A World of Contrasts
Personal chronicles:
I boarded a 33-seater minibus at around 8.50 am from Uthiru junction to Westlands earlier today and thanks to little traffic volume (schools are now closed!) I arrived at my destination in good time.
Once the vehicle had set off from the stage, and the conductor started collecting fare, I decided to pay via paybill and did and Mr Charles Maingi, saw that i was feeding figures on my phone and bypassed me without a word and moments later returned to the front evidently after having collected fare in the entire bus. He did not speak to me as i expected he would to confirm my payment.
When I reached Westlands and was I was at the door alighting, I asked him why he did not confirm whether I had paid. And I told him the cash had sunk into a Mr Charles Maingi’s mpesa wallet.
“Wewe sio mtu anaweza kosa kulipa fare—You aren’t a person who can refuse to pay your fare,” he answered me and I felt honored and trusted by his words and gesture as i also bid him farewell.
And later around 2.30pm on my journey to Nairobi CBD from Westlands, I boarded a Super Metro 33 seater and it safely manouvered through building traffic given some light rain showers.
And just near Kodja mosque as it kept moving slowly and at times stopping in the jam, a Kiambu route Zuri Sacco 33 seater (registration no. KDU 404H) pulled just next to the Super Metro on the right. The vehicle bore various writings such as Toria in red bold color on its back window screen among other writings.
Immediately, some two young – looking conductors standing at its door unashamedly started harassing and taunting a lady next to the window directly opposite their door.
The bold lady ignored them and they persisted even trying to push open the window but she still ignored them. She was respectful and composed and would qualify to be the young men’s elder sister or auntie
The Zuri van moved ahead as jam eased with the incidence making me think about how different Matatu crews can be and how intensely contrasting their behaviors can appear.
