Been nice to office askari and he now wants to make me his wife number three

I have made it a deliberate habit that every day, as I walk or drive into our office gate, I greet the soldiers manning the gate.

And they love it. Many of my colleagues are so self-centred, they do not bother to even look the poor fellows in the eye, so the few of us who do it are milking some benefits.

I realised long ago that these askaris are human - just like the rest of us and they yearn to be addressed with respect and appreciated. And so while some callous workmates treat them with disdain, I accord them respect and it has earned me bonga points and even trouble (I must admit)...

Free parking: Getting parking in our company building is like looking for GOK unga nowadays. You may drive the whole building but find no vacant space. But guess what? I never miss parking, whatever time I arrive at work. Secret? Being courteous to the security guys has earned me their kindness and they always 'reserve' for me a special spot like a CEO.

Car maintenance: Given his nature of work, my husband is always on fieldwork. That means that I have to man my troubled mini car by myself. And for a busy career mum, given the million super important things in my head (work targets, Tasha's homework, diary signing, house eating plan, etc), I at times forget 'trivial' things like checking oil, water, tyre pressure and the rest.

But my good rapport with the soldiers ensures the car is always in top care. In this car manenos area, they have me covered. Believe it or not they do all this without expecting any 'gifts' from me. Many a times they have politely declined my lunch offers because it is illegal. "Usijali Madam, wewe ni wetu," is the answer I get anytime I offer them a small token.

VIP treatment: Though I am small fish in our company, whenever I drive in, they salute at my tiny rickety car like they do for the big fish's fuel guzzler (read director's). It feels heavenly.

Wife number three: Now I must confess that every good thing comes with a downside. There is this one particular askari who has taken my kindness towards them too far, he thinks we can be an item. So the guy, let's call him Wilberforce, has for some strange reason developed a peculiar fondness for me. And guess what? He wants to make me his wife number three.

And the other day as he inspected my car, he made clear his intentions, "Matam aki niko serious na wewe. Nataka nikupeleke Mumias kwa madhe nikujengee nyumba uwe pipi wangu mtogo,"(Madam I'm serious with you and I want to take you home to mum in Mumias).

I thought it was a joke but I realised he was dead serious when I got a strange call from some woman in Mumias on my cellphone informing me that she was looking forward to my visit. I am kwinished! So beware ladies as you greet them, there are some mafisi in their midst eyeing you.

The writer is a married working mother of a toddler boy and a pre-school girl. She shares her experience of juggling between career, family and social life