Lifes' files

  From Kisii, the road winds up and forth, across a panorama of green trees and sunbathed sheets of peasant homes, and beyond herds of livestock bellowing in their hundreds; alive and chewing cud. Further, Tegunot lies at the summit of hills and ranges with its nonchalant grace yet; Londiani lies west and is a vast jungle of brick and tarmac. Tegunot is at the edge of the hilltops flaunting the Western Mau. It is home to a deranged forest complex; a lush belt of eucalyptus, cypress and oak trees, brimming springs, and a robust peasant economy. The locals here farm corn, and cereals – and rear cows, goats, sheep, donkeys, and poultry. A cup of milk goes for a paltry ten shillings. It was in this sleepy village where he grew up and made his cut. Beyond the great mountain ranges, and the alleys that iterated below, a river snaked downstream from the tip of the Mau. It was in this river where, as a boy and in the company of his peers he swam, fetched water, and watered the animals. But...

  In matters Kenyan politics, Tinga is that brusque know-it-all bully in the school. Walks around with unkempt hair, rarely tucks in his shirt, hits out at everybody at the slightest or no provocation and never apologizes. He is, however, loved by his classroom majority for his indecent jokes about the school administration and for his enviable football skills. Everybody agrees he is an excellent footballer despite the fact that he has scored blanks in virtually all major interclass competitions. He has been the de facto captain and the “ever-fit” most reliable striker for his class but has never led them to a single trophy. He has shielded himself from ridicule by a surrounding himself with hangers on that form the school’s (read Tinga’s ) cheering squad. His teammates, since form one, have accused him of selfishness and gross violations of team ethics. He lacks the ability to work in a team, bosses everyone around and some even accuse him of using voodoo in the games. Now in for...