Thieves within CBD keep on inventing new styles of robbing people. Slightly less than a year ago, I was almost robbed inside Jeevanjee Gardens. At that time, the CBD was deserted following the widespread COVID-19 fears. The first case had been announced in Kenya a month earlier.
Businesses had closed, people had panic-shopped, and locked themselves in their houses. A curfew had been announced. Nairobi CBD was very deserted. On this day, I went to meet someone in town. Whoever I was meeting ran late. I had to wait for him.
I walked to Jeevanjee Gardens to wait for him. Like the rest of the CBD, Jeevanjee Gardens was deserted. Most of the benches were empty. While sitting, a man, frail and dressed in an oversized suit, walked towards my bench. I was alarmed.
I wondered why he ignored the empty benches in the garden for the one I was occupying. I stopped using my phone and hid it inside the backpack that I was carrying. Why was he walking to my bench at a time when everyone adhered strictly to the 2-meter social distancing rule?
He sat at the far end of the bench. He seemed harmless until he started coughing, rough coughs. I moved a distance from him to sit on the other edge. People who coughed at that time were treated like the Biblical leprosy patients.
Unexpectedly, he turned to my side and side, 'bro, nipee 200 sai ama nikukoholee kwa mapua.' At first, I ignored his threats. Why would someone threaten to cough close to me if I didn't give him 200?
He raised his voice and said, 'bro, nimesema nipee 200 sai .
He raised his voice and said, 'bro, nimesema nipee 200 sai .
Ama nikuje nikukoholee kwa mapua pia wewe upate Corona kaa mimi,' his coughing intensified. When I ignored him for the second time, he pulled his mask off and stood to walk in my direction. I think I have never flown out of a place with such a speed like on that day.
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