Throwback Thirsty

Each day has its mood, depending on how well you know your route and clientele there is a genre of music relaxing everyone depending on the time of day and also the day itself, from classic bangers to those fresh beats that everyone’s secretly vibin’ to. On Thursdays for me, some old school, now with my love for Kenyan music, you’ll be listening to some Kalamashaka, E-Sir, Ukoo Flani and likes. Am authentic and really love to brag about my playlist curation skills. Reason with me for minute though, that is if where you live for public means of transport there are at least three, no five, fancy 33-seater Matatus, in simple words, kama kwenyu watu hufika bei, or if till now there is no KDM, hama! People from Gachie, I hope you guys are doing fine, I mean no harm.

There is always a different vibe when a manyanga passes by playing some good old school music in traffic, speakers adjusted to the correct algorithm at a slow speed in traffic, alafu ju yule karao wa kufungua jam, volume imenyongwa kidogo but you can still hear Nonini sweet voice “We kamu, kamu, we kamu, wee kamu…” while you three cars away. This is where you see everyone shaking his head to the beat agreeing with the music, for the “kaveve kazoze users this is heaven on earth you should hear Sam, ‘Uko wapi four eyes, kashikie kwa gari yako”. To further prove my theory, the number of people just saying hi to me because of the dope playlist are high on Thursdays, I had to gloat about this.

It’s a normal Thursday afternoon and we playing that lockdown session with Uncle wa Manasnacks, Gibbz Daqchildat playing tha KE old school rap, at Ng’ara stuck in traffic on my way to town. Am one of those many conductors who for some unknown reason I’ll be either dancing or standing on the passenger side of the vehicle having a lit conversation with the driver. I often do this, because that man has gone through in life should be documented, he was once stuck in traffic for a whole night on his way to Mai-Mahiu at Mai-Mahiu! Typically, what we go through at a daily basis at Nairoberry but this hit different from the way he emotionally tells the story.

“Oya, nisaidie hii” a fellow conductor says to me while flashing a five Hundred note. I pick up the note and start walking towards the front part of the vehicle, VIP section while counting a hundred-shilling notes and still verifying his 500-shilling note.

“Huna machwani?” he asks

“ Wewe uko nazo?” I ask back jokingly

He punches me and runs as the traffic start moving slowly. By this time am walking the same pace as the vehicle, “Madam shukisha kioo” I say to the lady sited as my driver indicates the same to her. She obliges and sits back and as usual we assume her and start our conversation.

“Tuchukuwe Ruiru shukisha beba, turudie ya kufunga” the driver says

“Turudi na idhaa ya barabara, zifike ata za beer mbili ju sasa mmeamua niende off Friday” I say back.

The lady smiles and we all notice. I’ve been eying her not having a chance to talk now that a chance opens up I dive in. There was no way I was letting that smile go to waste, mind you am walking alone single,

“Utapewa gani Mamie leo ata nisikunywe pekee yangu” I say jokingly.

By now we are at Globe opting to use the lower lane still walking on foot close to that big hotel, I deliberately choose not to mention its name, they won’t pay for this free advertisement, huku ni Nairobi, now the focus of the conversation has changed and whatever she says next will determine a lot. We all silent for a minute, Daqchild filling the void with something about not finding an idle lady on a Friday, not in these words though.

“Ita depend tunaikunyia wapi” she says back

.

These are the things that happen I think about them later and smile. Let me set the scene, a traffic cop in front of us closing our lane allowing those from Uhuru highway to pass, am standing outside leaning on the side mirror facing the lady straight trying very hard not to stare. My driver has one hand on the steering wheel the other on the gear facing us watching the events unfold. The lady in a black top and blue jeans legs crisscrossed, hands on her pulse holding her phone at the same time confidently looking at me sending some kind a shiver in me. For effective communication my driver lowers the volume leaving Daqchild ask something about Kakamega and Kisumu city in a whisper.

“Kesho naskia kuna reggae Kahawa everyone listens to reggae” I say back.

“For real? I miss reggae” she says excitedly.

This is a match made in heaven.

Because I serve a living God who knows when best I need help, not giving her time to change her mind the traffic cop turns and decides we have waited enough and indicates our time has come. This is why matatu drivers are always holding the gear, as soon as the traffic cop indicates “GO” as if we are starting a race the vehicles gain momentum so fast so I have to act swiftly if I want to continue talking to this pretty lady. The things we go through. I can’t waste such an opportunity, swiftly, I open the passenger door she doesn’t wait for me to ask she jumps to the second seat and I jump in while crossing the door. To avoid further traffic, we opt to use Kirinyaga road. By now the conversation has changed and the three of us are laughing out loudly making jokes about matatu industry. I even forget about the other passengers. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury all I can say come Sunday I’ll be dressed nicely not my usual maroon trouser, smelling nice enjoying the company of someone daughter. So, how’s life treating you?

Cover picture shot by mugweru_maina, just so you know, this guy made me announce this. He’s the self-appointed expert in bothering harmless folks, graduand by the way, He just graduated. Yes, you read that right—a KU graduate who is a certified troublemaker. Watch out for this English-slinging guru of harassment!

cc. Credits to Dj Cribin