Andrea and Laura
The Home Made Banner all their own work!!
Saturday 17th St Patrick’s Day – Andrea and Irish volunteer from Nairobi had organised a gathering at a “Irish Bar” in Lavington to watch the Wales v France 6 Nations game and then the England Ireland game. Following those two there was a live band playing Irish and UK classics. A great evening was had and some of the new volunteers came out too which was a great opportunity to get to know the wider volunteer clan in Nairobi.
Sunday 18th
A chill out morning chatting on the veranda of the Mountain View volunteer house. Then at lunchtime I met the son of the Bride from the wedding the week before and he was going to assist e to get on the right Matatu etc and escort me to their house. I had put the wedding photos on a CD, printed the best 4 out and was dropping them off. They had insisted I stay for a meal too J. Peter was great fun and also said we had to stop off to sort something out for his football team on the way. This turned out to be a meeting with a local businessman, the local councillor and two youth football teams for the presentation of 2 new strips (provided by the businessman). After the formalities I was asked to make a speech too!! I bluffed my way through it and even used 50% kiswahili which got a laugh. Not sure whether it was for what I said or how I pronounced it but who cares…….
Then it was round to the newly weds house where I received a hearty welcome and a huge meal. I found out that the groom was to sort out someone with a camera for the wedding. At the last minute the chap sent his apologies and the groom had forgotten he was the only one with a camera. Had I not randomly turned up at the wedding the week before there would have been no photos of the big day at all. He was therefore particularly appreciative and my new best friend!!
I got a matatu back into Nairobi and was strolling down Tom Mboya Street as I have many times. I did vaguely notice sounds of a football game going on in the bars etc……… What I did not know was that the two most bitter rivals in Kenyan football were playing in Nairobi and the game was about to finish. I was halfway between the two Matatu stops when the whistle went and the bars spilled out. Within seconds gangs were chasing others and fights started everywhere and I was right in the middle and being 6ft 4 and the only apparent mzungu in the area I was a “little concerned” luckily I was not wearing anything resembling the colours of either team so was apparently invisible. They were focussed only on beating the opposition fans. Regardless I along with many other innocent bystanders took a side street to a quieter parallel road (luckily by now I know my way around pretty well). Eventually with a few discrete detours I made it to my Matatu. The first one was full and set off as I got there. The next one therefore was to wait until full. I sat in the front on the corner of a street. Soon I heard the chants of about 2-300 of the opposition fans coming up the main road towards me. In the wing mirror I could see about 50 of the home fans coming up the side street perfectly timed to meet where I was on the Matatu!!! What to do……. I stayed put (there was no way I was getting out into that lot so I took my chance and hoped we would blend in!!). Chaos erupted fairly spectacularly all around us, punches thrown, random weapons picked up and used, stones thrown over and around us (miraculously none hit the vehicle!!). During this the Matatu became full and the driver decided to make his escape through the riot. Driving through the fighting I noticed passers by desperately trying to get into shops and then about 10m from me a security guard panicked and having a gun started firing indiscriminately as we passed. People were scattering everywhere and on man dropped suddenly having being hit. Was he punched or shot I have no idea but the timing seemed to indicate shot! Less than 15m from me. (I found out later apparently the security guards only have rubber bullets??).
Eventually we made it out of Nairobi and apart from the occasional chanting and small fire there was little trouble encountered for the rest of the journey to Thika. Normally I don’t travel at night for security reasons but due to the delays I was hitting Thika in the dark and had to walk across town to get my next Matatu home. Luckily I know my way well and having passed through Thika most weekends I know most of the people around the bus stop for Kandara. I was well looked after and there was no further trouble in Thika that I noticed. Finally I made it home, called Mum to say Happy Mother’s day and did not mention the entertainment of the evening so as not to spoil her day by worrying her too much........ ooops she reads this - sorry Mum!
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