The day after in Nairobi

by Dr Suzy Kruhse-Mountbur
(Nairobi, Kenya)

Yesterday I went walking in all the places where the bombs happened the day before, and mingled with the crowds waiting for matatus, as everyone warned I shouldn’t.

And although the streets were dusty and muddy, the people were all nattily dressed, smiling and happy, as usual.That's my Kenyan's. They live with great faith, courage and tenacity.

That stroll reminded me why I live here.
And even after I was robbed AGAIN, just around the corner, I was still happy. (Rememer the story of the gold earring being stolen by the poor guy who was kicked to death for his trouble.) Well, I replaced the pair from Tuskies for 100 shilling , less than a $1 but cute, false gold with glass. “Nodody will ever think they are real gold Madam”, the shop boy had reassured me.

But he was wrong. At the end of our street, some character opened the clasp and whipped one off my ear in a flash. Amazing. I spun around but he had vaporized, and so missed out on his flogging from the crowd. I shouted and hope he heard me, "Lucky it's not gold", and walked on still smiling.