Kamau was a gregarious youthful man who owned a grocery shop that was well stocked. While standing behind the counter serving his customers, it was not unusual for Kamau to break into song, a cheeky smile spread across his face. He was always well groomed wearing fashionable clothes and he was very fond of speaking English. I believe he was well read because he had humorous Philosophical quotes written all over his green Ford Anglia car that was always parked outside his shop. Quotes like “Talk well to your enemies, remember you made them“.
Kamau’s shop was popular because it was well stocked you could find almost anything you needed. He was the “supermarket” of our time. His shop was also very accessible to us because of its location. From our Settlement Scheme, we approached town on the only major “highway” that ran in front of the Catholic Church and past the Slaughterhouse. We passed St. Joseph Primary School to our right, and about a hundred meters to our left was Kamau’s shop. Our mother knew we could find everything we needed in that one shop without having to venture further into town.
Word also had it that Kamau owned, or co-owned the Agip Petrol Station on the Nairobi Nyahururu Highway, earning him the name Kamau wa Agip. I am not sure if he actually owned the Petrol Station or was a partner with some other people, but everybody called him Kamau wa Agip and so did we.
Kamau was also a proud single father raising his only child, a daughter named Wamaitha. She was recognizable anywhere in OlKalou town, she was like everybody’s child.
