NIKI”MAMA”..

Through the stinking gutters of the slum, John sunk his boots into the mud not worried if he would carry the foul stench with him to work. His daughter needed of him Ksh. 2,200 by mid-day ,it wasn’t her fault to be born poor he would always tell her.But what better way to get her out of that situation than to provide her with necessary weapons to fight this war?.

The ride to Kamukunji today wasn’t that long at least with the new county government the road was a bit smooth .

by around 11.25 Am John had sent his daughter the required amount for her bus fare and registration money to an interview she was supposed to attend in Thika. Talking of Hoax, this madness needs to stop before someone gets really hurt, i almost paid Ksh. 3,000 to an interview with a company that dint even exist.

Back to John, he did not even start to wonder why he had paid for an interview,but prayed that God would see his daughter through it.Thank God for the new technology otherwise it would have cost him more to deliver the cash in person.After a blessing like that John knew he wouldn’t score more cash but stayed at work till late anyways, someday luck comes knocking twice he thought to himself. Having not taken lunch that day  John started walking towards the main road.Today he had accomplished his mission although in his pocket he had only a 50 bob note, that was all he had between him and poverty, well poverty had become his middle name.

He sought to walk for a short distance alongside the main road so that he can pay less bus fare home, this would help him buy dinner for his family.

“50 bob pipu” that’s what the Konkodis were screaming hitting on the sideboards of the busy noisy buses, he pressed on at this time it had started to drizzle, so he had to cover his head with a plastic paper bag full of ‘Mitishamba’ his friend Kamau had gotten him for his stutter.

He had walked a long distance when he heard “30 bob pipu” that was a deal he could negotiate and still have some cash left for Skuma and Kitunguu, at least the stove was full last night the paraffin wouldn’t have burned out during the day, his face lit up a smile as he hopped on the bus.

“buda leta pesa” one of the Konkidis asked him for his fare, he hadn’t even made his way up the stairs.

“nnko nnnnaa mmmbbbaaa” he couldn’t even finish saying his plea when he got shut down.

“tusisumbuane naniii” the Konkodi said in a high tone, with a facial expression that suggested that he had murmured uncooperative passengers before.

John kept on begging, otherwise he would not be able to buy a meal for his family tonight.

“pliiiz nnnllliiippp eee mbbbaaaooo nnkkkiiiimmmaamaaa” he would have stood all the way to ‘pipu’ instead of sitting, sometimes comfort is just but a luxury.

“Ukitaka mama shuka ukamtafute” the Konkodi mocked his stutter and pushed him off the bus that he almost fell off face down,but  life had toughened him he landed safely like a cat.

John was left wondering if he should board the next bus and let his family sleep on an empty stomach again or walk and home have a nice hot meal.