A VISIT TO KITENGELA.

This was supposed to be a day out to visit our dear friends at Kitengela. Jason and Shiku are such an awesome couple that has been together since as far back as I can remember.

So we organize one weekend to go visit them at Jason’s home……and spend the night story telling. Stories never end and that’s why we had the most perfect opportunity to do it that day.

As opposed to the kawaida bashes that people hold in their digs, this was a little different because it was the first time we guys were meeting for such an event aside from meeting in hotels in town. It was a perfect opportunity to reflect on the true worth of friendship and what it takes to join two friends together.
That evening, it was rainy in the city. On a Friday evening after work, I decide to wait on Anne as she finished her work in office. Work never ends, and so I just had to keep on insisting that we had to leave failure to which she would not have budged. It was one of those things that you are always expectant about……and you really wish that it would happen ever so often…..

Eric Njuguna and Chemtai (another lovely couple)

were also supposed to accompany us to Jason’s house and so the best thing to do was to link up in town for ease of logistics. Waiting for these ladies at times can be such a pain, so you have to invoke the virtue of patience when dealing with them. Even though it was raining or if you don’t mind me say drizzling we found our way to the railways stage terminal where we were supposed to board matatu’s to Kitengela. While at the stage, we met Mala who co –incidentally was also heading home and it was so great! We had Joab

in our company and some strings which I came to realize much later were being pulled; but none apart from those privy to the info. Were aware. ‘Whatever is meant to be is meant to be’……..that’s what MF said.
Getting into one jav almost made it full because Mala had her mum and brother on that day. And off we left. The scenery when on Mombasa road heading to kitengela is just magical! The lush plains…..occasionally interrupted by large cement manufacturing companies and upcoming buildings is what greeted you as the transport commodity traversed the busy highway. It was that trembling moment between sunset and darkness and thus you would bet the view was fantastic. I remember for instance we were the noisiest in the whole of that car and one would mistake us for a bunch of hooligans trying to break the peace.

Got to kitengela safely. My man Njuguna was bestowed with the authority to give directions to us and we willingly adhered to what we said. A taxi ride to jason’s home would suffice, though Mala’s mum told us to be wary when choosing a taxi driver. ‘Take one that I will recommend to you’- you could hear from the tone of her voice. Incidences of carjacking had been on the rise and so it was better to 'check yourself before you wreck yourself'.
Walaaaa! (An American expression for surprise) we got there. A very nice home by all means. It’s the sort of place one would go to unwind from the hustles and bustle of the city. We got home to a warm reception by Jason.

Shiku had a headache but later had to get up owing to the kind of noise we were making……but she must have felt much better now…….
Food was ready, and without much ado…..we jumped right in to it.

Delicacies are a rarity in this city of Nairobi. And therefore when you find someone who has taken time off his/her busy schedule to do you a nice meal……..you really appreciate. The chicken was to die for……..i have to put it to you!
Pineapple with a hint of carrots in it…….to ensure a vital boost of vitamin A for better eyesight was used for dessert. There was also juice made from hibiscus…….that to me was what stood out from the crowd……

This was the first place I visited and fell in over my head with the kind of seats in the living room. I mean each chair had a story to tell……..the uniqueness was just overboard! The leather couch just folded you in to it…….and you felt like you would not get up off it……….

There was so much to say that night, and it was like we were never going to sleep. Joab had a documentary about the war in Darfur and that is what we watched. Scary I have to tell you! The leather seat cuddled me to sleep…….and had to snap back to reality every once in a while.

Eventually every one gave up trying to stay awake…

…and we had to sleep. One chair could convert into a bed and vice-versa……I was not wrong in saying that every chair had a story to tell.

The following day was a Saturday, and I was working. The Englishman said ‘early to bed, early to rise’ unfortunately this was not the case. Either way we had to do it though I got a little late.

A blast of a weekend! Could be the summary of what happened between 9/03/2010 and 10/03/2010.

GRADUATION.

This is the day supposedly that is supposed to be the climax of a long journey of schooling as an adult. Being an adult comes with a lot of responsibilities and thus it is not all that hard at times……

For me it was very hard owing to the fact I had a lot of challenges towards the end of my graduate course. Life is just like that, it gives you a challenge every once in a while to test whether you are sharpened enough or not. For me it was a very steep slope I tell you! I had to juggle so many things at once and it was no smooth ride. For a gem to be polished there has to be friction……so says a Chinese proverb.

I even failed to graduate in the same class I was owing to the fact that I missed a Continuous Assessment Test and the Lecturer would not hear none of what I had to say. I waited for an entire year before graduating and so had to do it with a different lot.

The day finally came and it was all pomp and color at home. Everyone got ready to witness my graduation. The funny thing is that I was working at the time and so had to ask for permission to go to my graduation. I did not see the need to make it such a big deal but it was necessary to do it because if you don’t do it as an Undergraduate…..you never will!

Transport was provided by the ever lovely couple Mr. and Mrs. Kamau who have always been a very influential part of our family.

Not many people wanted to go to the graduation square because it was a big problem getting out of there after the ceremony. I for example got lost on that day and had to be missing in action for a long time….i kept others waiting owing to the fact that the phone networks were not working at all….but eventually traced my way to the car. In the period I was lost I got to meet Auntie Grace who had come to grace my occasion….. Truly great love!
At the graduation I got to meet my childhood friend together with her mum,

can’t quite remember the name but we used to be together in child hood. ‘She has realy grown up’- I kept telling myself.

Getting out was really hard because cars were all over the place. But luckily, Professor Muchangi

was there to help us get out despite the clogged arteries out of the University. The man knows his way around the University, he really does…..
Eventually I got home to a rousing welcome. An elderly woman hugged me as I entered……and it was song and dance…..for a while……all along people reflected the sad past I had and now this……surely I had made it.

I was given the front seat….which I am not used to, so I kept on moving away from now and then, till I was told not to move again by the M.C. seated beside me were my friends from child hood to give me the morale of not sitting alone because it could get lonely up there especially when alone….

Speech after speech, I was being told I am a victor…..but little did I know what awaited me out there! It seems rosy to those that have not yet experienced it……just until you do. Special guest appearance by the ever lovely Mytchelle Aura and Amina……

they did me great these two ladies and I will forever be eternally grateful for what they did. Mychelle is the same lady that made an appearance at my father’s burial and that’s when I realized that indeed she was a true friend and not just a friend.

You would mistake my graduation for a come together because there was a lot to eat and you met people you have not seen in a very long while. It is like that thing you do every December where every member of the family meets at a central place for a goat eating party.

Anyone and everyone you could think of was there at home, including my Grand fathers (who have since gone to be with the Lord) R.I.P. It’s a wonder that after such a short time so much could have changed.

Not forgetting my cousin called Mama Ciru…..was also in attendance and has since gone to be with the Lord. Life can get really mysterious at times……………………..

My neighbors’ were also well represented in the house, and I was kind of overwhelmed by the turnout.

They dint come because I was good to them but it is because they realized I was one of them and it was good to join me in my celebration. It is nice to be an educated lad but it’s nicer to be the one who employs the learned individuals.
All said and done, it was a good day for me and it will remain engraved in my heart.