Be friendly to your matatu tout,else...

The matatu was supposed to stop at commercial. Then Jane would have quickly crossed the road, gotten onto Moi Avenue and made a beeline for Kencom. Everyone knows you are safe once you get to the right side of Moi Avenue.

As it were, there were cops and for reasons best known to the driver, they had to be avoided. So he took a back alley. Rather than choke on the smell of urine that filled the matatu, she held her breathe. This was her first mistake.

The tout turned to her and said “Sista hii ndiyo Nairobi” and nudged her sharply in the ribs. Shocked she gasped and took in a gulp of the foul air. He laughed. She moved over to the empty seat near the window. Now there was no escaping that foul air. “Sista unatoroka kwa harufu ndiyo usikae na makanga?” She ignored him and looked out into the dirty alley way.

Some of the street boys were just getting up but most were sound asleep. She stared at the brownish black, greasy logs on the street and counted the minutes till the ride was over.

Finally the PSV stopped at T.S.S petrol station. She stood there a while to find her bearing. Then she realised that Tuskys was straight up the road and began walking her way there.

Then someone breathed right over her shoulder, “Sista umepotea Nairobi?” She jerked startled and began to make quick steps away from the tout, the same one. “Sista unaringa sababu umevaa mini skirt?” She looked over her shoulder once and noticed that the tout, much to her relief, was going back into his matatu.

Then she noticed the two men following her. She stopped for a minute, turned to face them and was immobilised by the realization that they were coming for her. She met the tout’s eyes over the top of the matatu. He winked and gave her a mock salute. She turned and started running.

The mob was getting bigger or louder, she couldn’t tell which. Perhaps it was just the blood rushing in her ears or her heart pounding but they must have been at least 100. The shops were closed.

She had the Tuskys within sight when she felt her jacket ripped off her back and someone took hold of her by the shoulders. The scream she thought would come failed her.

photo:www.afroautos.com