I witnessed the propane gas paranoia one time when I accompanied my mother to Nyahururu. There was a new Bank Manager at Kenya Commercial Bank, Nyahururu branch where my parents did their banking. The new Manager happened to be from a family they knew back in Gikuyu. That called for a visit to welcome this new family to Ruguru. They needed to know we were now their adopted family since they were far far away from home.
My mother packed a bag of produce and a gallon of milk as a welcome kit for this extended family we just acquired. I happened to be in my parents good graces that day, so I was picked to tag along. That also meant I had to bath. No big deal, I was going to Thomson Falls, a good chance there was going to be bread with butter (mugate wa thiagi) somewhere during that visit.
My father dropped us off at the Managers’ house. His beautiful young wife with her two small children met us joyfully at the door. Introductions were made and father quickly excused himself to go attend to some business. I was thrilled because I was certain he was going to ruin this visit for me.
Like most children those days, we were never comfortable in the presence of our fathers, and now with the chance of buttered bread in my horizons, I surely needed him out of the picture so I could enjoy myself to the maximum.
That part of my prayers was answered and I was now ready to enjoy myself.
