Gachogu: The Prankster
Mr. Gachogu was the serious administrator who oversaw the construction of the first classrooms at Munyeki. But he was also the playful headmaster who came to class with…
Gachogu: The Matatu Guy
I was not surprised when Mr. Gachogu left teaching and bought a matatu, which he drove himself. He fitted so well with the touts (Makanga) and fellow drivers,…
Ng’atho: Our Fashion Designer
He was a tailor who ran his business on the veranda outside the Gachogu shop. He was my family “designer”. My parents believed in his workmanship, we did…
My Mukurino Length Dresses
All my dresses including school uniform were a length that almost touched my ankles. Ng’atho and my mother were in total agreement that I was a growing child…
Multi Colored Shirts
For my brothers, there was a time when their style was turned upside down without warning or consultation. All five of them were close in age and size.…
Wanjiku wa Bata: Market Vendor
We knew her as Jirada. I do not know if that was her baptism name pronounced in Kikuyu fashion or what. She was a single mother of two…
First Bata Shop in OlKalou
After spending several years in the market, braving the hot sun, dust, wind gusts and mud that made the market look like a cow shed (gicheegu), Jirada opened…
Hockey, Bullets and Ngoma
Until we started going to High School and Leather Shoes were listed as one of the requirements, our shoe category was Rubber Shoes. They are what we now…
Lets Try On Some Shoes
Then came the embarrassing part of shoe shopping. We had to try on the shoes. With our bare feet now exposed in front of Jirada, they looked even…
She Inspires Me
Jirada dressed us in shoes in our childhood, sold us shoes as we reported to High School, continued selling shoes as we went to college, started working and…