A personal tribute to my uncle, mentor, and family pillar -25 years gone, never forgotten. Let’s go back… mid-90s. Uncle Gakuo. His white pick-up truck. All of us. Our mums. Our huge bags-bigger than some of us. Nduta Gakuo, Cira Gakuo, Shiku Gakuo, Shiku Kariru, Waithera Marua (big), Waithera Marua (small), Wambui Njung’e, Shiku Mworia, Minneh Njoroge… And of course me-the ‘last’ born of the pack. Those registration numbers on the truck-to this day, I hear “709” and I feel nine years old all over again. Boarding school in an Assumption Sisters hostel was no joke. Oh my… Sr. Mbatha. Madaraka Primary School, Thika: top-performing. For My Future I Toil. That was the motto. And indeed, my mother’s brother wanted only the best for us. 25 years on. His candle still burns brightly in my heart. His love for extended family, those lively get-togethers- all gone with him. I often imagine him and Mum, taking tea outside under our avocado tree. Whenever I think of my education, Uncle Gaku...
A couple of years ago, on an evening walk home, this guy walking from the opposite direction stops and asks with genuine concern, "Are you seriously talking and laughing by yourself?" My mind full of responses, Isn’t this a free country? Ama freedom of speech ni story za Jaba? Can’t I enjoy my own conversations? Also...sir, how is this your business? But I simply nodded. He stared at me from head to toe, trying to detect what exactly was off . Fast forward to today. Afternoon. I pass by my bank, hoping to get a short-term loan. I walk up to a lady behind an unnamed desk, not even sure that’s where I needed to be. She was sharply dressed-minimal makeup, perfectly done sisterlocks, glasses completing the corporate slay. Meanwhile, me? In brown boots and a pink fleece jacket...sun shining🌞 I looked...like the weather forecast personally betrayed me😏 In my defence, I left the house early and it was kind of drizzly, but still, who looks like t...
Red roses, dark chocolate, fine 🍷, better still money bouquet. Is it love overrated or just a beautiful thing? Wah!elderly man squeezed next to me, high as a kite, seriously unkempt. Today we 'sue' the guy who introduced 'sambazas', clearly we shall breathe next year😏 Listening to Ghost from patanisho just making a bad situation worse by his sarcastic laugh😂 Decision made, morning cup of tea in the house a no no for me.Funny walking style to the office(if you know you know), very embarrassing!! Two decades ago a dice was cast in my uncle's residence and I landed BM as my valentine date.Strangers though from same home area. We were both just done with high school. Or no, he had cleared a year before i did. So I put some effort in my valentines outfit. Red top,black pants and open high heel. We met outside nandos. Either we had chips from nandos or sonford. I recall chocolate and teddy bear he gifted me. Later and I mean 3 p.m🤭he introduced me to this underground ...