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Showing posts from March, 2025

Mteja 2

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Let's rewind to 1:00 PM when she had texted:   “Souley,  go to this place in Ngara,  ask for a guy called Musyoka.  He has the samples.  Just call me when you get there,  I’ll guide you.” Simple, right?  Now it’s 2:44. I’m here. I’ve found Musyoka. He’s chewing miraa, eyeing me like I’m slowing down his evening high.   “Oyaa,  niko na samples.  Si useme venye madam alisema.  Ni hizi ama zile?” I freeze. I don’t know. I was told to wait for her instructions. I try to call her again. Mteja. I text. Double tick. No blue. I even WhatsApp call her, desperate moves, you know? Musyoka is now shifting his weight like a man about to disappear. I try calling her again, muttering under my breath,  “This woman will be the end of me.” Then the rain starts. Nairobi rain doesn’t fall, it attacks. Boda guys scatter, hawkers scramble to save their goods, and I’m there, hunched under a mabati shade, holding a phone that won't ring, wit...

Basmati for who, 2.

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  Something didn’t feel right. Her phone, her bag, her watch, everything was gone. Panic started to rise in her chest, but she fought it down. She needed to think. Her mind raced back to the night before. Selene.  The drinks.  That feeling of being watched.  The realization hit her hard, like a cold wave. She hadn’t just been out, she had been out with friends, or people she thought were her friends. She had been drugged, and the person who had put her in this situation was none other than Selene herself.  A sickening thought crept in.  Why,  why would Selene do this?  Alvina’s thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock on the door. Her heart skipped. She wasn’t alone. Her first instinct was to hide, but there was nowhere to go. Her only option was to face whatever was coming.  The door creaked open slowly, and a man appeared in the doorway. He did not look bothered at all, it was as though it was just another ordinary day. His eyes scanned ...

Basmati for who?

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  Alvina had always been the curious,  free-spirited type.  She loved meeting new people, getting out of her comfort zone, and exploring what Nairobi had to offer. So when her neighbor, Selene, invited her out for a fun night of bowling and drinks with some of her friends, Alvina didn’t think twice. It was a Friday evening, and the atmosphere at the bowling alley was lively, with music thumping through the speakers and people laughing and enjoying their games. Alvina was welcomed with warm smiles and a round of drinks. Selene, always the gracious host, led her to a group of friends sitting at a nearby table. “Alvina, meet the crew,”  Selene introduced her to the group, as they all exchanged greetings. There was Kendi, the quiet one with a contagious laugh, and Naomi, who had an easy, confident energy about her. But then there was Mercy—Selene’s close friend—whose smile never quite reached her eyes. As the night unfolded, Alvina noticed a pattern. Every time she spoke...