We hate dust, we hate rain
#KitengelaChronicles
4:30 PM and I was riding through Kyang’ombe in Kitengela, hoping to make it safely to the main road (They say it’s a”lil” dangerous here.) The sun has been unusually hot today. Mum insinuated rain yet there were no sign of rain clouds. Anyways, I still wore my black “Cheket” and steamed in moist sweaty air all day, since I couldn’t beat her experience.
For Kitengela guys, you know that one side of Namanga Road has finally received a tongue-thick tarmac layer that has reduced the sizes of potholes and quadrupled the speed of late tuk tuk drivers.
I dodge a few close screeching Bajaj riders, balancing my left and right mirror ,as well as smoothing along the circumferences of a few emerging potholes in the new tarmac.
Since the road was surfaced, atmospheric dust density has dropped significantly (in the few weeks before elections.) Kitengela residents living in the eastern side now have less dusty rides.
That’s where I am telling this story from: -(the Kitengela Eastern Bypass suburbs.)
Heading towards Eastmatt from Acacia supermarket, a thick cloud of dust engulfs me (plus my bike.)
Bottles, paper bags, rags and poorly-displayed t-shirts sprawl graciously towards the steep trenches along the highway.
My eyes blink fast, faster… then, nothing!
These are the moments you hate your town wholeheartedly.
These are those moments you wish there were no suits in this world, or official blue-colar jobs. These are the moments when ladies wish they wore shower caps to town, and for us guys, regret ever having a bath before stepping into town.
Amid those thoughts, a hungry earth receives a dot, then two…three…
Time to flee…. but I overhear someone complain.
“Hii mvua inatakaje sasa? (What does this rain want with us?)
Then you wonder, what do we really want, Kitengelians?
Rain or dust?
