I was very lucky because I was born in Kikuyu Station near Alliance High School, which is not very far from Nairobi. Although there was a bus, we walked most of the time. So, I first came to Nairobi on foot, which took me about three and a half hours. I had to walk the same distance back home - meaning I spent almost an entire day walking!

I remember Biashara Street, which used to be called Bazaar Street. It was the busiest with Indians and Africans haggling over prices of different goods. At the Khoja Mosque roundabout, there used to be a traffic policeman at the centre directing vehicles with his hands. I was very fascinated by this askari and it was a very big thing for me.

Out of the more than 50 Africans I saw on the streets, less than two wore shoes. The rest, like me, were barefoot!