{"id":2126,"date":"2025-11-30T17:06:55","date_gmt":"2025-11-30T17:06:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/?p=2126"},"modified":"2026-01-23T10:25:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T10:25:37","slug":"you-cannot-come-to-kenya-and-not-take-a-matatu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/?p=2126","title":{"rendered":"You cannot come to Kenya and not take a Matatu"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2126\" class=\"elementor elementor-2126\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5710c4c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5710c4c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76125a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"76125a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div 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e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"218b8459\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a156724 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5a156724\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b2327fe elementor-widget elementor-widget-raven-site-logo\" data-id=\"4b2327fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"raven-site-logo.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-widget-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-site-logo\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"raven-site-logo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<picture><img alt=\"Florence Katono \" data-no-lazy=\"1\" src=' https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Logo-removebg-preview.png '><\/picture>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ce62c17 raven-nav-alignment-end elementor-widget__width-initial main-layout-horizontal pointer-none submenu-anim-fade raven-dropdown-stretch mobile-breakpoint-mobile raven-nav-menu-align-center submenu-position-bottom elementor-widget elementor-widget-raven-advanced-nav-menu\" data-id=\"5ce62c17\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;submenu_indicator&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;fas fa-angle-down&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;},&quot;full_width&quot;:&quot;stretch&quot;,&quot;mobile_layout&quot;:&quot;dropdown&quot;,&quot;submenu_opening_position&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"raven-advanced-nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Menu Toggle Button -->\n\t\t<div class=\"raven-adnav-menu-toggle\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-adnav-menu-toggle-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"toggle-button-custom\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-bars\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Main Menu -->\n\t\t<nav data-layout=\"horizontal\" class=\"raven-adnav-menu-main raven-adnav-menu-horizontal  \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-5ce62c17\" class=\"raven-adnav-menu\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"menu-item\" data-width_type=\"default\" data-submenu_pos=\"center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\" class=\"raven-link-item raven-menu-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-text\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tHome\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"menu-item\" data-width_type=\"default\" data-submenu_pos=\"center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/?page_id=33\/\" class=\"raven-link-item raven-menu-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-text\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tThis is me\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"menu-item\" data-width_type=\"default\" data-submenu_pos=\"center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/?page_id=41\/\" class=\"raven-link-item raven-menu-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-text\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tShort Stories\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"menu-item\" data-width_type=\"default\" data-submenu_pos=\"center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/?page_id=2072\/\" class=\"raven-link-item raven-menu-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-text\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tLets Connect\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Mobile Menu -->\n\t\t<nav data-layout=\"dropdown\" class=\"raven-adnav-menu-mobile raven-adnav-menu-dropdown \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-mobile-5ce62c17\" class=\"raven-adnav-menu\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"menu-item\" data-width_type=\"default\" data-submenu_pos=\"center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\" class=\"raven-link-item raven-menu-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-text\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tHome\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"menu-item\" data-width_type=\"default\" data-submenu_pos=\"center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/?page_id=33\/\" class=\"raven-link-item raven-menu-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-text\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tThis is me\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"menu-item\" data-width_type=\"default\" data-submenu_pos=\"center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/?page_id=41\/\" class=\"raven-link-item raven-menu-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-text\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tShort Stories\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"menu-item\" data-width_type=\"default\" data-submenu_pos=\"center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/?page_id=2072\/\" class=\"raven-link-item raven-menu-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-text\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"link-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tLets Connect\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4326532f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4326532f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ff592dd elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-raven-search-form\" data-id=\"2ff592dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_skin&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"raven-search-form.full\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<form class=\"raven-search-form raven-search-form-full\" method=\"get\" action=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/\" role=\"search\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-search-form-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span 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placeholder=\"Search...\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4592993b elementor-widget elementor-widget-raven-button\" data-id=\"4592993b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;turn_to_popup_action_button&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"raven-button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-widget-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"raven-button raven-button-widget-normal-effect-none elementor-button raven-button-text-align-center raven-button-link elementor-animation-none\" href=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/?page_id=2087\">\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-button-overlay\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"raven-button-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"button-text-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-button-texts-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"button-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"raven-button-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBooking\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18b4b9e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"18b4b9e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a781fe elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"7a781fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1b5951 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a1b5951\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3298c1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a3298c1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3f2889 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"f3f2889\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac258d9 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ac258d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"682\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-10-at-10.08.32-PM-682x1024.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2129\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-10-at-10.08.32-PM-682x1024.jpeg 682w, https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-10-at-10.08.32-PM-200x300.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-10-at-10.08.32-PM-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-10-at-10.08.32-PM.jpeg 853w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3283fc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f3283fc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-770e0c0 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"770e0c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">You cannot come to Kenya and not take a Matatu,\u201d<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27189ab elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"27189ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc4e6d3 elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bc4e6d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div dir=\"auto\">You cannot come to Kenya and not take a Matatu,\u201d Ojanji declared, laughing her most cynical laughter,\u00a0 the kind that made you feel both insulted and entertained at the same time.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">We had earlier agreed to take a Bolt to Kuzi, the plant shop in Karen. But the \u201cmaster planner\u201d my high-school friend and professional last-minute schemer, Ojanji had other ideas.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">The weather that Saturday morning was the most beautiful we had seen in Nairobi after days of rain that fell endlessly like\u00a0 brown-sugarless-millet-<wbr \/>porridge and left behind generous pools of murky water on Nairobi streets.\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Back in O\u2019level, I could never understand how someone could excel at complex things like Physics but struggle to cram small small things like Portuguese explorers and stalagmites, topics I found so easy.\u00a0 Ojanji could titrate complex chemistry mixtures and solve quadratic equations, yet pronounce names with a Swahili panache; Kah-nto-noh, Nah-sereh-Koh even after we had spent 4 years in Pink East.\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Walking with Ojanji and Steve my love after fori (we graduated from thari) through Nairobi\u2019s \u201cSibidi\u201d (as Kenyans fondly call their CBD) was pure joy. Ojanji&#8217;s descriptions of the Sibidi&#8217;s ancient buildings were vivid like the history lessons she once detested. Right from S.1, it was eminent that Ojanji would become a scientist.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1c00a88 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1c00a88\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c80f63b\" data-id=\"c80f63b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e2deba elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e2deba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div dir=\"auto\">At the Basilica, also her church, she narrated the Gen Z protest dramatizing events the way history teachers retold the Mau Mau rebellion as if they themselves had taken part.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Do not shoot!<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">This is the house of God!<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Please forgive them!\u201d<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">She flung her hands in the air, imitating priests pleading with soldiers not to fire at young protesters who had taken refuge in the house of God, the Basilica.\u00a0\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Meeting Kofi Anan<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u201cKantono, we need to find Kofi Anan.\u201d<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Not the Kofi Annan of the United Nations. No, this was Kofi Annan, the street photographer of Nairobi who wore his hair in shabby dreadlocks.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">The day before, Ojanji had promised to support his hustle by taking street photos. But the night caught up with us, and her promise hung in the air like that\u00a0 unfinished homework she waited to complete when Thelma our class monitress was collecting books. Now, hounded by her word, she was combing Nairobi\u2019s streets as if Kofi were hiding inside the camera lenses.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u201cHave you seen Kofi Anan?\u201d she asked random photographers, desperation creeping into her voice.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Finally, we found him, across the street, camera in hand, dreadlocks peeking out from under his black cap. I could see from his shy smile that Kofi was feeling very proud of himself. Word must have gotten to him that tourists were looking for him.\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5839911 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5839911\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div dir=\"auto\">He directed us like a film director on set:<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u201cStand like this.\u201d<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u201cHold her hand.\u201d<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u201cWalk towards me.\u201d<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u201cWalk like a boss!\u201d<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u201cThe coast is clear,\u201d Ojanji said and we burst out laughing, an old gal laughter. The cost is clear, the code we notoriously used for teenage mischief.\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Kofi clicked away, kakya kakya, his camera speaking the words that evaded his lips. By the time he was done, we had Nairobi frozen in frames, our laughter, our walk, our friendship.\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">If you are ever in Nairobi\u2019s Sibidi, look for Kofi Anan, the photographer. Help him build his own version of the General Assembly of Nairobi street photography.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">&#8220;Does friendship ever die Kantono? I have not seen you in years but see how happy we are&#8221; Ojanji said fondly. I had looked desperately for Ojanji because we separated unceremoniously. She went home for what seemed like a short visit and never returned. We had no home phones then and I only vaguely remembered tales of her hometown in Kenya. Where in Longata did she live? Where were her people? In 2020, I searched facebook as I had many times before until the lock down when her name appeared &#8220;Ojanji Christine&#8221;. I was thrilled and the rest as they say is good history. Alot has changed. Ojanji is now a mother of 2. She works in her home country, Kenya.\u00a0 Surprisingly, she still speaks Luganda. Alot may have changed for both of us but friendship remains. The coast is still clear. Hahahaha.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">The Bus Park<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">&#8220;Hold your bag tight. Hide your phone inside your bra.\u201d<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Those were Ojanji\u2019s new marching orders as we approached the chaotic bus park. Business was booming everywhere. Hawkers vending everything from books, seives to snacks, touts shouting destinations, and the smell of roasted maize and chapati outcompeting exhaust fumes.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">We jumped over puddles until we reached a brightly colored Matatu.<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f64ae8 image-hover-animation-zoom-in gallery-layout-grid content-visibility-visible content-layout-under-image video-preview-player sticky-filter-bar-false elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-raven-media-gallery\" data-id=\"2f64ae8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;image_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;zoom-in&quot;,&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInRight&quot;,&quot;content_layout_visible&quot;:&quot;under-image&quot;,&quot;all_filter&quot;:&quot;show&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"raven-media-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-media-gallery-wrapper\"><div class=\"raven-media-gallery-tab-contents\"><div data-raven-content-index=\"0\" class=\"content active\">\t\t<a class=\"gallery-item\" href=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-10-at-10.08.34-PM-1.jpeg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-2f64ae8\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"type-image\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"poster\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-10-at-10.08.34-PM-1-263x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"gallery-item\" href=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-10-at-10.08.34-PM.jpeg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-2f64ae8\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"type-image\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"poster\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-10-at-10.08.34-PM-300x224.jpeg\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"gallery-item\" href=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-10-at-10.08.34-PM-2.jpeg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-2f64ae8\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"type-image\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"poster\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-10-at-10.08.34-PM-2-249x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c8229b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c8229b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div dir=\"auto\">I clung to Steve for dear life as we followed Ojanji.\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Is this the next one? She asked a guy in Kiswahili. Ojanji speaks English and Luganda graciously but when she switches to Kiswahili, she sounds like a rap artist. Pa ta pa ta, naku change mind, tafadhali.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">The guy signaled us to enter the Matatu. We squeezed into the back row: Steve by the window, tilting his long legs, me in the middle, my hips squashed between Steve and Ojanji the mastermind.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">How did we end up in the bus park when we were looking for bolt? I was partly disappointed in myself for not seeing through her monkey tricks.\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Kantono\u2026 Kantono\u2026\u201d she mocked, her eyes folding into laughter. \u201cThis is much better, sindiyo? You cannot come to Khee-\u00f1ya and not take a Maa-taa-tu!\u201d<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Ojanji laughed the way she laughed many times at Mr.Mwesigye our Deputy Head teacher. He was very gullible and fell for all the tricks in the book.\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Why are you late, yanga lede?\u201d he would ask.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u201cMy period came, sir,\u201d we would say solemnly. (A period that came almost weekly.)<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">He would smile kindly and wave us off, unaware he had just been promoted to Ojanji\u2019s alarm clock. While the early birds rose like Kyomsa, Julie, Rachel, Nairuba, Ojanji stayed in bed reading novels until Mr. Mwesigye came to dorm holding a long stick. Only then did Ojanji rise and made a mad dash to the bathroom.\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Her motto was simple: no pressure, no action. One day she devised a plan:<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u201cLet\u2019s walk stealthily to the junction where Mr. Mwesigye stands guard. When we approach him, we turn towards the dorm. He will scold us to \u2018go back to class\u2019 which is exactly where we were going.\u201d<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">The plan worked every single time and we always laughed. That same mischievous laughter from high school echoed now in the Matatu.\u00a0 The laughter of a woman who thrives on last-minute magic and high adrenaline. She must enjoy the pressure of deadlines.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">How could I have fallen for tricks I had mastered for so many years? I sat there in silence watching passengers and reading quotes scribbled on the Matatu.\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">How long will it take for us to get Kuzi? Steve asked as if to ease the tension.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Finally, the driver started the engine when suddenly a young man walked into the Matatu. Squeeze squeeze, Ojanji instructed, her hips squashing mine like chapati dough. For a moment, I was breathing by osmosis through Steve who was lucky to have a window seat.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">The conductor started collecting the fare almost immediately. Our journey was 80 Kshs each which Ojanji paid on Mpesa joyful. &#8220;See only 80 Bob compared to 800 in Bolt.&#8221;<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Mathematics did not end with Mr. Ssemuju, the Maths teacher who used to pluck hair from scalps of students who failed Maths. She continues to navigate this world on equations and only makes choices if they are mathematically correct.\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">At the restaurant, I could see her doing mental maths until she made the declaration ,\u00a0 today we shall have Mukimo and Ugali her favourite. Soda and chicken will be for Sunday. We laughed because we knew that she eats Maths first before she eats food.<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e777b4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8e777b4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div dir=\"auto\">The Matatu stopped along Ngong Road to pick more passengers even though it was already full. I was reminded of Namumira-Kyetume commuter taxis during my childhood. Farmers boarded with their children, animals and produce. Chicken, and ducks feasted on our legs while pigs snorted on the roof top of the taxis. The smell was a mixture of fermented food, roasted shanti hair,\u00a0 children&#8217;s vomit and underwashed armpits. Then we all had to get out so that someone at the back could alight.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Even though filled beyond capacity, this matatu to Karen was different from the ones of Githurai and Longata. Those ones have hilarious quotes (public enemy)and images of musicians printed allover them. The ones to Githurai blasted music so loud that I could hear my heart pounding.The Police did nothing to stop the loud music. You did what Kenyans call vumilia (to endure).\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">At last, the driver yelled, \u201cHardy!\u201d<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">We jumped up because, as Ojanji warned, Matatus don\u2019t wait. \u201cWe don\u2019t have Uganda Nigina here,\u201d she said. \u201cYou alight fast or you alight through the window!\u201d<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">At Hardy the driver came to a brief stop and, we tumbled out laughing, we had made it out alive without breaking a bone.\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Finally, we were on our way to Kuzi, the plant and pottery paradise. The plant spirit was rising.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d6258cd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d6258cd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b3c02c elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"5b3c02c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\">\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1815\" class=\"elementor elementor-1815\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14d60d0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"14d60d0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b705f21 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5b705f21\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c52fae elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5c52fae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Logo-removebg-preview.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Logo-removebg-preview\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MjAwNSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2Zsb3JlbmNla2F0b25vLmNvbVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMTBcL0xvZ28tcmVtb3ZlYmctcHJldmlldy5wbmcifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"285\" height=\"236\" src=\"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Logo-removebg-preview.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2005\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72dea6b5 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"72dea6b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Words are my precious gift to you.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Thank you for being part of my story. <\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-17308f16 elementor-shape-rounded elementor-grid-0 e-grid-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-social-icons\" 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256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-twitter elementor-repeater-item-a705350\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-twitter\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 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All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You cannot come to Kenya and not take a Matatu,\u201d Ojanji declared, laughing her most cynical laughter,  the kind that made you feel both insulted and entertained at the same time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2127,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_canvas","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2126","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2126"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2278,"href":"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2126\/revisions\/2278"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2127"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/florencekatono.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}