Sometimes up, sometimes down

We've heard it a million times. Life is a journey. Whoever said that was right about comparing life to the slow – or dangerously fast – progress on a road. The road this person was thinking of must have been similar to Kenyan roads because he clearly understood the similarities.

Life has potholes, sharp corners, sudden drops downhill and steep uphill climbs. It also has pedestrians dashing across roads for dear life, zebra crossings that no one respects, traffic lights that make you wonder if you're an idiot for respecting them and footbridges built in the most inconvenient places.

Take for example those "hio nimehepa" moments when you think you're finally safely going to drive home without any more incidents only to meet a herd of cows casually chewing (plastic) curd as they cross the highway.

I'm still speaking metaphorically of course so I'm actually referring to the fact that you say, "Sina pesa leo" to your kids when they ask for that notorious chocolate egg treat at the supermarket (I know you know which one). As you exit the supermarket relieved that they only asked for crisps this time, you find yourself in another fix.

"Mummy why do you have to go to work every day, every day," they ask.

"So that I can get money to buy you nice things," you reply thinking you've scored 10 points.

So the next time you go to the supermarket and say "sina pesa", they will remind you.

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"But mooooom! Si you've been going to work every day, every day?"

Si I told you. Life is like driving on a Kenyan road. Just when you escape owing a Maasai man a cow, you have to dig in your pocket to appease a boda boda lynch mob.