Dear mheshimiwa,
It was another six kilometre trek to work today; I mean ideally, in 28 degree temperatures so early in the morning, a bus or matatu would make so much more sense than this infernal walking but alas. The recent increases in fuel prices have been translated to the passengers indiscriminately and without padding from the powers that be, it has become an impossible expense so walking is the last resort. So yes it was another six kilometre track I was saying, but I mean with all due respect, you probably don't understand the concept of a hot and dusty walk; I know, I saw you as you drove by in your air conditioned gas guzzler that I believe I paid for at some point.
There was talk of retrenchment at the factory today but The Good Lord stood by our side and we survived the attempt. As we indulged in air burgers and water, we heard on the little transistor radio that you absconded a debate session again (despite having a seating bonus as incentive). Apparently the meeting at the Hilton was of much greater importance than the debate on the price regulation of basic foodstuffs and commodities.
Five o'clock comes by rather fast when you are working hard and the six kilometre trek in the sun and dust is on the cards again; seeing as there will be no regulation of prices of foodstuff it would be best to save up some extra coins so that the family will be fed before they sleep. The chit chat amongst fellow stragglers makes the trek seem shorter. You waved to your 'humble' constituents as you drove by in that air-conditioned tax-payer fuelled vehicle; made a real spectacle of it as well what with shouting 'tuko pamoja' to us . We still wonder if you know how hard a day we have had trying to earn some coin for the payment of rent and food debt accumulated from kiosk owners all over the neighbourhood; truly 'tuko pamoja' must have really changed in meaning since the last time I checked.
Dinner was the same old 'ugali na sukuma wiki' as it has been for the past few days; but you would not know about this now, seeing as you hosted another of those banquets for a bunch of other 'mheshimiwas' like you with what we paid you as salary for the last month. It's almost time to sleep now; and the usual sounds of the night are here to haunt us again. Howling dogs, drunken yobs staggering home, mugging victims yelling for help. So as the last line of defence, the dead bolts are fastened on the door and the bed slid in front of this. I don't expect you to know this, I mean with all those guards I pay for must be on duty at all times to make sure that your sleep is not interfered with.
The candle is almost done now so I must finish this letter. Yes candle (the cost of paraffin as it stands now is for the elite of this settlement we live in); seeing as that power company you assured me would be reliable has opted to ration my electricity yet again but their bills are always more than prompt and inflated. They should probably change their name to Kenyans Probably Love Candles as it would be more apt. Those and their cousins in the water department need to be flogged; seeing as we have to wake up at ungodly hours to get free flowing water. Perhaps its time you had that conversation you promised to have with them when you asked for my vote last time you were around here and promised to solve all our water problems. But I digress; of course you know nothing of a water shortage around here where we live.
The light shall soon be done, so I must bid you goodnight my mheshimiwa. Perhaps we shall meet on the road again tomorrow as I go to work and you to your office. Either way, tutaonana tu.
Yours sincerely,
That constituent you lied to..again...
It was another six kilometre trek to work today; I mean ideally, in 28 degree temperatures so early in the morning, a bus or matatu would make so much more sense than this infernal walking but alas. The recent increases in fuel prices have been translated to the passengers indiscriminately and without padding from the powers that be, it has become an impossible expense so walking is the last resort. So yes it was another six kilometre track I was saying, but I mean with all due respect, you probably don't understand the concept of a hot and dusty walk; I know, I saw you as you drove by in your air conditioned gas guzzler that I believe I paid for at some point.
There was talk of retrenchment at the factory today but The Good Lord stood by our side and we survived the attempt. As we indulged in air burgers and water, we heard on the little transistor radio that you absconded a debate session again (despite having a seating bonus as incentive). Apparently the meeting at the Hilton was of much greater importance than the debate on the price regulation of basic foodstuffs and commodities.
Five o'clock comes by rather fast when you are working hard and the six kilometre trek in the sun and dust is on the cards again; seeing as there will be no regulation of prices of foodstuff it would be best to save up some extra coins so that the family will be fed before they sleep. The chit chat amongst fellow stragglers makes the trek seem shorter. You waved to your 'humble' constituents as you drove by in that air-conditioned tax-payer fuelled vehicle; made a real spectacle of it as well what with shouting 'tuko pamoja' to us . We still wonder if you know how hard a day we have had trying to earn some coin for the payment of rent and food debt accumulated from kiosk owners all over the neighbourhood; truly 'tuko pamoja' must have really changed in meaning since the last time I checked.
Dinner was the same old 'ugali na sukuma wiki' as it has been for the past few days; but you would not know about this now, seeing as you hosted another of those banquets for a bunch of other 'mheshimiwas' like you with what we paid you as salary for the last month. It's almost time to sleep now; and the usual sounds of the night are here to haunt us again. Howling dogs, drunken yobs staggering home, mugging victims yelling for help. So as the last line of defence, the dead bolts are fastened on the door and the bed slid in front of this. I don't expect you to know this, I mean with all those guards I pay for must be on duty at all times to make sure that your sleep is not interfered with.
The candle is almost done now so I must finish this letter. Yes candle (the cost of paraffin as it stands now is for the elite of this settlement we live in); seeing as that power company you assured me would be reliable has opted to ration my electricity yet again but their bills are always more than prompt and inflated. They should probably change their name to Kenyans Probably Love Candles as it would be more apt. Those and their cousins in the water department need to be flogged; seeing as we have to wake up at ungodly hours to get free flowing water. Perhaps its time you had that conversation you promised to have with them when you asked for my vote last time you were around here and promised to solve all our water problems. But I digress; of course you know nothing of a water shortage around here where we live.
The light shall soon be done, so I must bid you goodnight my mheshimiwa. Perhaps we shall meet on the road again tomorrow as I go to work and you to your office. Either way, tutaonana tu.
Yours sincerely,
That constituent you lied to..again...
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