NAIROBI HALF LIFE

 Hoots!Hectic! Its 7pm.A little walk past Uhuru Park across Uhuru highway ensures I'm in town after a long day in Upper Hill.I stretch past Archives towards Temple road to board a Nganya to Eastlando.

I find an empty seat at my favourite Back left spot and sighs "Nairobi Half-life" before the bus starts heading to the Gikosh roundabout.Mr Vegas in the background singing 'Its hot and wicked this year,not even water can cool me.'

Nairobi's public transport system can be tad-off the civilization rail-but hey, It is cutely vibrant.Say a sudden rain showers, excited campus students in a rioting mood or just a politician sported in town.Prices hike for no reason or just some fickle.

'Our' pimped machine hits Jogoo Road and the tout starts doing what he does best.He reaches this senior citizen seated opposite me.He's clearly from upcountry on a city run.Perhaps to visit a relative in BuruBuru- follow up on a delayed pension - medical appointment.Well,not even a 'pua' soul 'nose'

Our old citizen hands over his Ksh 100 note.Of course he is expecting his balance.Our able tout ignores him.Drama unfolds after he as collected his daily bread from everyone and settles in his seat next to the door.

Our old man is restless.His ears must be aching.Senior citizens can't stand listening to Mbogi Genge full blast for that long I guess.He turns to the tout innocently and asks for what rightfully belongs to him.

Old man:Kijana yangu, nipe change

Tout. :What balance? Didn't you pay 100bob?

old man: Yes,but you said it's 50 Bob?Please be quick,I have things to think and worry about.

Tout:What things?Our 5th president?

Old man:No.My son.He recently moved out

Tout:That is called being man.A man needs his own house.

Old man:But he visits thrice a week,like a clockwork.

Tout:So? Isn't that a good thing?

Old man:I can't say if he misses us or he's just hungry and needs food.

His delivery? Flawles.His accent?Rich British.Sounds like a modern day Tom Mboya addressing a UN convention.My attention is now on him.

The conductor hands him his Ksh 50.That hardly happens in this side of the city.All kinds of tussles are common.A sigh of relief.

There's this lady infront of me.Gnawning a roasted maize cob.Everyone is fidgeting.Fresh hunger pains.It doesn't matter if you had an entire fried goat for lunch-the aroma will make you hungry.This is unkind.But can we all stick to global issues for now?

Anyways,the lady asks,off-handedly and to no one in particular

Lady:Hey,elder citizen.What would you have done if he hadn't returned your balance?

Old man: I'd have done what I did in Trinidad,1984.

He doesn't miss a step nor does he turn to see whoever wanted to know. He is cool.Just what you'd like in your grandpa.

The matatu rumbles over bumps and potholes.Silence ensures We're headed to Hamsa.Perhaps you must also be asking;

Who is this?

What did he do in 1984?

Did he go to Jail for It?

Can I search for events in Trinidad that year on my browser?

I wasn't even born yet.

The old man beckons to alight.I think of asking him too before the conductor does it on my behalf

"We mzee,what did you do in 1984?"

The old man stares at him briefly and says...

@AnotherKenyan