How we got schooled by a rogue Gikomba trader

Muthoni.

Muthoni Irungu, singer-cum media personality made her inroads to Nairobi during her campus days. Coming from the village, the fast-paced nature of Nairobi was by itself a shocker as she narrates.

“I soon came to learn that nobody in Nairobi has time for you or your problems,” she says.

But her real ordeal started when she decided to go to the famous Gikomba to purchase some ‘camera’ pieces.

“Drip has always been life, so this particular day we went to look for some dope clothes which my friend and I were actually lucky to get. But my friend was not satisfied,” she says.

Despite it being a rainy day Muthoni and her friend decided to dig deeper and find some more pieces when the drama started unfolding.

“We stopped at one of the traders and my friend was busy trying out clothes. She got a skirt or 2 and it was now time to pay. Soon it started to drizzle. She gave out a Sh1,000 note and he went out to look for ‘change.’ We hesitated a bit but he insisted that he wouldn’t be long.

At this point, the rain had started to pour and our trader was nowhere to be seen. We tried to ask around for his number or a way to contact him but everyone was too determined to escape the rain. We decided to wait around while praying for the rain to stop. What was supposed to be a swift in and out turned to hours.

My girl vigorously tried to ask around while trying to describe a stranger we had just met. I expected someone around to help us or reassure us he was coming back. To no avail! No one was concerned or interested! After being too exposed to the harsh weather, we accepted our fate and left.

That became the first and last time we ever stepped foot in Gikomba. As to the ‘change’ my friend has never received a single cent.”