cc @byro
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In the late 80s after clearing high school I was a kanda ya moko in Githurai while waiting to go to college, Githurai was growing at a rapid pace na kazi zilikua kibao, mshahala ilikua 40 bob per day which was more than enough for a teenager who had no obligations, didn’t drink, didn’t smoke and was paying no rent, pesa yote ilikua yakununua nguo and the kaoccasional movie Kenya Cinema or 20th century, slices siku hizo zilikuaanga free na ata sikuzingine nilikua nalinga vile zilikua mob. One bag of cement was going for 85 bob and y12 53 bob. bei ya beer I think was less than 4 bob and bus fare to tao was 1 bob.
Siku moja tukikoroga gorofa hapo Kungsfarm @4makind you know the place, nikaambiwa naitwa na sis, alikua na an official looking letter na nikaifungua haraka haraka, the letter was from Kabete Technical Institute and I had 3 weeks to report, I showed the foreman the letter and demanded my days wages on the spot, my days kwa mjengo were over.
The days flew and in early September of 88 I found myself at the main gate of Kabete Tech. it had been a technical secondary school but the gava had decided to upgrade all technical schools to technical institutes. During admission I was glad to see a few familiar faces, former school mates who had also been called to the institute and knew I wouldn’t get bored, gradually after the tedious admission procedure (over 800 newbies were admitted) we were marched to the barracks as we came to call our dorms. The rest of the afternoon was spent touring and familiarizing ourselves with our new home. Hi siku ya kwanza hatukuenda super DH, we had bread and juice in our metal boxes.
Another thing I remember about day 1 is that I lost a bar of lifebuoy, after taking a shower I left my bar of soap kwa bafu vile nilikua nimezoea home, kurudi dorm ndio nikaulizwa sabuni iko wapi, I made a hasty about turn back to the bathroom na nikapata sabuni imemalaysia.
Day 2 after breakfast classes zikanza with breaks at 10am and 12:30 for lunch. Saa kumi we were all assembled at the field, we were informed that it was compulsory for one to join a club, all the normal sports disciplines were available as well as squash which I had only seen on tv. Well, I chose cross country coz of the opportunity of getting outside the gates during training, most people opted for football but meria has always been an armchair fan.
Two weeks later on a Saturday afternoon nilikua nime relax kwa bed nikisoma James Hardly Chase I was rudely disturbed by my bunkmate akanishow twende kwa boxing hall kuona watu wakipigana, haiya , eti boxing hall, kwani Kabete ni kubwa aje, I wondered. Well well well, indeed there was a boxing hall and it had a ring, it was my first time to see a ring, guys were busy sparing and punching the various bags that were hung all over. The hall was well equipped and there was more than enough groves for everyone. In the ring were two guys who were going after each other as if they were going to be paid after the fight. Boxing had been made popular by Mike Tyson whowas the world heavyweight undisputed champ and Robert Wangira Napunyi who had won a gold medal in the Olympics.
After gapping for 3 minutes we were told enough is enough, no spectators were allowed during training, we either walk out or put on boxing gear, I chose the latter while my friend walked out. (how I wish I had followed him)
