SUCH IS LIFE

In this story, you will be arrested at the end. You will be called a thief. A furious crowd will stone you, some will order for a tyre and petrol to squeeze your life into ashes. You will try to raise your saprano in defence. None of them will lend an ear. They will be angry. How could you steal from an innocent old woman? An innocent old woman.

It is a busy evening in the streets of Nairobi. It is circa 6pm. Everyone is rushing back home to their families, to have a rest of the day. Crystal, it has been an hectic Wednesday for everyone. Gloomy faces, fast strides and unblinking eyes is all you pass accross.

You are no exception from the hustle and bustle of the busy city- you are dog-tired, you are frustrated you look older than your years and your shoes are already bending on one side, thanks to the whole-day tarmac in pursuit for a job. It is the second week now since you commenced this treks. You have dropped your CVs in almost all offices in town. You have tried online applications, you have joined countless facebook groups of job seekers, on top of that, you have been conned quite many times while being promissed to secure a job. Poor boy!

Gloomy face. Grimace all over. You are at Odeon. That’s where you wait for the cheapest matatu to take you back to Kangemi where you stay with your sister. You are chilled. You are not in a hurry. You are waiting till the fare becomes affordable for you.

Suddenly, a shout pierce in your vicinity. The man who was standing next to you flashes through the parked matatus and disappears in one of the allays. You are left confused. You look around you. Everyone’s eyes is on you.

“Mwizi! Ameniibia simu (he has stolen my phone).” An old spectacled woman, looking out through the window of the matatu shouts as she points at you. Her spectacles fall off, as she continues to rant. She is an inch away from jumping off the window to come strangle you.

You are confused.

Before you know it, you are on the floor. Fists, kicks and stones raining on you. You struggle to speak, but kicks meet your mouth and push back your words. You cry, you bleed.

A scene is created. Everyone who has stress from work, or anger from elsewhere drops it at you. You hear them contributing money for petrol and tyre to end your life. You hear some going against the decision. You hear the old woman shouting, “ako na simu yangu! (he has my phone!)” You wonder which phone.

The cops arrive before the petrol and tyre. You are carried and thrown into the van after a few negotiations with the furious crowd that was yearning to put a fullstop to your life.

You almost died for someone’s sin- you were a minute away from doing what Jesus did. But still, what wrong did you do to deserve all the pain of life?