaos after the elections last year have affected kids who are not even old enough to vote. I'm sure during the campaigns, they must have been wondering what the beef was all about with politicians 'dissing' each other during their 'meet the people' tours.

As it is, they lack the basics to go back to school, their food stores were raided, books stolen, desks and chairs set on fire (you wonder why). Even as they are given an ultimatum to be back to school by Monday 28th, I wonder where they are going to start. Kids are traumatised and I'm sure they want to wish away everything that has happened so far. Watching the killings and the running battles, with looting and vandalizing of stores will remain embedded in their minds for a long, long time.

But I'm an angry woman. Angry at the the few residents who took part in vandalizing the town. They lack all the basics as it is. No food, water, airtime, houses, clothes, medication, the works! A bamba 50 is going for 90 bob, 100 bob airtime is being sold for 150, and so on. How will they survive like this. The people complaining are the same ones who burnt down the food stores and are now appealing to be fed, by who I ask. I feel bad that children and women are the most affected as the kids still look up to them for their daily meal. If I set the supermarket on fire, who do I expect to bring me food, to sell from where, I do not even have the money to buy the food in the first place. The only bank operating is Standard Chartered. Most of the locals bank with KCB. Barclays are yet to re-open (hope they have anyway-last time I checked they were still closed). The only supermarkets operating are the two Nakumatts, Yatin Supermarket has removed 90% of his stock from the shelves so even if you walked in you would not buy anything, but he he keeps the grill doors open for anyone daring to go there.

Kisumu resembles a bombed out town like Mogadishu. Who will save the luos from themselves, I hate to ask. How can anyone be so stupid as to do what they did to a place they call home. I wonder what they say everyday when they wake up in the morning. There are no offices to go to work, no restaurants to visit, no pubs to drink in, it is bad. Kisumu Travels has ceased operating, sending home tens of workers all because of this. This was the biggest travel company in the whole of Nyanza, and now its gone, God knows if there is going to be another one like it. It must be scary to live the way they do in Kisumu, I'd hate to be there, I know its on my way home but I still do not condone what they did.

Some bus companies have pulled out of the route for fear of being attacked or set ablaze for belonging to the 'wrong' tribe. And what tribe is 'right'? These so called hooligans have messed the city. I wonder how many years it will take to rebuild it to what it was. I don't envy the current MP who has to urge them to 'behave' as they are just hurting themselves and nobody else.

I rest my case..................

WHY, OH WHY?

2008-01-17T11:27:00.000+03:00

Watching the clip on KTN on the murder of yet another innocent Kenyan left me in shock, angry and above all, full on HATE (yah, I know its a strong word), for the police force in this country.

Who is going to save us from ourselves? Who shall I run to if the person paid to do that is the same person killing me. And to rub it in, the so called police spokesman says its a Rambo movie. Rambo never died! for crying out loud. We do need to pray, and pray hard indeed for all the departed, the wounded, the hurting, the affected, those small kids who don't know why they feel cold at night as there is no shelter and nobody is explaining to them why they live in the open.

For three days last week, I did not go to the office. The management decided for the sake of the staff's security, we all needed to stay home and coming to the office was at one's own risk. Of course only 3 people worked on Wednesday 16th as they live close to the office. The rest of us (I know I can get to the office via some other route) but I did not want to take that chance. I didn't want to be caught up in all the madness that this country has come to. But a call came that same evening informing me that we all resume duty the next day. There hadn't been much anyway, apart from the trigger happy cops. I'm glad at times being that I do not work in town.

Come Thursday, its all system go! We have to cancel some of our flights. Business is damn slow.

The lunacy we saw the past week is over. I have nothing to say. I love the peace that's there currently. But there's a shortage of some supplies. I have to visit my 'loco' to buy what I can lay my hands on. Its going to be a long, long two weeks.

Ciao!

The journey back

2008-01-10T10:24:00.001+03:00

I wake up on 2nd January knowing too well there is no way I'm coming back to this city. The mood is somber. Everyone is just existing. There is nothing much to do. Just watch your back.

We have breakfast at 10am. As I ponder my next move, I look up to the sky and see a plane. What, a plane? It cannot be. I quickly get my fone, all the airport just to confirm that the airspace is open. 'Yes we are flying.' 'Please reconfirm my flight.' 'Names, dates, tkt nos, done.' 'Be at the airport an hour before the flight.' Excitement is an understatement. My heart was in another place.

I rush back inside, start packing, forgetting that I have to let the relevant authorities know that I'm flying back. Well, that can wait, I'll need a ride anyway to the airport. This morning I haven't heard any new developments. Kisumu is still under curfew, the airport is a few miles off so still accessible, I guess. We'll try our best. I still have 6 hours to check in time. Have lunch, relax, then remember to report. Its about 20mins tops to the airport but with the roadblocks, could take longer. We depart at 5pm, half an hour earlier. On the Bondo road, there are few roadblocks if any. Most of the boulders are lying by the sides of the road. I had never seen the lake from this far before. It looked lovely, there were no people blocking my view for the first time. There were no people. Everyone had stayed home, at this time of day. This is when they all come out to sell their wares but have kept off.

Reach the Kisian junction, the banana sellers are nowhere to be seen. Would have bought but too bad. Drive on the Busia-Kisumu road, its ghostly. No people there either. The destruction is evident. Raided coca cola retail outlets, broken soda bottles, drinking straws all over the place, burnt down kiosks, looted and then burnt down markets, it is bad. A few miles down the road we come across a police car with its full lights. We have to slow down for it to pass. Behind it are tanks and tanks of petrol heading for the border. They had been blocked when all this started and could not be released lest they went up in flames or were syphoned by hooligans. It was now or never. I stopped counting as they were just too many. I remember watching news that Uganda and other east african countries that rely on Kenya were all suffering because of all the chaos. I felt for them. Our own people could not get fuel because of all this, so imagine the neighbours. At least they were going to smile now. I prayed for the safe passage of the tankers.

We reached Kisumu airport and for a moment I thought the whole of Kisumu had moved to the airport. The mess at the Machakos bus station is nothing compared to what I saw, and I thought I was early. I later learnt that people had been camping there for days, flights had been cancelled, the restaurant had run out of food, there was no water, and the planes were not even coming, people were just waiting. It was the only means to come to Nairobi. The queue was winding forever. But I had to. Through security we went (my son was still in the car). To the check in counter, there's nobody. At the entrance to their office is where everyone was. Apparently they were so messed up passengers had started fighting them and they had to lock themselves in. Its survival for the fittest. I also struggle to get my tickets to them. A hand takes them and disappears. Its a cat and mouse chase now. Money talks at such a time, but I refused to pay. I had already and my ticket was there. They had overbooked the flight, not me, so too bad. At the last minute, another plane had to be chartered for everyone to go. I wished I owned a plane. I'd have made loads of cash.

The waiting began. Some passengers who had been put on the charter flight that was to come to Kisumu at 1600hrs were still waiting and no one at the office had and answer as to what was happening and what time it would land. The manifest is out now, calling names one by one. I happen to get the second flight (which I was originally booked on) for 1845hrs. It is now 1930hrs and none of the planes has landed. KQ/Jetlink keep landing and picking their passengers and none of the planes we are booked on has come. We just wait. Did I mention that there was no food? The canteens have run out of food. The indians were lucky, they chartered their own plane that came and picked them from Kisumu. My son is getting restless. He is hungry, how was I to know that by 8 I'd still be waiting for a 7pm flight. We have no choice. Tempers are rising. People start quarrelling over nothing. I know better than to get involved. I'm in the service industry. The first flight lands at 2015hrs. Unfortunately, I have to wait for mine. There was no checking in of bags and what saved me was the fact that I'd left my suitcase back home to be brought when Mr was coming back, whenever that would be. I dont like luggage.

The first lot is boarded (free sitting). It takes off at 2030hrs. 15 minutes later we see a plane approaching and overflies the airport. What the f***!!!!!!!! It cannot land as the runway lights are off. The runway lights have been switched off............. The control's time is up and he has to go home. So why not just switch off everything as he is not being paid overtime. I shed a tear or two. Everyone is up on their feet now. There is the last plane still on the tarmac that cannot take off. The runway lights are out!!!!

10 minutes later someone goes up there, sweet talks him and he switches the lights back on. The plane takes off and ours lands at 2100hrs. Boarding (I'm lucky as kids are boarded first with their parents). We take off at 2105 and are in Nairobi by 2140hrs.. I'm so glad to be back. My ride is waiting, I get home, my sister is nowhere to be seen, I book another cab for her place of work (she's working overtime) and pick my housekeys. At least there's food in the house!

The aftermath

2008-01-09T09:35:00.000+03:00

On 28th Morning, wake up early. Watch news, results are trickling in from different constituencies. Its interested how the big fall. I'm in shock, Kenyans truly do need a new look 10th parliament. I hate to imagine the shocked looks on their faces when they heard that they'd lost.

They continue to fall harder, even the Moillets (ex-president Moi's three sons). I'm happy.

I'm late taking breakfast as I watch news. I get hungry and decide to go have some bitings. They day is spend just watching, watching and watching news as results are announced. By evening I know our next president, so I thought. The guy had even led in Nairobi of all the provinces. Of course Nyanza, Rift Valley, Coast and Western there was no question about it. What amazed me was North Eastern. Well, Eastern we had no chance and Central was out of the question. By evening we are yet to get results from Central, wonder why.

Anyway, with a lead of close to 1 million votes, even if they rigged, they would not reach that. In the evening, I sense tension. Text messages are coming in quick succession. I'm scared, I hate what I'm reading. Looks like the whole country is holding its breath. Could it be true? Well, lets wait and see. I get a call at 11pm. Things are thick, and there is nobody willing to say anything more but its written in bold. There is no way Emilio is going to leave office, lose or win (no he already won). And the ECK commissioners (from one of the texts) were divided over a State House directive to make sure the lead between him and RAO is at least by over 200,000 votes. (we saw that). But Central Province is not releasing its results. The returning offices have switched off their phones and those are the only results we are waiting for. I go to bed knowing the country is not going to be the same again. Deep down the whole country knows that even with everybody voting, there is no way in heaven and earth that the master planner was going to catch up with that lead.

More shock. Some constituencies record 115% voter turnout! Some only voted for the presidency did not vote for an MP or Councillor in Central Province. What a shame. Kisumu gets chaotic, the riots have began, you can cut the tension with a knife. I'm saddened by the turn of events. Why is it so hard to accept defeat?

Early the next morning, KICC is filled to capacity. The ECK chairman is still not at the press conference. The ODM chairman declares RAO the winner but he is not the ECK chairman. I leave for my shags. We still don't have a president 2 days later, has never happened before. Reach home, see my sisters, nephews, nieces, the shamba looks bad. It hasn't rained in a while and the effects are evident. I'd planned to have some roast fresh maize from the shamba, roasted on the 'kendo' (three stones - firewood). Too bad and its also not the harvest season. One of my mum's chickens loses its life because I'm in the hood.

The following events take place too fast. First the press are banned from being at the press conference by the police commissioner (who does he think he is?) but he is working on orders from you know who. Just before the results are announced, there is a power black out at KICC and when it comes back, we have a new president and only KBC were allowed into the hall. We had international observers who were not even allowed into the hall, why? Its right there infront of you. I don't need to say anything. Emilio wins by a margin of over 200,000. Did I mention that I knew this would be the case. So why did we have elections in the first place. The looting has started. The whole country is in tears (except the small clique that wanted it to stay that way). Police are ordered to shoot to kill in Kisumu, because they are very bitter and have been lied to even after voting. The rampage continues, every business premise and house belonging to a Kikuyu is looted, flattened, set on fire, the hatred is all over. Roads are barricaded, stores are burnt, food is looted, this is Sudan, or Somaliland. This is not the Kenya I grew to love with all my heart. What do we do now? who is the cause of all these? We all know and there is nothing we can do about it.

In record time Emilio is sworn in at State house. How did he get to state house so fast unless he had been living there all the time? He knew what would happen. He knew he was not going to leave the throne whatever you said or did. So again, why did we vote? Ok, I didn't myself.

Anyway, my sister is so angered she refuses to eat, which she doesn't do. I'm in pain. The 'government' orders that no station broadcasts anything live. The press freedom notwithstanding. There is nothing they can do. There are chaos all over the country. How will I get back to Nairobi. I'm deep in the village. At night I can hear gunshots, I don't know how close they are but in the morning when I wake up, some butcher had been shot but not killed, phew!

There is more chaos. No leader is coming out to say anything. Sit at home and relax, watch movies on telly as there is no live broadcasts (while the country burns and people die). I get a running tummy, I cannot sit still.

The New Year comes without much celebrations. I had called for my ride and they were going to TRY and see how the situation is. There's a curfew in Kisumu. There are roadblocks everywhere so how do you even get from your home to your destination? Well they manage to make it home late afternoon. Its a race against time. As we drive from home, we meet these roudy mob of small boys (yes), barricading the path (not road) from home. A few minutes ago they were not there. They ask for money. You don't question, you give because you want to be away from there. We meet two more in a space of less than 100 metres, 'leta pesa ya mafuta'. You only wonder mafuta for what. Is it petrol, paraffin, what? You give. The boy who asks me for money is not more than 13 years. For sure. I tell him to grow up as I'm annoyed. How dare he. Just heard that they looted the cereals bank where all the surplus harvest is stored. All boarding schools in the area are supplied from here. They burnt down the market too. These are not protesters, these are hooligans. Where do they expect their mothers to buy food, where do they expect the food to come from being that the stores have been looted. It is very annoying. I'm seething with anger inside. How dare they!

This is what we have come to. This is what the country has come to. This is what our leaders have made us turn to. Violence. Looting. Rape. Since there is a curfew, our ride is uneventful though we have to use a shortcut as we dont know how further ahead the road is. We drive past a few smouldering tyres on the road, boulders, tree trunks (these people are strong), bill boards, anything that can be used to block the road. There is no traffic. I only count at most 2 cars. Not usual on this road. All we meet are the boda bodas carrying families (its the only means of transport available). And people are not moving around anyway, unless you really have to move. We get home safe.

I forgot, the only reason we managed to manouver one of the barriers is because I pretended to know one of the 'hooligans' who was holding us hostage. They had placed big stones under the tyres such that we couldn't move either way. Carrying big ones to smash the car if we refused to hand over money. Two went to the trunk of the car to peep inside, tried to unlock and found it locked. My bag was in the trunk and I don't know why I put it there in the first place. I don't normally do that. They got angry. They wanted money. They opened the dashboard and took out cash from there, but just coins, it was not even enough if they shared among themselves. (you are not allowed to drive with your window down to ease communication between you and the negotiator or you have them smashed) As I pleaded my case, I picked on one who looked a bit educated. I asked him why he was harassing us and we came from the same place (I didn't even recognise him), and asked if his folks knew what he was doing. I told him he should be ashamed of himself (don't know where the courage came from), and that should anything happen to us, I would personally hold him responsible and will haunt him for the rest of his life. He ordered to road unblocked and the stones at the tyres removed. We went on our way. I have never been so scared in my life. Meeting eye to eye with the abusers of the law.

Reached my destination in one piece and relaxed as I contemplated leaving Kisumu for Nairobi. I was with my son and I didn't want to be caught up in the middle of all that was happening. The 'president' has said nothing as yet, not even RAO.

I go to bed in the evening praying that there is no more bloodshed. I'd seen enough. Don't know what tomorrow holds for us. My flight was booked for tomorrow and at this rate, I have no idea how I will get to the airport but anyway, flights are all cancelled until further notice. My fate is sealed. I'm stuck in the village till the country comes to its senses. What a start to the new year. And why did it have to come to this. I hate the people who have brought us to this.

My x-mas holiday

2008-01-08T11:31:00.000+03:00

A not so happy new year to all out there. Though I still tend to say its a happy one for me. I am alive and I made it from Kisumu to Nairobi in the midst of all the chaos and confusion.

Well, I am glad to be back (to work too). Having spend the x-mas holidays and the new year in the village, it is reassuring to finally be back behind my desk doing what I love most.

My son and I did a flight to Mombasa on 13th December, Air Kenya. Never flown them before and was kinda jittery knowing they operate a 25 seater, my son being claustrophobic. Was a crying game till we arrived over an hour later! Anyway the first thing that hit me was the heat, not the normal coast heat but a different kind of heat, one I have never experienced in Mombasa before. My ride was waiting so home we went.

Day 1 was indoors, where can you go in that heat anyway, and nights are worse! Survived the inferno for 5 days, and back home on 18th evening. I was so glad to be back to the normal temperatures. Reach home and the person I left in the house is still away at work, she didn't understand my message that I'd be arriving at 8.30pm, so look for a cab, go to her office and collect the house keys as she is in the middle of counting bundles of cash and cannot leave. I'm so hungry and angry at not being able to rest my aching feet. The rounds I did in Mombasa were not amusing. If you thought nairobi had a hawker's problem, please wait till you visit Mombasa. I had never witnessed traffic in the coastal town and it is bad! Worse than Nairobi by far and being that it is small and congested, block one side and its Kosovo! Well, I lived through that.

Ok, back to planning my shags trip. Confirmed 23rd. Being a Sunday, flight is at 1420hrs, make it just in time to get a very long queue. I'm early! Left the house by 1300hrs so that I'd be at the airport by 1310hrs, enough time for the one hour before flight check in rule. Shock on me. Gates are still closed. I notice so many new airlines operating out of Nairobi, its amazing. Flights to South Sudan, Eritrea and even Somaliland! More revenue for the gava.

Reach Kisumu at 3, my ride left me as there was a bash in Raila's backyard and I was keeping the car waiting so bye bye! Sawa tu. The other option was to wait for my cousin who 'left Kericho at 3' and is coming home so 'don't move.' With the absence of the road network and driving a small car, 2 hours at least. And I'm with the baby. There's no milk at the canteen! Well I call my very reliable cousin. He is leaving town for the house to pick his wife and kid before proceeding to Kisumu. This is just great. Call baba, explain the situation, of course quarrel enough for being kept waiting, but there's nothing much I can do. Either pick a cab to town and get a mat home which I'm not ready to do, or wait. Well, another cousin just lives across from the airport. Call him, comes and keeps me company as we talk about our relas. Time really flies. Its getting dark, no sign of these guys. Finally arrive at around 1830hrs, and we head home.

Less than half an hour later and we are home, safe. Everyone is in an upbeat mood. Its families and families. Others had arrived earlier. Had dinner and went to bed. I'm exhausted. I sleep alone in the house as the bash is extended to the next day. Ok.

Early morning, make breakfast, sit with the rest of the clan together, talk, gossip, eat, and the day starts. He's finally back so we head to Kisumu for shopping in the afternoon. Its crazy how everyone does their shopping at the last minute, us included. Should have done this at least the previous day, and that had been my plan. So here we are and the shopping malls are not the best place to be at this time. Everyone is in town. The late arrivees are also here on their way home. Finish shopping and head home.

Next day is x-mas, up early to start cooking. I buy time as I hate this part. I want to be called when all is ready and being the eldest, I have no choice but to lead by example. I can't feign sickness, it time for merry making. Lunch is late, at 3, but it was worth the wait. I love the way the boys have been trained to assist. They know their duties so well, one clears the clutter, one cleans, one dries, one stores! Then afternoon at leisure. I dont eat dinner as I had a lovely lunch. So I sleep early ready for the next day. It is normal as we all wait for the elections tomorrow (27th Dec). Everyone is looking forward to that and I too hoped to vote but unfortunately I did not get a flight back in time (don't kill me). I know I didn't like anyone who claimed not to have a voter's card or wasn't going to vote. I made enough enemies and just the thought that I wasn't going to vote made me wish none on them found this out.

27th morning I'm woken up by the school bell (the school is right next to the house). This is at 5am and I hear voices of everyone waking up everyone else. The bell rings for over half an hour non-stop. I later learn that its some chick who decided to wake up the whole village (she did not have a voter's card but wanted to make a change by summoning all). I wake up at 7 and there is no one at home, everyone went to vote. Make uji for the boy and when he's finished taking it the quorum start trickling in. They are so excited, especially the first time voters. I hear that they even got the sick in hospital to come vote and then take them back by ambulance to their hospital beds. I dont know how true this is but it came from the people back from voting.

So here we are, its evening and we have to wait for the results to start coming in as vote counting had to start at 6pm. That was the close of the voting. I cant wait for the end result of this all. I sleep with a smile on my face, ready to face another day.

The Holiday

2007-12-04T14:12:00.000+03:00

I tend to love the holidays, more so this one, which I will live to remember!

For the first time in more than 10 years, I get to go on leave and not come back to work on 28th December, break again on 31st to be back on the 2nd, this is if these days do not fall on a weekend.

Thanks to the 'Group', I am entitled to 14 days leave, I already took two and I'm left with twelve. I start my leave on the 10th to be back next year, the 2nd (if RAO doesn't make it) and 4th Jan if he does (pray, pray, pray). The good thing is this, Wednesday 12th is a holiday (mum's b-day too). 20th is gazetted as a holiday. The office is closed the whole week of 24th to 28th, I get to have 3 extra days, dear Lord! I come back to work on 7th January (and all this is only 12 days, I love British companies) And you can imagine that Saturdays are not counted!

Ok. So here I am, I'm planning my holiday. Shags over x-mas is amust. 23rd is the flight there. Back after the new year, but will jet in and out to vote and back to the bundus. But next week I have to do Mombasa. I do need the rest from the hectic time I've had in the office. Just hope the flights won't be as bad. I still do not understand why majority of us plan everything at the last minute. But hey, its the only way to have fun. How can one plan a holiday 12 months in advance, it kicks the expectation out, you get tired of waiting, its far off then its here, you havent done one two three things, last minute rush, I'd rather plan at least 3 days before. As long as I have that plane ticket 3 days before, I will be fine. And I will have a ball.

Last Saturday my family travelled shags and I suddenly realised how much I missed home and cant wait to do the x-mas bash!!! All my nephews, nieces, in-laws are already there, wish my son could go with them but knowing him, he'd be put on the next flight back as an unaccompanied minor! And at such tender age.

Well, at least I'm glad I'll have days and days and days of rest. But someone is jealous, and I will not name names. I have planned my leave and don't plan to come back till next year then I am rostered to work on 31st, which is by no means realistic. Then I get punished for going on leave by being made to work on 8th, and in actual sense I should not be. How jealous people can be. I have worked fortnightly for the last 6 weeks which nobody else in the company has EVER done. And that's the truth. But we all have to make sacrifices since we are understaffed, what with so many people being on leave anyway. And who better to punish but the one who is gone the longest. Solution, just do not show up, after all I have filled in the leave form. And no one is allowed to talk about it or it is labelled as insurbordination. Sc*** them!

Anyway, I plan to visit mum on 25th, we celebrate, go to the lake side, fight for fish with 'lwang'ni' at a place called 'lwang'ni' by the lake. Called this as you literally fight for the fish with the flies and flies in jengland are called that. So will be survival for the strongest. Then again, its about time I set records straight. This will be fun. Cant wait.

I'm not talking.............................

The KBSes and Citihoppas of Nairobi

2007-11-23T09:23:00.000+03:00

Woke up quite early this morning after oversleeping yesterday. Who wouldn't, it was damn cold last night. After leaving the house at around 7.45am, managed to jump into a matatu that was heading to Ngummo as its easier and shorter for me to connect via Mbagathi Road, grab a bus at the Highrise Estate entrance then alight the Kenyatta Hospital Stage and stroll to the office making it a record 30 minutes (when there is traffic) or 10mins if roads are clear. Mark you, this is from the house to the office. I know there are many sneers there but hey, it true.

As we all know the price of fuel has been escalating daily, what with our fuel pump prices heading in the same direction. At times I don't really envy the hard working Kenyan who has to still dig deeper into his/her pocket for the few extra shillings they dont have to fuel their cars. But yesterday, I nearly let the rain drown my tears as I was being rained on at the bus stop. i longed for that car, even the Vitz that I so don't like, or the Duet that looks like my son's toycar. I know I'm being mean but I'll not buy those cars!

As the conductress was ticketing the commuters, I gave her 20/- for the trip from Highrise to Kenyatta, what I have always paid before the fuel hike. She gave me my ticket. I was on the window side. The lady beside me asked, 'kwani Kenyatta ni 20/-?'. I respond in the affirmative. Then she calls the conductress and tells her that she is also alighting at the same stop as I. The condy explains to her that she charged me 20/- because I gave her 20/-. So I wondered what the fare was, 20/- or 30/-. Well, that was the beginning of all her problems. I sat staring out the window, didn't want to be drawn into their arguments. I only love arguments that I'll win, lol!

My argument is this, and correct me if I'm wrong. When the fuel prices went up last week, all buses and mats increased their fares by 10/-. I miss the days when they only went up by a shilling or even Cents 50. This was not even up by 5 bob, it was a whole 'ashuu'. Its unfair, that's over 200/- a month for crying out loud. The two guys behind me decides its a rip off, well it is. The fares have gone up, yes. From Highrise to Kenyatta was 20 and its now 30, from Highrise to the town centre was 30 and has remained 30, so pray do tell, who came up with this idea? Is it that the fuel only went up between Highrise and Kenyatta and if you are taking to longer trip, it tends to reduce to the original pump price? I dont understand. The same guys behind decide to have to solution. Man Thuo is campaigning and its the only way he can raise money, from the likes of us, hike the fare and the extra 10/- goes to his campaign, I personally dont get the logic here. I let it go.

I later wondered, if you have a problem, its better to face it head-on. But I still want to know why the fare is different only to Kenyatta and not to town.

Its Friday, and I cant wait for jioni. I have to go to the salon to have my hair retouched (wonder why they call it that), then drinks baadaye, lakini wapi? Its ohangla night and it 5 reds entry fees, tutaona. I have to work tomorrow! Thought I did 2 weeks ago. I have a bash in the afternoon! Do I really want to go? Evening at leisure!

when we were teens

2007-11-21T10:19:00.000+03:00

I remember when after clearing high school dad decided that my bro (he'd just cleared class 8) and I were to go shags for a week to lounge before the results were out the next year. I didn't understand why only the two of us considering we were 9 kids. We didn't complain though, but I knew we had to make the best of the time that we were going to be shags alone for the first time.

Back then we had roads, so it took us 6 hours to get there. My mum's shags is just a market away but we decided we still had 6 days to visit. So the long trek home. Then there were no boda-bodas so we had to walk quite a distance. I'm poor at measuring distances in miles, kilometres, metres so I stick to time. It takes an 45mins to an hour if walking fast or upto 1 and a half hours if not in a hurry. Mnyanye (that's what we called our step grandma) was there, my cousin who has since passed on was there too. We had to help cook as they were not expecting us, so it was extra food for us.

After lunch we just chilled out, after all we were fatigued. Later in the afternoon we fetched water as being that our house is bila anyone when we are all in 'Pango', everything is locked. Bathing is behind the house where the bathroom is improvised. Made of banana leaves (they are big enough to hide the passersby from peeking). 4 walls of 'ofito' (dont know what they are in english) covered with the leaves. But woe unto you if its late in the evening as they harbor mosquitoes that feel nothing. They bite (not suck blood) into your flesh regardless if you have soap on your body or not, they are so shameless. And their bites leave big red marks on you, and its malaria there and then. I remember I was down on day 3, and I have never understood why shagsmondos believe that change in weather causes malaria. I was taught in school that its the anopheles mosquito that does. I stand to be corrected.

Anyway, dinner in shags has to be by 6.30 as being that there is no elec, it gets dark by 7 such that even with your eyes open you have to literally touch your eyes to confirm that they are open. Well, that has now changed, solar power! It was always interesting as everyone had a way of punishing me. I'm freaked out by the dark, I will cry myself to death left alone in such a state.

Dad joined us on day 6 and we thought we were leaving the next day. Shock on us. What were we going back to do in Nai yet we'd cleared school. Stay home till results are out, that's January. Sawa fadhe. We decided to paint shags I dont remember the color, but this we did. All Nairobians are in shags during this time, all people who work from outside come back for the x-mas holidays, is fun really. We would wake up early in the morning to clean, make breakfast, bathe then away we went. Thinking of it now I feel so bad as who was I expecting to cook for dad? My mnyanye was too old for that. He never complained though. We would go to my mom's shags, lounge, my uncles had by then joined us, then I met and fell in love with this guy, I was crazy! How, but he was fly, he still is. I recall one particular day we went for walks and made it home at 6 and dad was not amused. There was no water at home, the 'kulo' or the place we get water from is normally invaded by hippos at around that time and from the stories we'd been told, who wants to be trampled on by the beasts. Just know that to punish me, dad made me go fetch water at that particular time. I so cried to and from there and I swear, I knew my dad did not like me, for a moment I thought I was adopted, how could he treat me like that. But learn me lesson I did.

Just to say that we had an uneventful remainder of the year and came back to Nai in Jan. My boo was left in shags and I felt like a knife had been put through my heart. I left him my jacket so he could remember me by, ha ha ha! Imagine that. Anyway, he claims to still be so in love with me, if he is for real or just suffering from discovering that his wife was not so faithful. Yes, he got married and has one kid. But I feel nothing as he turned into a conman too. But wish him all the best.

The greatest thing when coming back to the city, by train this time, we got to meet our estate mates as we all used the concessions to travel. It was a whole new reunion of course talking about our deeds over the holidays, who did what, missed what, where, why.............. home sweet home!

THE LONG SHAMBA TO DALA (SHAGS)

2007-11-19T10:38:00.000+03:00

I came back last night from shags, by road, and for a moment when we were coming back, I kept asking myself why I decided to punish my back like I did. What was I thinking? That is not a road anyone should take, whatever you are driving, not even a tractor!!! It is a sacrifice and I don't think I'm ready to sacrifice anything, or any part of my being to please relas, just for them to believe we are sailing in the same boat.

Yes, I'm still bitter at myself for making that decision in the first place. We (my sisters and I) left Nairobi on Friday morning for shags. Having booked Akamba bus, and been convinced that they are the most reliable after Easy Coach, I said I'd give it a try. The last time I took an Akamba bus was some few years back when some kikuyus in Molo attacked our bus as it was struggling to go uphill. Was one of the scariest moments of my life. I had never been waylaid before and it sent chills up my spine. It was quite traumatic though we fought them off by hitting them through the windows, good thing they didn't have guns, wonder why. Not that I'd have wanted them to. Anyway, we took a Kampala bound bus as Easycoach only goes up to Maseno and the Busia buses were full so we had no option really.

Having been assured that Kampala buses ALWAYS leave on schedule, I was surprised when by 7.15am the bus we were to take had not even come! I woke up at 6am to be in town by 6.45, I made it by 6.55am having half run and half walked as the heavens decided to open up just before I left, an man! it poured. By the time I got to town I was soaking wet, but I wasnt going to change. Our journey started at 7.30am, not so bad but that's manminutes wasted already. Had a nice ride to Gilgil then all hell broke loose. When we left I was so excited, the road was good! I'd fallen asleep but was woken up by some impossible noises, shaking, rattling windows, we looked like ragdolls in the bus. It was irritating.

First stop is Nakuru and I can't wait to get off the bus to just be me, stood outside the bus but could still hear the ringing in my head. There was no comfort at all, it was a nightmare.

Half an hour later, we are back on the road and if you thought the road from Gilgil was bad, wait until you start the Nakuru - Kericho shamba! I've never been to hell, I read and hear that it is hot, there is just no road to Kisumu. It was so bad I tried closing my eyes to drown all the noise and everything that was happening around me but it would just not stop. This went on for about 5 hours. I thought it only took 3 or at most 4 hrs to get to the village, apparently not. It was so many hours I stopped counting. Did I forget to mention that it was still raining all the way to Naks? Well immediately we left Nakuru it stopped, and it was thick clouds of dust, dust, dust and more dust. By the time we got to Kisumu, my hair was all brownish-whitish-reddish, I dont know why, maybe some guy behind me was spraying my hair different colors to make me think it was the dusty road.

Well, got into KIS at around 2pm, long wait at their office behind Nakumatt Kisumu then another 1 hour to Yala, at least the road from Kisumu to Busia is not all that bad, compared to NKU-Kericho, thats like driving Waiyaki way. Well, after the second part of the trip, sure felt like it. I was glad to be home!

I wanted to travel back Saturday evening after the burial but was advised not to. Set my phone alarm for Sunday 5am, gave myself at least an hour to get ready and leave by latest 6.30, this is the best time to get vehicles back to Nai, the Busia - NBO and Kampala - NBO and you also get to arrive NBO on time. But it doesn't happen if you have a bunch or slow characters with you. I took time to wake everybody up as we were quite a number coming back and I'd missed my boy and wanted to be home in good time to bond again! At 6am is when everyone was leaving their sleeping quarters! I'm totally impatient, I tell them that with or without them, I'm leaving at the scheduled time. My auntie decided to pull a quick one, we need to have a family meeting and all leave at the same time. Why didn't she say this last night or even have the meeting the previous night, we had free time as we buried by 2pm, so what's this that is so important that it cant wait?!! Well, 6.30 is when some are taking baths, no showers there, breakfast is ready so them that are ready are taking breakfast, I'm done with both and have to wait. At 7 I say I have to leave, but we haven't prayed for 'those things that are built by the hands of men that crawl on the ground on their tummies...........' why do we always have to refer to them like that, not cars or trains.... Having begged everyone to assemble for prayers, they appear at around 7.30 and granny wont start praying until she sees everyone present and you cannot harakisha her.

Prayers are at 7.30, one hour after our ETD. I've given up but pray that nobody regrets this. We finish by 8, yes 8 and by this time I'm back to my normal self, cool, taking it in stride. Then I ask what time the meeting is and nobody knows, I pick up my bag, head towards the gate and someone remembers we didn't take a family photo! Snap, snap, we are done. And there is no meeting so I leave, I'm half running as I know were are f***ed up. Walk to the main road and wait, wait and wait, buses are coming full, there is no space and the only other option is to connect twice, through Kisumu. They object, I have my two young nephews with me and I cannot leave them behind. Two hours later we are in a matatu to Kisumu, yes. Then one of my aunties remembers my brilliant idea of leaving early and actually reminds the rest that they should have listened to me as I woke everyone on time and nobody heeded my advise. Well here we are and its too late for the blame game. In Kisumu there are no buses. Great. Sit and wait. Its now 11, then its announced that there is an LD express bus on the way and everyone jumps to get on the Q. We are 10, dont know where the rest disappeared to.

On our way back to Kericho, our bus suddenly start going slow, why? 'Inaonekana ina shida na hatujui ni nini'. So who is supposed to know? Same bus from same co. passes by and hands our crew the tool kit and they open and pour gallons of water, it had overheated. A few more kilometres at Kiptumo (I think) and driver pulls by the road side. 'Gari imeisha presha'. So? Everyone is so agitated majority leave the bus to take a stroll. We are not yet in Kericho, its already 1.30 and here we are, what time are we getting to Nairobi? Midnight. One passenger volunteers to get a mechanic he knows somewhere down the road and is back in half an hour, mechanic claim 'ni kazi ndogo', fixes the prob and we are on our way over an hour later. Cruise, pray, hope, more prayers, we are in Nakuru. I forced myself to sleep, but the dust was unbearable, I'm still suffering from the effects.

We finally arrive at our destination at 8pm, 10 hours later. What a marvelous trip, cant wait to do it again.

Made me remember my first trip home by bus, I had just cleared high school, my bro had just cleared his primary school and dad decided we go home for like a week as we were not doing anything in Nairobi. So off we went. The whole trip then took a maximum of 5hours not including a 1 hour stop in Nakuru and Kisumu. Well my dad worked for the Kenya Railways and I never in my life knew people actually travelled by road to any far off place. Having been brought up with free concessions to Shags and mombasa, why would I think there was any other means of travel. I still don't understand why the last trip was by bus, could be coz 'Relu' was cutting down on cost, and that's the last train trip I took. I still miss those days, we always ended up in the same compartment as we left mementos everytime we went home, marks on the doors and beds (jealous? we always did second class and when available - first!) The different was only the space, second had 6 beds while first had 4 beds, but to Mombasa you could have 2 beds in first class, lol! And being a family of 8 kids! we always fought over who was going to sleep on the top bed, problem is being young, you forget that its only the one in the middle bed that got the best view. Believe me, it took a whole night and half a day to get home, never thought it could be shorter!

I'm suddenly hungry.......

But I'm not doing the road trip again, its airborne or never!

MATERIALISM

2007-11-15T15:17:00.000+03:00

What is materialism?

The Cambridge dictionary describes it as the belief that having money and possessions is the most important thing in life.

I believe then that we are all materialistic. I would love to have lots of money and possess the best. Who wouldn't?