Living in an urban centre can be tricky at times. Considering
the tough economic times, it takes great skill to survive.
I am not encouraging you to be dependent on people but
knowing the right people might make your burden a bit lighter.
1. Mama Mboga
One of the worst mistakes you can do is to shop at any
random grocery store. Please, be selective. Choose one or two ‘Mama Mbogas’ and
become their die hard customer.
Engage them in endless stories. When the month boxes you
into a corner, go and tell her to give you some onions, sukumawiki, tomatoes
and even some mangoes on credit.
Because you guys are best of friends, why would she let you
sleep hungry? After all, si utalipa ukilipwa. Just make sure to pay her when
you get your money.
2. Kimani wa Duka
Your Mama Mboga friend will give you onions and tomatoes on
credit but she surely will not give you flour or cooking oil. For this reason,
you need to choose a particular tuck shop and create friendship with the
shopkeeper.
Become his regular customer. Listen to his stories and
political analysis. Laugh at his lame jokes. You will definitely need some
eggs, milk, bread and even airtime from his shop on credit. As long as you pay
at the end month, Kimani will not have a problem with you.
3. Security man
Do not ignore this guy every morning when you leave for work
and every evening when you come from town. He doesn't need so much from you.
Just a "Good morning, How's your life? And how's your family?"
greeting and maybe Sh30 for cigarettes are pretty much enough for him.
He knows you don't have money but once in a while surprise
him with a half or quarter full ‘mzinga’.
That man will worship you, but you did not come to Nairobi
to be worshipped, did you?
You came to Nairobi to look for money. When you earn those
coins, give him a tip, he will come in handy when you invite ‘different people’
to your house.
In fact, he might even praise you with statements like ‘this
is the first time a woman has visited you. She must be special’ then you will
nod in approval.
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4. That neighbour who owns a car
We all have that one neighbor who is the only guy owning a
car in the entire plot. You don't have to be the best of buddies but at least
always be in taking terms with him.
Always greet him and just maintain some basic or
intermediary level of friendship. You never know.
Disaster may strike at 3.22am and all your attempts to get a
taxi may prove futile. This man might just ask you to fuel the car and he will
rush your wife to the nearest maternity hospital for free and then add,
"What are neighbors for?"