Rich,Sick and Unhappy

He had cycled for almost 2 hours looking for a 9-5 job.He was fatigued, heartbroken and at the same time Hopeless since He had lost his Nut business and he really wanted to feel like he was part of something again

so when he came to a halt at this farm which he had been directed by a stranger who he happened to tear down in front of him telling him that he was looking for a job the stranger really sympathized with him and directed him to that farm down the hill and told him they were hiring.

It was an Events company so when he arrived he met workers arranging chairs and tent poles into the truck,they were being directed by an old lady who after seeing him projected 'What do you want boy' and at that time he put on his saddening, desperate face telling her that he was looking for a job and to toy with her emotions he went on and told her that he had a daughter depending on heim, therefore, ihe urgently needed the job and he would be very willing to put his hands down.She wasn't much interested after all

'Where are you from?' After telling her that he was just from a neighborhood called. She went ahead straight to the point that daily wages were $3 leave or take.Half a loaf is better than none ,so he went ahead and parked my bicycle and waited for the orders on what to do.

It was a big farm almost 2 access on the top luxurious estate in Nairobi just a few minutes drive to Kiambu road, from the main road to the farm took me about 5 minutes.I had seen some cows,goats and chickens loitering around,besides that at the entrance there seemed to be a nice field I guess that was a reception area incase one had an occasion such as a wedding or a graduation.So after parking my bicycle my instructions were to carry some wood planks from Area A to B .It seemed easy as compared to the rest of the workers who I hadn't met to know their name.There were 4 women and 3 men plus the driver that made a total of 9 employees including me and so when I was on my rounds transporting wood planks I hear shouting.Seems there is a fight and being very inquisitive I try and reach out to see what is happening.

The old lady is getting out of control,she is trying to make a scene by creating a quarel and scolding the woman employee who was wiping the tents.The lady was dragging the tent instead of lifting it and this makes the old lady boss really really mad.She shouts at her and also threaten on firing her.The woman is very much agitated and to make the old lady feel like crap,she picks her bag,remove her working dress and leaves.She fires her employer before the employer does so herself.

She seemed very fed up with the old lady I notice she doesn't even ask for her money.The old lady is speechless and after noticing everyone has stopped what they are doing to watch ,stares back and shout to us to continue doing our job.And at that moment I knew that the lady was cahoots.

At that moment I knew i was fucked because this was not what I had signed up for.Seemed to me the working environment was hostile and it wasn't long before lunch where I sat down with the ladies and I was able to get to know the nitty gritty.From the business to the family.

The old lady did not own the business,yes she owned the farm but she only took care of her son's business who had been transported to India for medical reasons.The employees seemed to miss the son who was the boss and by the look of things seemed the son had gone for long since his Land cruiser which had been parked on the hallway was dirty and dusty.The old lady lived just next to the business premises.The events company was huge since where we were at the moment was the workshop.They had a headquarters in Nairobi where the people at the office would take care of the front end stuff like accounting to maarketing.Incase they got a customer they would call the old lady and tell her if whether the occasion was a wedding a birthday a graduation or any kind of ceremony and then we on our side would deliver.

The location was also strategic considering it a residential area,the government would not suspect any business going round this also try to evade taxes and the whole business rigamarole set-up.

Lunch was over,I hadn't eaten since I wasn't hungry and so at 2pm another truck from nowhere came and that meant some order had been made.Someone in Muthaiga north was hosting her son's graduation party and it required a couple of tables,chairs,tents so the evening was a tight schedule.Loading chairs,then tables,then tents by the time we were through it was already 5pm and I saw the ladies start getting ready to go home but then I was stopped even before I began to think of going by the old lady.

'You will go with them to Muthaiga' she told me and not trying to create a fuss,the driver set in and we were headed to Kenya's leafy suburbs Muthaiga North.