Fuliza Chronicles: Saved by a Stranger.
Let me tell you about my Fuliza Chronicles… I leave work past 6. It’s a bit dark, drizzling. I remove my sweater to cover my hair. My 2km trek to the stage is quick-halfway there, it pours. In my light black-and-white chiffon top, the wetness hits deep. I finally board a mathree. We’re crammed in as usual-and of course, why open the windows while it’s raining? Cue the near faint experience🙇🏾♀️ Along the way, we start paying our dues. The conductor gives me a paybill number. I input the account number-Mpesa responds: “Transaction cannot be completed at the moment.” I wait, try again-same response: “A similar transaction is underway.” Now the conductor’s irritated. We try the “send money” option. Miserably, same result: “Transaction cannot be completed. Try later.” At this point, everyone’s quiet. I look like a fraud. The conductor’s mad-panicky, rude, maybe even insulting. “Wewe ata hio pesa huna kwa hio Mpesa. Ulitaka tu ya sare!” My God. The panic, the fear, the embarrassmen...