THE RED RIBBON IV

AT THE HOSPITAL

“So, in any case you find yourself positive of the virus, you should know there are treatments that can be facilitated to help you get better. If you are negative of the virus, you should have yourself tested after three months and engage in protected sex by use of a condom.” Said Doctor Halima calmly.

In my thoughts, I kept thinking of what would happen if my results comes out positive. I almost refused taking the test, but my friends were boldly determined after having a rough month. Sandy, who had made us come to this point, had been falling sick time to time, he suggested for the test to confirm his doubts. Tony, on the other hand had his gravely fears about the matter while John just seemed confused.

Blood tests were done, we waited for the results. ‘Terrified!’ was the only verb in our minds as our hearts thumped to the rhythmic beats of the “Wamlambez” song playing in the background. Clouds of nervousness had formed inside us. No one whispered a word to another. We seemed total strangers at that moment. After ten minutes waiting, we were ushered in as we had promised ourselves to do it as a group and needed the results revealed to us at ago.

“Am sorry to say this..." she posed. We made eye contact to each other in disbelief. "Sandy, you are HIV positive...” She revealed. At that moment I just knew all of us were bound to be positive. I could see melancholic tears rolling down his cheeks, lost in himself but we had to show him that we were strong though the world was shattering for us. “The rest of you are safe for now, you tested negative.” She finished and left us. Light and ray of hope surfaced again for the three of us. Sandy by now couldn't even face us. He felt like an outsider but we were determined to help him through this. We checked out of the hospital after sorting his medication. No one uttered a single word through the journey till upon reaching his home. Sandy was in a sorry state, looking devastated. His life-everything about him seemed to be crumbling.

“How can I live with such a terrifying disease?” He asked between sobs. “Sandy this is not the end of life, we have you.” I replied. “Just let me think about it, you guys just go home.” He said as we reached at the door step of his apartment. We didn’t want to upset him-we left. That was the moment I realized why life has so many complains. That night, I received a message from Sandy...

From Sandy OG

Thanks for being a great friend to me, our friendship has been amazing, like family. I consider you guys as my brothers. This is the end of my life and I can’t let you guys live with me as a burden. Take care of each other. Brother, goodbye.

PHOTO | enwikipediaorg.com

                             END OF SEASON I | STAY LOCKED FOR SEASON II

BY BRIAN MRIRA

TWITTER: @brianmrira

FACEBOOK: Brian Mrira

WHATS AAP: +254 791 483235

E-MAIL: mrirabrian@gmail.com

SCRIPTED BY HOBSON MLATI

THE RED RIBBON III

Alcohol has proved to be the most efficient solution to a man’s problem, but then it can also lead to undesirable results! Unfortunately-Sandy, who had gone home with two of the ladies from the bar called us up in the morning to his home. We found him sited at the balcony smoking pot, he seemed a bit off and nervous. ‘This is a murder case.’ I thought. “Nini bro mbona umetuita vi-urgent hivyo?” John asked with a broken Nairobian sheng . After few moments of deadly silence, he gathered the nerves to talk. “Imagine those ladies we met last night are highschoolers, under 18 in fact wako form 2 and their parents are searching for them!”

I couldn’t bear listening to such terrible news thinking of what I had done to Betty. “Brother you had two under 18 girls at your apartment, drunk. You even had threesome and now you want to feel sorry for them? That’s not your fault.” Stated Tony. “Their parents are on their way here, we have to make something up like we found them on our way home.” We agreed to that plan though unstable, waiting for their parents to arrive at any uncalculated time. At the same time, Betty was sleeping warmly at my apartment. I didn't want to reveal to them that I went with Betty since this was turning out to be a big case. Unfortunately luck wasn't at arms length on my side. My phone rang just about two minutes to the arrival of their worried parents with the police. “Hello,” I responded in a whisper. “Hello, its Betty. I have to...” Then the line was cut!

So we had made all due preparations for the dissolvement party, at least I found a better name for it instead of just being a party. I really thought it was going to be hard having to let go of Jane who by this time had just accepted to come after a month of convincing her. “Do you remember the first time we met?” She asked. “I know, it was through a party like this. Who knew it would come to an end like this!” I stated. “I just hope you get a better, perfect matching wife. At least we are still beloved family, even though it would hurt seeing you with another woman but it’s fine. You just...” I couldn't let her finish, I cut her short with a kiss which she didn’t push me away,she enjoyed it with much pleasure.

PHOTO| huffspot.com

“Guys I have to go,” I said. “What!” John remarked. I was already tensed as I knew it was Betty who was calling. I picked up my car keys and left. Upon reaching home I couldn’t believe this was my house, all the furniture were turned upside down. It was a swollen mess. Just when I was reaching for my phone, Betty showed up trembling. I rushed towards her trying to check if she was fine. “Am so sorry” She said, looking disturbed. “No, if it’s a robbery am so sorry for leaving you here alone.” I tried to console her. “It’s not a robbery, I’m bipolar...” She said. I was totally confused since I had never been with a person with such a disorder. “When I am scared, I get aggressive,” She hesitated. “I’ll clear this mess.” She concluded. “What! I think I should just take you to your parents with the rest of your high school friends,” She looked at me with a sharp surprise. “How did you know? Please don't rat out on me, I’ll clear this mess and I’ll go” She begged.

I couldn’t clear that mess so I let her do it as I left in anger. I thought all this was happening to me maybe the gods had been angry with me for dating a relative. I just hoped I wouldn't have to rot in jail for such an issue. I picked up my phone, I called Sandy. “Hey man, how did it go?” I asked. “All is fine, they promised not to tell their parents on what happened last night, seems like they were on a school break. Actually the story is, they had no fare, so we are good,” He replied. All was not good, I thought of telling him I hooked up with a crazy cute looking girl but I just couldn't. I hang up the phone and hoped I would go home and find my house in its form and the girl gone!

                                                TO BE CONTINUED...

BY BRIAN MRIRA

TWITTER: @brianmrira

FACEBOOK: Brian Mrira

WHATS APP: +254 791 483235

EMAIL: mrirabrian@gmail.com

SCRIPTED BY HOBSON MLATI

THE RED RIBBON II

AT THE BAR

“Some things don’t last brother, true love is only in the states where there's…” Blurted  Tony. “Everything will fall in place, look at this place-those ladies. In fact that is college and campus girls’ spot.” John scuffed smiling. “I believe I shouldn’t be girly to cry about it, we got money and yeah, those girls, we will make it rain on them. We should not leave here alone.” I blurted determinedly. The four of us had become great friends since childhood. John the Information Technology Engineer, Sandy the Mechanical Engineer, Tony the Software Engineer and I the Electrical Engineer. Yeah you can say it, we all are engineers. We schooled at the same schools since kindergarten to university.

“Sandy, the ladies are in the building,” John shouted amidst the blurring loud noise of the reggae music that was playing on the background. “Thaa-nkgod fi di gal deem, eeeh,” John sung while reaching out for his 4 tusker lite beer, “So, are we going?” He asked, fixing his gaze at the three of us, I could see flecks of lights reflecting in his brown eyes. I was empty, nothing forthcoming in my mind, my tongue seemed cemented, not even a single word. I was like a wall clock with no battery. No honey words to use to woo those girls as it has been a while. “I think we should leave the table for the grieving man.” Sandy joked gazing at the campus girls who had  put weight on the dustless seats . “Wait, we should have a hatching plan.” I said. The trio gazed at me  laughing, “The plan is to buy drinks and keep them coming” Tony said as they started walking towards the pretty girls.

PHOTO| verywellmind.com

 I courageously joined my crew though I knew I was an empty shell.  We found ourselves in front of the ladies who put on lovely rejoicing smiles. “Ladies, can we join you?” I asked politely, convincingly, just by surprise. “What the... the fox has just risen!” John shouted looking at me. I could see the shock in them. They thought I wouldn’t utter a word but there I was, building courage, upgrading my game!

“Uhmm, are you lost! We are in the middle of a birthday party” One of the fine short ladies mumbled. Actually this was a go sign and I was ready to talk and convince them but Tony had a different plan. “Weh leta cider nane.” Tony ordered. The ladies seemed turned on already. I didn't know it was this easy since they offered to squeeze us in. Fortunately I was sited beside an African cute light skinned lady, fitting French blazer, dark chocolate jeans with sensible shoes, Oh my! Betty was her name.

“You seem a bit off,” she said warmly, “Your friends are really enjoying themselves while you seem lonely.” She concluded. “Yeah, shit happens sometimes and I’m in the middle of one.” I replied. She slowly sipped her drink from the high risen gold plated glass. Then, “I might help cheer you up...” she sipped again, placing her dark brown eyes weight on me-winking. “It’s a safe way though, you won’t have to jump off a bridge.” She joked. Actually this was the moment I realized I would have to use Tony's plan and spend some cash on this flesh campus girl. I could not take my eyes off her innocent beauty. I kept staring at the medallion hanging on her cleavage. I ordered her a glass of champagne as a signal to let her know I was interested to everything she was to suggest that night. “So where do you stay?” Betty asked, blushing. Before I could even answer, Betty's friend jumped into our conversation, “Hmm it’s not yet 4 A.M and you're thinking of going home? Anyway classes are over, you have fun.”

PHOTO| restaurants.accor.com

Sandy had these two girls who were already begging him to take them home. They disappeared one by one. I was left with drunk Betty, her eyes drowsy, she couldn't walk by herself. I tried to use her phone to call any of her friends to take her home but unfortunately I couldn’t bypass her phones' security code. The only option was to take her home with me.

                                      STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT EPISODE!

BY BRIAN MRIRA
TWITTER: @brianmrira
FACEBOOK: Brian Mrira
WHATS APP: +254 791 483235
EMAIL: mrirabrian@gmail.com

SCRIPTED BY HOBSON MLATI

THE RED RIBBON I

“Stop running I will shoot! I am not in the mood for cat and mouse game right now and don’t you dare test my patience…” She shouted at me, my heart started racing, thumping so hard, I could feel my small round brown eyes gorging out of its thick sockets. I wondered what wrong deed had I done to her to reach such a jail point. Click! The semi-automatic Ruger GP100 revolver gun cocked. I knew she meant business and not just any business but serious business. At a gun point, I stood motionless like a sheep in the stare of a python. I raised my hands, surrendering after gaining senses. “Betty, that gun is loaded, lower it down, please don’t shoot, I can explain...” I mumbled under my breathe “Ooh! So you now want to explain yourself huh!” Sobbing. “After three years you want to... Goood why did you give me such a horrible man!” Before she could utter anymore I tried to find my words. “No listen Betty, I am the perfect man for you.” I started walking towards her putting on a romantic touch to ease and distract her. "You know I could not do such a thing to you, i… i… i… it’s a s… s… siin" I tried to defend myself. “Wow! Now it’s a ‘SIN’ and who told you to move! You know I will just shoot your loins and end your game!” Boom! Gun shots...

PHOTO| google.com

At last I was home and couldn’t wait to spit out what was in my heart. “Mommy, I came all the way to tell you…” She interrupted, “Please don’t tell me you got that girl pregnant! I won’t accept that child.” She stood up and went to the kitchen. We didn’t talk for the rest of the day until dad came home from tendering the cows and goats. At his 54, his hair was turning grey at his sides. “My son, I thought you’d be calling today and arriving tomorrow not coming today without a phone call!” He joked. We hugged, both consumed in joy until… “Kwaghesha wacha binana!” (You think he came back safe!)… Mommy blurted out. I could see the disappointment in my father’s eyes, but it would have been meaningless travelling all the way and not convincing them to liking this particular girl.

“Actually, she is not pregnant. She is my cousin.” My mum’s face was filled with surprise but my dad seemed calm, he already knew about it since when I went to meet Jane’s parents, I found out that my aunt was my mother-in-law!, and they contacted him to inform him of the revelations. As it was due custom, when a man has relationship with his cousin or relative, the two families had to meet and discuss the matter. Rituals had to be done to appease the gods and ancestors to avoid falling into a curse. We had discuss the matter earlier with my ex-fiance, Jane and had come to a conclusion to talk it out. “So, do we have to conduct rituals?” Mommy asked. “We are just going to have a normal ceremony, fortunately we do have cows.” Dad answered as he thumped on the ugali-samaki.

PHOTO| alamy.com

                                                  TO BE CONTINUED...

BY BRIAN MRIRA
TWITTER: @brianmrira

FACEBOOK: Brian Mrira

WHATS APP: +254 791483235

EMAIL: mrirabrian@gmail.com

SCRIPTED BY HOBSON MLATI

DON'T MISS OUT THE NEXT EPISODE, STAY TUNED!

THE STANDARD GAUGE RAILWAY (SGR) A MENACE TO THE MOMBASA ECONOMY

PHOTO| www.standardmedia.co.ke

The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is a Kenyan railway connecting the great Indian Ocean from Mombasa County to Nairobi County. SGR runs parallel to the narrow – gauge Uganda Railway that was completed in 1901 under the British Colonial Rule. Though the SGR is modernized and of high class compared to the narrow – gauge Uganda Railway, it is like a two sided sword which cuts from both sides and it is due to this that it has been a menace to the Mombasa economy.

Studies show that long – distance trucks and transport related businesses such as fueling and service station were mostly affected by the SGR. Over eight thousand people directly employed in the Container Freight Stations (CFSs) as truck drivers, clearing and forwarding agents and suppliers are staring at possible losses while 60% of employees working in the CFSs were sacked.

PHOTO| www.nation.co.ke

In the past one year, 2,987 employees working in the CFSs, trucks and fuel stations have been laid off due to the introduction of SGR freight trains and the order by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) that all imported cargo from the port of Mombasa to Nairobi and other hinterlands be transported by the SGR.

Due to employees being sacked from CFSs and the transport sector, it led to the increased cases of house rent defaulters and also increased cases of physiological related issues and break up of societal bonds especially to the high rate of job loss and unemployment among youth which has led to the experienced perennial insecurity problems in the county.

PHOTO| www.standardmedia.co.ke

With this, it is evident that the SGR brought more harm than good to the Mombasa economy especially to those working at the port and CFSs since they were greatly and directly affected.

BY BRIAN MRIRA

TWITTER: @brianmrira
FACEBOOK: Brian Mrira
WHATSAPP: +254 791483235
EMAIL: mrirabrian@gmail.com

CORONA, A JOKE TO KENYANS!

Coronavirus, the deadly virus which causes COVID-19 disease has been claiming lives all over the globe in the affected countries. There is neither a vaccine nor a specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat the disease. Coronavirus originated all the way from Wuhan, China to different parts of the continents around the globe. Since it is a contagious disease spread via human to human contact, it has spread very fast to different parts of the countries and Kenyans are living on the verge of being infected.

Though most Kenyans are living in fear of being infected with the disease because flights to different parts of the countries have not yet been banned thus still allowing foreigners in the country, some see this as a mere joke. Ironically, instead of living in fear and taking precautions over the deadly disease, they all take it as fun by making memes and giving sarcastic comments over the social media.

It seems that most Kenyans careless about the disease invading into their country. This was evident especially after the plane from China which landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi with at least 239 passengers. While others were criticizing the government on the measures it was taking to prevent the disease from getting into the country, some were mocking it by making and spreading funny memes not forgetting the sarcastic comments in the internet. Not only pictures and comments were made but also videos and songs were recorded concerning the coronavirus.

No matter how fun or sarcastic the memes are, to some they are offensive because they feel that people are being racists since the memes mostly attack the Chinese and this does not please them. Those who are not pleased with the memes see the ones making and spreading them as psychopaths who do not know what they are doing but all in all the disease is real and despite making jokes out of it, people need to be courteous and alert!

BY BRIAN MRIRA

Twitter@brianmrira

Facebook Brian Mrira

WhatsApp+254 791483235

LIFE THE CAMPUS WAY

I vividly and visibly remember that day as if it was just yesterday! The day when my feet stepped into that gate, the massive gate of Technical University of Mombasa where I was to spend my life for two and a half years. The receptionist directed me to my respective department. Though I wasn’t familiar with the environment, I somehow found my way through. I met a security guard at the entrance who directed me to the office the moment he realized I was a new student.

In the office I was welcomed by a warm smile from a middle aged woman whom I later came to realize that she was the C.O.D of the Communication Studies department. She cordially handed me the timetable and escorted me to my class. The lecturer wasn’t in class yet so it was the strange faces I saw which welcomed me. I don’t know if it was about the window or my instinct that drove me to that short guy who became my ally till to date. He was so talkative and fun, maybe that is what made me cling onto to him like a tick on a cow’s skin. He was the first friend I made in campus.

Life became interesting and full of fun as days went by. I made new friends both in class and outside the class. I also met some of my high school buddies who made life even more easier for me. Life wasn’t just full of fun and games but also tiresome with full of long night assignments, less sleep, early mornings lectures and endless projects. After all that is what had taken me to school so it didn’t bother me so much keeping in mind that it was the only way to get my diploma when I graduate.

Too much work without play makes Jack a dull boy. Since I am an artist by nature, and when I say an ‘artist’ I mean everything that revolves around art, I joined the school drama club as an active member since acting and poetry are what I do best in life because they run in my veins. Apart from the drama club, I also participated in other school activities such as the ‘Cultural Week’ which is done annually. It is because of the cultural week activity which made me realize that there were associations for every community in the school and thus I also made new acquaintances from those of my community through this activity. Each community in the institution is given an opportunity to showcase its diverse culture during this week and it is also the week where we get to know the “MR. and MRS. TUM”

Photo taken during the 2019 TUM Cultural Week Festival

Life in TUM has been worth living and I can’t keep calm when I know there comes a date that will blur our visions especially from all those that I have shared a class with, a family bonded by grades and love, supported by our academic father Mr. Sagala, academic mother Madam Eve and academic brother Mr. Billy who were more than just lecturers to us. The date that we would all sit for our final exam and part ways thereafter, each one of us back to their homes. I surely can’t bear parting ways with such a family but what gives me more hope is that on the graduation day, we will meet again. The smiles on our faces will outshine the sun, laughter and celebrations will fill the atmosphere.

BY: BRIAN MRIRA

@brianmrira