Its Not About Ngugi

This is not about Harrison Ngugi Kariuki, am talking about that guy at Odeon, side ya choo ya kanju, am sure no one knew his name till now. I just ruined his street creed. Light skinned, that brown color that confirms a well-cooked chapo, kwanza zingine za Shiko, the Elbagon way, with a long face. He is always in a clean blue dust coat, rumor has it he works for some stationery shop during the day before embarking on his passion, controlling traffic or rather ensuring Lopha buses have easy access, matatu haijawai chelewa by the way, here time is money literary, also watu wa Matangi wako kwa line banah!”  I know you have seen him, that is if you commute via Lopha you not part of the cult, wa zile basi za orange na grey with a white stripe. He has this habit of running in front of the bus for reasons only known to him shouting “Team work! Team work! Of course, we tip him, we good people unlike you people, besides those traffic marshals with their gray uniforms, and green reflectors labeled “traffic marshal” in black, kanju amelebeshwa tu and white caped cops, who are allergic to darkness, he keeps Nairobi running. Without him on a busy Tuesday evening, that Ruiru Ndani line won’t move.

This is about why am not attending lessons. Not that am any good, not yet, still learning, the why part am blaming Nairobi, but if this works out, fingers crossed, maybe once a week, am thinking Saturday, even get a reason to leave my house. I be your Saturday dose, Kileleshwa people know what am talking about pale Siaya Rd, The Base, the joint on your right with a car wash, for your cars I’d assume, I wouldn’t relate, mimi nilikuja na zile basi za Killeton, I actually “dandiayad” one on my way back, made a friend, this way I got the rights to seat on the special seat, yes that black metallic bar conductor sits on, kiti ya wageni. Not everyone seats on this, sitting on it alone requires skill.

The matatu backs up on the first stage on our journey back to town. Everything here is different to what am used to, Thika road is just messy with KENHA people always repairing something. Here the stages are well labeled with neatly painted waiting booths which Kenyans hardly use, the air itself feels bougie forgive me for thinking mnafika bei plus have you seen the fuel prices! There are about ten people standing in front of the booth and from their body language you can tell hawa ni wadhii, out of reflex I shout,

     – “Nairobi Hamusini hamsini”

Involuntary some take a step behind all staring at me accusingly. For a minute everything was silent until the driver angrily shouted, 

     – “Ebu toa huyu mwendawazimu hapo!”

Me. Confusion.

All this time Decho, the conductor, he can’t help it he has hand on that metal bar of the bus’s door laughing his life out. Only him understands why I could think fifty shillings would be a fair deal for them plus have you seen the buildings along the way, they even obeying traffic lights!

     – “Gari huku ni mbao” Decho says to me while taping my shoulder gently emphasizing his point.

                        No one boarded!

until I announced, mbao mbao Tao, and they all came running. Na mimi hulipisha dollar jioni Juja! At some point I counted the seats just to make sure there are 33, for thirty shillings that’s under stable, twendi! Githurai people would thrive here. Sasa wachana na super metro, Githurai people are another breed of people, them and their long ass busses. Random fact the reason Githurai has long busses is because long ago they were the only public transport vehicles accessing town, gari zilikuwa githu mwisho.

I know it seems like am not interested, am passionate about it, if I was to list hobbies this should top the list but till now the only thing am good at is having an all-rounded playlist, this is the first step am taking, ranting.  I once sat in the booth alongside the artist himself, I know him as Toto but here he is D.J. Mickey the resident DJ at The Base, Kileleswa, to top that my teacher.  This is a skill am adding to my resume, maybe this way while teaching World war to form four students I’ll be able to add beats and drop those bomb effects like them Germans. So maybe the next time you see me I’ll be having those big ass headphones DJs put on not because I need them, only because I can. My stage Muigai_Cheigeh, it all depends on where we meet.