By MURIMI MWANGI

A land broker in a village in Kirinyaga County is enjoying celebrity status of sorts, after two married women — desperate for his ‘love’ and money — publicly fought over him.

The broker is renowned for his inability to manage his zip in the presence of women. He has rightfully earned the title of Village Casanova, as his name appears on every page of the village bad books. He makes the hearts of married women melt, much to the chagrin of their husbands.

Recently, the broker presided over the purchasing of a parcel of land by a Nairobi-based tycoon. The piece of land was reportedly bought at a scandalously exorbitant fee and the broker made a commission that ran into hundreds of thousands. And the news, of course, spread like bush fire.

The news was cause for unease, not just among married women who naturally compete for his affection, but married men as well. The married men, allegedly, shake in their boots and watch each of his moves lest he crosses with their wives.

The broker is a regular patron in local bars, where patrons literally worship him for he buys them booze. However, he never entertains bachelors near his drinking table. Those who beg him, are often dismissed rudely.

“Which sensible man would extravagantly spend his hard-earned irrigating throats of lazy daily drinking officers? That guy is a sniper and a tactful schemer!” a resident from the area whispered to this writer.

Interestingly, among his most regular drinking mates, were the husbands of the two women who recently fought publicly for him at the market place.

Lodging

Prior to the now infamous free wrestling match, rumours had been fast spreading in the village that the broker had been spotted with the two women, separately, shepherding them to a lodging in the small town.

This is what led to tension simmering between the two women who sell groceries on two adjacent market stalls, culminating in the fight. On the material Saturday evening, one of the ladies was conspicuously absent from the stall, a sight that kept her counterpart in jitters, given the rumours she had heard.

 When the other woman reported later that evening, she was shocked by the rude welcome she received at the stall from the woman with whom they had done business for more than five years. She only learned this when she requested the other woman to assist her with a polythene paper to wrap in sukuma wiki for a customer.

“Nduthie ugetie murume guo. Kithe mutina mbeca cia migunda (Go ask for papers from your man. He has money he got from land deals he does),” she nattered sarcastically in response.

The slur ignited a heated verbal exchange as the two ladies tore into each other, as customers who were milling around the stall stood and watched in amazement.

And true to his word, the two ladies tore into each other, pulling each other’s hair rolling on the muddy market as they fought, issuing derogatory statements to each other.

 It took a Good Samaritan to stop the brawl, fearing the two would hurt each other.

Crazy Monday could not immediately establish what the women’s husbands had to say about the news that their wives had fought over another man.