The only way to conquer new technology is embracing it

I bought my first Kencell line at Sh2,500 in Eldoret. I also acquired a handset I could ill afford, a second-hand blue motorolla with a long aerial that made it look like those ancient police communication gadgets. Whenever it rang in a matatu, I let it ring and ring, until I had the attention of all the girls around. Then I would shout into the earpiece at 120 decibels, as if I wanted the person on the other side to hear me without the benefit of the gadget.

Before the cellphone came to the scene, we used to queue at Telkom booths armed with coins. Some shrewd traders would stand outside a booth on Moi Avenue selling eight one-shilling coins at Sh10. The mobile phone, needless to say, drove Telkom booths out of town.