A Diligent Acquaintance

If there is one person I've come to like, it is Njogu who is my age. He has been diligent in his jobs. And he must be a God-fearing chap given the way I've seen him dance to Christian music played in the crusades people have in my hometown of Kiserian.

I've known Njogu since we were small boys in the '90s. He would come to our church and recite Swahili poems with passion. Then starting about ten years ago, I sometimes saw him pull a cart in which he carried goods for his customers.

His work as a cart puller made him famous in Kiserian. People spoke in glowing terms about how he pulled his cart for long distances. I heard on the grapevine that a prominent politician was so impressed with his diligence that he bought him a public service vehicle to ease his life.

A few years ago, I began seeing Njogu control traffic in Kiserian Town while clad in a reflector jacket. That made me think the local government had offered him the job, perhaps to save him from the back-breaking work of pulling a cart all day long.

Just like in his previous work as a cart puller, Njogu has taken to traffic control like a duck to water. Recently as I was taking a walk, I caught sight of him controlling traffic near a petrol station. When I walked on and reached a certain bridge, I again saw him there controlling traffic. How he got to the bridge before me yet I had left him busy at the petrol station is something that baffled me.

Njogu was helpful during Mum funeral's day last week. I sat beside him in the car that drove us to the mortuary. As the car followed the road, he suddenly broke the silence and asked us in Swahili, "Unaona gari yangu? (Can you see my vehicle?)"

He pointed at a stylish bus that he claimed Amb. Francis Muthaura bought for him. I then asked him whether the rumors I heard about a prominent politician buying him a public service vehicle were true.

When he told me the rumors were true, I asked him which politician in particular bought him the vehicle. He thought for a moment and then said it was Dr. Titus Naikuni, a former Kenya Airways CEO.

With that, Njogu concluded he now had two public service vehicles. Mark you, this is the same Njogu who used to pull a cart in Kiserian, sometimes barefooted if I may add. Sounds like a rags-to-riches tale, doesn't it?

That Njogu has earned respect due to his diligence makes me hopeful that people will also respect me for the effort I put in crafting the stories and videos I share on this blog. Having hope is such a wonderful thing.

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RECOMMENDATION: If you've enjoyed this story, you might also enjoy "Kiserian's Hidden Charms".