In Kenya, courtesy is a foreign word

By Renee Kamau

Early this week, I was doing my errands in town and dropped by Savanis Book Centre on Latema Road.

The only denomination of cash I had was Sh1,000 and the cashier insisted she had no loose money.

Instead of making me return the item worth Sh55, she let me go, and asked me to return to pay for it when I got loose change.

She was glad when I showed up two hours later.

She recounted to me how she has done that to many people who seldom come back.

And why does she do this, I wonder. "Because I like to help people, I also want to teach them to be honest," she said.

Kenyans are crass

I was impressed. Impressed that there are still people who think about others and help them in the best way they can. This attitude attracts blessings.

But at the same time, I’m disturbed that there are many who do not care. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if all of us were like her?

I have on several occasions felt insulted when people from our neighbouring countries label us barbaric, but I have come to understand why.

Jumping queues

I wish we could all go slow on the ‘me-first’ attitude. Part of life is the little things that wind us up, so time and again, allow me to share with you my pet peeves and see if we are enduring the same predicament.

This thing of jumping queues is annoying. I would like to understand people who do it. What goes through their minds? Do they imagine those in the queue are enjoying sticking in the line or are not equally pressed for time? Ditto for those who overlap in traffic.

Then there are the Jesus jokes and tribal jokes that most people love to crack. I think sometimes it’s taken a bit too far.

We can be funny without having to laugh at serious things or at each other!