have been swerving potholes and drunkards on these roads for the last ten years and witnessed scenes etched forever in my memory. Last night a girl fell flat on her face and managed to laugh as she picked herself up and left her dignity in the puddles. She straightened her muddied dress and tried to balance on unbelievably high heels. She looked like those newborn giraffe calves learning to walk and you had to admire her ambition. I’m sitting in traffic, drumming to Ken wa Maria and chuckle when I get flashbacks of these funny incidents. Many customers using the EasyTaxi app means that I get jobs regularly and nearby my parking spot. It’s a win-win situation. It hasn’t stopped the strange happenings on these streets though.
Considering the glimpses of alcohol induced insanity I have seen, you can imagine my delight when I was called to pick up my ultimate hero, none other than Honorable Mututho. I felt the tears well up as I tried to conjure a greeting as he entered the vehicle, but all that came out was a quivering “H-h-a-a-bar-i,” I coughed and tried to get a hold of myself. I immediately commended him on his superb work and spent most of the ride listing to him the incidents of alcohol abuse I had witnessed. I can remember trying to count the furrows on his forehead from the rear-view mirror as he spoke with so much zeal against alcohol that I thought he partook in something else. We immediately bonded. “We won’t stop. I am here to implement the law.” This was a man after my own heart. “Keep it up Afande” I told him when he stepped out. I should have taken a photograph!
This series is sponsored by EasyTaxi and gives an insight on the quandaries, adventures and encounters experienced by taxi drivers on a daily basis.
Started in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2012, EasyTaxi is the world’s largest taxi booking app and is now available in Nairobi, Kenya! EasyTaxi redefines the taxi experience by helping passengers find a ride in a safe, convenient, and fast manner with just a touch of your smartphone! Find a taxi the easy way with EasyTaxi.
The EasyTaxi app is available for FREE on all android, iphone, and windows phone devices – just search for “EasyTaxi”. Download today! For more information, please visit facebook.com/EasyTaxi254
http://www.upnairobi.com/dt_portfolio/diary-of-a-kenyan-taxi-driver/
