(ANCEDOTE PT.

I)
Nairobbery

By,CHRISTINE MWANGI
Reader’s copy
I t was not a normal day. I was enrolled to a
school in CBD, and I was excited because it
would be my first day in CBD alone, no
supervision. During lunch hour, my friend and I
decided to explore the town and find out where
Imax was. On our way, we met a certain lady at
Odeon, and she needed directions to Dominion
house. This is the thing, she touched us on our
shoulders, and I think this gave us impaired
judgement, let me explain how. We stood
opposite Dominion house, and I honestly
remember seeing it right in front of me but we
both said we don’t know where that is. She
started talking about bursaries’ and that was
where she completely had my attention. We
started walking and honestly, II didn’t know
where we were going but we didn’t mind at that
time.
The topic quickly switched to how she was a
prophetess and how she has helped so many
people achieve their dreams and find out who
was hindering their growth. Then she began
telling us that we had been cursed by someone
from our family’s. I was struck, I have a deep
sense of Africanity and if you say this to me, I
began shaking. I cannot speak on behalf of my
friend, how she felt or how she took this entire
thing, but I was agreeing with this woman
heavily, since I am the black sheep of our
generation. As she spoke about this, a lady
popped out of nowhere calling the woman
prophetess and she began testifying how her life
has changed since she met her.
Nairobi is one big circus I swear. This lady’s
appearance solidified my belief in the
“prophetess” and now I was sold times four of
before. The prophetess asked the lady to walk
ahead of us and begin praying. She also asked
the lady to give us her belonging so that she can
avoid any distractions and that is exactly what
she did. Meanwhile, the prophetess was
solidifying our faith in her and building that trust
so solid. The lady came back and said she had a
revelation and now it was our turn to pray. She
asked us to give our belonging to her and the
lady, same reason, to avoid distractions. Now
they had us going separate ways to avoid talking
to each other and me oh my did they have us. I
was told to pray five hail Mary’s and one
personal prayer as I walk from Mac Millan
Library to Poster while my friend was asked to
walk from Bank of India to Tuskys. I began my
walk of faith as I as I left them seated in front of
the library. As I walked halfway, I remember my
gut feeling. It felt like this was a robbery but
then the other conscious part of me could not
question the woman of God. My gut feeling was
so strong that I decide to turn my back and go
for my stuff. I was heavily conflicted before I
could reach this decision, but I finally picked my
side. I quickly walked back to Mac Millan
Library but woe and behold, it was too late for
me.
The ladies weren’t there. I couldn’t find my
friend. I walked that part to and fro, in hope that
I would find them waiting for my friend or at
least find my friend and we could ask for help. I
looked crazy, I was sweating, my heart was
beating fast, and I was wondering how I will
narrate this to my mom and tell her that I lost all
my school requirements which we bought
yesterday, my phone, and I have no money on
me. Also, how would I get home? I quickly went
to a casino along Kenyatta Avenue, and I told
one watchman who helped me contact t my
mom. She was furious and asked me to meet her
at Afya Center, the only place I knew in town.
We got home after this long awkward silence
and when everyone was home, I had to narrate
my sad ordeal. The reaction I got from everyone
was not what I expected. I never felt so stupid.
They laughed at me and said, welcome to
Nairobi the city of Robs. I honestly never heard
of voluntary robbery till it happened to me. If
this, was you, would you have fallen into the
same trap? What would you have done? I
wouldn’t want to re-live this. Nairobi is the
place of cool waters, but how cool can it get. I
only got to see my friend the next day and ooh,
she was not good at all. This messed us up
heavy.