Its dusk
A young woman is on her way to catch a mat happy to be on her way home. She is walking with a man who she thinks of as her ‘protector ‘ just in case after all it’s not like anything ever happens, maybe to other people never to her.
Chatting animatedly to her companion, the young girl has no idea what lies ahead of her. It’s quite a stretch to this particular stage but no worries there is lots of traffic around though it’s quite dark now, almost there.
No incident yet.
Looking behind her as if by premonition, she spots five or so men walking towards them hurriedly. Since it’s not unusual on this particular road, she pays no attention. She doesn’t even tell her companion. Nothing ever happens.
Too bad.
*&%£^@! that is what she sees when the blow lands. The next thing she knows she is on the ground wrestling with a guy who is struggling to get her bag. Another shouts ‘Wachilia bag ama tukudunge’
Where is her companion? Her ‘protector’?
The guy is nowhere to be seen you would be forgiven to think she was walking alone. He ran off fearing for his life. Self preservation always comes first.
Motorists are watching a free live movie as they are seated safely in their cosy cars. Some are already saying she deserves it. Sure enough one conductor is kind enough to say it to her face ‘ulikua unado what ukitembea huku usiku peke yako?’ he queries. The kindest one tells her to let it go and at least says the coolest word of the moment ‘pole’. All this at the safety of their mats.
That word again, self preservation.
That is what happens in our beloved Nairobi. Nobody can lift a finger to help when someone is getting robbed, mugged etc. Instead it becomes a spectacle to behold and later a juicy tale to tell all.
I learnt the hard way, that young girl was me.
Many days past am still get over it. Though I wasn’t physically injured, am scared of the dark and I get terrified when I hear footsteps behind me in broad daylight. To call it a bad experience is an understatement.
When the media advises us to avoid some places especially after dark e.g. Forest Rd, Globe Cinema etc. they mean exactly that. Well my umakmende died that day in trauma. I understood my friend though he did a cowardly thing by running off in the name of self preservation. I laugh at him every chance I get.
Kindly add to the list of red zones on the comments section and share your experiences too. It helps.
Unless you have yourself some piece of steel and a licensed one for that matter, avoid these places people!