Pulseting Nakuru

As an old boy visiting his hometown on Saturday, Peter Ndoria got impressed at the rapid development that Nakuru has experienced, as he enjoyed football and music

We were there for the Guinness Football Challenge and it was conspicuous: like a fine stout, this once-quiet town is now a metropolis in the brewing.

At the Nakuru Athletics Club, our venue, the local rugby team, Nakuru RFC or Wanyore, was busy having the scalps from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology’s Blak Blad, further heightening the mood as the chill subsided. The crowd was trickling in, with Jalang’o ‘Jalas Mwenyewe’ on stage, as MC for the day.

Other than the football challenges for which there is a $250,000 (Sh21m) cash prize — with participants drawn from several countries — Jalas gave out T-shirts, footballs and games kits to those who could best perform his challenges, be it in ball-juggling or push-ups.

Soon, the Igiza Dancers, a local dance crew, was called on stage and they impressed with their moves, accentuated by their yellow stripes on black costumes.

By now, the tiny trickle had turned into a steady stream of people, making it even easier to get volunteers from the crowd. When DJ Wesley landed on the decks and volunteers were called to try and out-dance each other, the crowd jostled before some four guys were found. The very first to dash onto the stage was a young man, Vokeh. Confident, he put his best foot forward in dance. Unfortunately, quite unlike the Igiza Dancers, the dancer was more in breach of rhythm. He was the first one to be dismissed by Jalas before he eventually settled on a winner who walked away with a gift.

With DJ Wesley on the decks, the music was tight with the excited crowd now loudly in the mood.

Dan Shikanda, a former Kenyan international and judge for the Guinness Football Challenge, was in the crowd and he stood up for a jig when Koffi Olomide’s undying Lingala classic, Loi was played.

Everyone danced freely, with the music and occasional vuvuzela blaring. Some Celtic United fans stood out in the crowd, with their green-and-white striped jerseys and stout in hand.

They honoured the crowd with the Celtic United anthem, after they were invited on stage, belting out jingles composed in honour of our very own Victor ‘Big Vic’ Wanyama. Whereas this would have drawn elated response, between the heavy passionate Scottish accent and the excited, inebriated, crowd, not many picked out the ‘one-yeah-ma’ they were singing about!

By the time Avril came on stage, it was to a grand reception. This being Avril’s hometown, she engaged the crowd and interspersed it with her retinue of songs.

Before crowning her performance, she invited Hush BK to perform their jams. The local homeboys gave a good account of themselves before giving the mic back to Avril, who finished off with her latest club banger, Kitu Kimoja.

Next up on stage was Nameless, who took things a notch higher with his songs from way back when Deadly, Salari and Nasinzia rocked the dance floors, to his latest Coming Home.

For those Pulsaters who may recall, it was after performing their collabo Boomba in Nakuru that Nameless lost his great friend, E-Sir, in a road accident.