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 embarrassment. And yes-I didn’t have any cash on my Mpesa. But my Fuliza limit was Kshs. 2,723. That must count for something… right?

Apparently not, because my brain is now racing with thoughts of how this angry man might even mishandle me physically. Still, I stayed calm. I told him, “Let’s just alight. I’ll withdraw and give you.” He wasn’t having it. Then, a lady behind me. God bless her. She offered to pay my fare in cash. I said thanks-relief and shame flooding me all at once. And I know the question-why not just pay cash? Because I never have cash on me. 

Lesson learnt: Never step out of the house without at least 100 bob.

Could I have called a friend to bail me out? No. Normally I’m on postpay-for over a decade now. But yesterday, disconnected. Yet to cover the month’s bill. So, after alighting, I went to a familiar Mpesa shop to withdraw. Same error. “Transaction cannot be completed.” Now I’m borrowing fare home for the second mathree. The Mpesa lady-breastfeeding her almost-newborn-lent me the fare, effortlessly.

Another angel in disguise. 

I got home, called customer care. They said the reason I couldn’t transact was because of the pending first transaction through the conductor’s paybill. They promised to fix it in 2 hours. 

Lessons learnt: Never board a mathree without spare cash. Sometimes, God saves your ass through strangers. Relationships with people-they matter more than we realize. And debt? It’s its own kind of slavery. I’m not proud of this. By far, I’ve outdone myself in debt this year. I need a way out-still fighting in an almost sinking ship. Oh, just got a text. The transaction went through for my fare. That bully must be smiling all the way with my 50 bob😏 But on the bright side, I’m home, safe and sound. 

My not-so-little girl is happy to see her mom in good shape, smiling through the last hour’s drama. My clothes are soaked, but isn’t rain a blessing?