Thread by @WanjikuRevolt

Musings... #CurfewKenya #EastleighLockdown

I was having a chat with a Somali brother who is locked down in Eastleigh earlier today and I got this epiphany that the curfew and #LockdownKE are not actually meant to control #COVID19KE... It's a cash cow!

That this is actually the usual colonial control tactic of subduing the natives similar to Alcoblow and traffic fines... pay cops poorly then set them free to extort their brothers and sisters... mothers...

#UshenziKE!

#EastleighLockdown

...Ensure cops are rewarded with "tea and mandazi" so that they don't join the rest of us in an uprising against their thieving employer but actually subjugate us through fear and extortion of bribes... while billions are looted by Muthamaki and his cabal...

#UshenziKE!

Here is his narration of life in Eastleigh under full lockdown and curfew...👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾

Business is down in the markets, traffic on foot is a trickle, shopping is limited to what's available in Eastleigh...

#EastleighLockdown

But then Eastleigh people are culturally hardy and don't seem to complain too much. Most of the complaining comes from Mathare which provides many services in Eastleigh.

#EastleighLockdown

@NPSOfficial_KE officers are however minting money! Openly. Actually, most Kenyans don't seem limited by the police roadblocks. The drill is known to everyone. The police are us, our sons and daughters. As greedy and careless as us.

#EastleighLockdown

As motivated by money as us. Those drinking 4 million tea and snacks in 30 days are us. And the Police are having their teas and snacks too.

In #EastleighLockdown, if you want to move out you do. 90% of Eastleigh residents have absolutely no reason to get out of Eastleigh.

This is a self-sustaining ecosystem with nearly everything in it. So long as fruits and vegetables arrive in the morning and pharmacies are open, they are fine, for a while. The worry is business decline.

#EastleighLockdown

Actually, more people are paying to come in than get out. For business. There's lots of cash here. Cleaning ladies survive decently, the boda boda guy smiles at the end of the day. Mama Mboga is happy... This place is heaven for the lower class in Kenya.

#EastleighLockdown

It is unadulterated by organized capitalism. Even the beggars here fare better than other areas! 😅

It is a different economy, not the type @njorogep of @CBKKenya CBK was taught in school.

#EastleighLockdown

The difference between Somalis and other cultures is that the idea of hustling is engrained in our existence from the day we are born. You are given a goat the day you are born. When you learn to talk, you already own a few goats...

#EastleighLockdown

...When you herd the goats to pasture, you are a stakeholder not a boy herding his parents' goats.

That culture comes to towns and you see boys just out of school selling clothes and electronics out of window shops. You gotta do something, you don't wait for anything.

By 19 years old fellows are getting married. If you can't find a stranger to partner with you, you marry your cousin & keep it in the family. Once family responsibility kicks in your pants are on fire. You can't play video games in your parents' sitting room.

#EastleighLockdown

In any case your father too has just brought home your former classmate as his umpteenth wife. She is expecting too, you are going to have another brother or sister you are responsible for.

Here jokes are on the jokers!

#EastleighLockdown