I'm saddened to hear about the passing away of our MCA Cyrus Omondi aka Gearbox aka Mtambo wa Chuma. He was a good man.
I voted for him.
Mostly because of a cat.
(this is a true story)
I voted for him.
Mostly because of a cat.
(this is a true story)
So. A few years ago, a family friend left their cat at our home while she was travelling.
We kept it locked in, but on the second day it slipped out - right into the path of some dogs which promptly chased it up a tree.
We kept it locked in, but on the second day it slipped out - right into the path of some dogs which promptly chased it up a tree.
The next 2 days were crazy. The cat wouldn't come down the tree no matter what we tried.
It would be silent during the day, then start sad meowing all night. The kids were getting depressed - they had became very attached to it.
It would be silent during the day, then start sad meowing all night. The kids were getting depressed - they had became very attached to it.
We tried climbing the tree but we couldn't get far because it had thorns all over the branches. We were badly bruised by day 3.
We tried stoning the cat out of the tree but instead of jumping it went deeper into the leaves. On the third day we could hear the meows getting weaker
We tried stoning the cat out of the tree but instead of jumping it went deeper into the leaves. On the third day we could hear the meows getting weaker
Frustrated, we started looking for ideas on how to let the cat down. By now many the kids were not eating well. My daughter started saying she can't eat while the cat was up the tree.
And the stupid cat would only meow during supper time. Something had to be done!
And the stupid cat would only meow during supper time. Something had to be done!
One of the neighbours (it had become an estate problem) casually said he'd call a friend who had connections with the Kiambu council...
I didn't give it much thought.
Until a few minutes later all hell broke loose. A large fire brigade truck came with sirens blazing.
I didn't give it much thought.
Until a few minutes later all hell broke loose. A large fire brigade truck came with sirens blazing.
As you can imagine, behind it were hundreds of people on foot and on boda bodas curious to see where the fire was.
The fire fighters looked up the tree, shot a blast of water and the cat plummeted to earth in less than a second.
It turned out later that it was Cyro's doing.
The fire fighters looked up the tree, shot a blast of water and the cat plummeted to earth in less than a second.
It turned out later that it was Cyro's doing.
Maybe our neighbour has overstated the problem.
When later there was a real fire in our estate and Cyro called in the fire brigade, I was outside onlooking and one of the boss riders said:
When later there was a real fire in our estate and Cyro called in the fire brigade, I was outside onlooking and one of the boss riders said:
"You know this estate has very stupid people. The other day they called in fire brigade because of a cat!"
You should have seen me nod in agreement before sliding away.
You should have seen me nod in agreement before sliding away.
And yes, I know. All this for a cat?
But that was who Cyrus Omondi was - people could count on him to step in. If it mattered to you it mattered to him.
And that is why my whole household voted for him.
May Cyrus Omondi rest in peace.
But that was who Cyrus Omondi was - people could count on him to step in. If it mattered to you it mattered to him.
And that is why my whole household voted for him.
May Cyrus Omondi rest in peace.
