Combine Harvester – Kigethi
These were the biggest farm machinery we had ever seen. They came in two colors. The most common was the John Deere in its signature green color and…
OlKalou Town
As I mentioned earlier about my embarrassment of the OlKalou name, anyone who knew the town back then in the 1970s would agree with me. Sort of. There…
Returning Home: Dry Season
OlKalou passengers were hurriedly dropped off on the Nairobi Nyahururu highway at Agip Petrol station, the impatient bus driver almost leaving with your precious luggage. The luggage was…
OlKalou Landmarks
OlKalou town had very few established permanent buildings. The prominent places you noticed were the two Primary schools, St. Joseph and AC Primary. There was no high school…
Mukurino – Businessman
I have mentioned Mukurino many times in the previous posts because he was a well known service provider to the farming communities of OlKalou and beyond. His name…
Kiihuri: Ndiiriga Mucii, Mikonye
There were some other small bakeries based in Nairobi but their distribution was local. They mainly made sandwich bread, which was very long, twice the size of a…
Kamau wa Agip
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…
Gachogu: The Headmaster
He was the Pioneer headmaster of Munyeki Primary School deep in the Settlement Scheme. When I was in standard one, I remember him taking us on a field…
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,…
Johana wa Noe: Homemade Yarn
Johana was a short man who worked and lived in some wooden houses at the backside of town, near the railway tracks. People from our Settlement Scheme sometimes…