MERU DAILY

Picture of a Tenant Moving out of an apartment.  Photo/The Standard.  The Landlord Chronicles My friends, I’ve discovered that when life throws stress at some people, they reach for alcohol, pick unnecessary fights, or start pointless arguments. But not me. No, I turn to my faithful companion—digital ink. Writing is my therapy, my courtroom, and my evidence locker. Whatever happens, I document, so I never repeat the same mistakes twice. But today, my people, the joke is not on me. I am the injured party. The aggrieved soul. The innocent tenant wronged by a landlord so petty he could make a mosquito look like a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Let’s start at the beginning. Three months ago, I packed my humble belongings and waved a heartfelt goodbye to my former landlord, Mr. Mwenda—affectionately known as Baaba. May the gods of rental peace forever bless that man. In the two years I lived in his rentals, never once did he knock on my door with unnecessary drama. He minded his busines...

From Left: Collo (Event Coordinator) Ali (Mikocheni Captain) Mr. Kirema (guest from Nairobi) Bloko (Aquadel CEO) Mr.Koome (Petroleum and Fuel Business mogul) Mr. Mwenda (Mikocheni Chairman) and an Event Attendee. PHOTO/Felix Kinyua. Friends, I promised to keep it sporty today. Not because I suddenly joined ESPN, but because one wise elder at Kwa Cobbler Base pulled me aside and said: "Young man, your stories are so sweet, we feel like extras in a Hollywood blockbuster." Fair. So today, no dramatic violins. But let me confess—what went down on Saturday still deserves popcorn, vuvuzelas, and a standing ovation. --- Aquadel in the House Aquadel. Aquadel. Aquadel. ( Yes, I called them three times, because in African tradition, if you don’t repeat it thrice, it doesn’t carry weight). And honestly, these guys just refuse to act normal. This Saturday, Mikocheni Base had the rare honor of hosting two distinguished guests: Mr. Nicholas Koome, the petroleum and fuel mogul—arguably one...

  Street boys Popularly known as Chokora's playing Cards. Photo/Cargo the Chokora Movie. Ladies and gentlemen, loyal readers, frenemies, and those who just clicked here to confirm if I really said what I said—yes, I’m about to say it again: very few of you, if any, can match my life experience. Don’t fight me, fight your childhood. Now, before you ask why I’m not the president of this great republic, I’ll tell you: it’s not because of votes, scandals, or even haters—it’s the age limit. God and the Constitution are in an unholy alliance to keep me away from State House. For those who’ve read my memoir Roads Less Travelled: A Street Kid’s Memoir (dropping online October 9th—please clap), you already know I’ve lived several lifetimes. I was once a “Commando” on the streets, famously known as Chokora for three years, back when Nokia 3310s ruled the earth. Transformation? That’s my middle name. If you’ve gone from sniffing glue in Makutano to holding an M.A. degree, please see me—we co...

  From Left, Patrick, Allan (guest player from Nairobi), Bonnie and Tush. Photo/ Felix Kinyua . Ladies and Gentlemen, Allow me to start with a confession: we, the humble print journalists, are the most invisible celebrities in the media universe. We craft the stories you gossip about in matatus, sprinkle them in your boardroom debates, and spice up your WhatsApp groups—but do you know our faces? No. You only know our commas and quotation marks. And that, my friends, is why I find myself in spiritual alignment with Aquadel Drinking Water. They too do the heavy lifting, quenching thirsts from Mikocheni to Meru, yet walk around like unsung heroes. ---   The Challenge That Shook the Capital Last week, right here on this very blog, I dropped an open challenge to Nairobi’s Elite Team: a pool tournament, proudly powered—as always—by Aquadel. I dared them to respond or forever hold their cues. And lo and behold, they responded. Not with emojis, not with a polite “We’ll think about it,...

  Aquadel Representative awards one of the winners in the previous Tournament. Photo/Felix Kinyua.  Ladies and gentlemen, lovers of chalk dust and straight shots—welcome to yet another epic chapter in the Aquadel Spring Water Pool Tournament Saga. By now, you’ve surely heard the whispers. You’ve seen the posts. You’ve sipped the water. Aquadel has been busy—hydrating champions, nursing sore losers, and making sure every cue stick battle is worthy of the history books. First, there was Mikocheni’s base, where the tables shook and the crowd roared. Then Murugi’s, the mother of all tournaments, where cue sticks clashed under the watchful eye of Aquadel’s group Chairman Mr. Alex Muguna and the group’s CEO, Mr. Patrick Rungu —known in the streets (and possibly Interpol) as Bloko . Those were glorious days. But today? Friends, today we raise the stakes. Because this time… we’ve gone National. --- The Invitation: Nairobi, This One’s for You Now, allow us to turn our gaze toward the c...

A group of meru teachers choir that was position one in the Kimeru folk dance. Proceeding for Gala tomorrow at Meru School. Photo/Martin Muthuri.  Meru teachers are not just marking books — they’re marking dance steps too. And not just any steps. The Meru Teachers’ Choir has officially danced their way to the very top, scooping first place in the Folk Dance category at the ongoing Kenya Music Festivals National Finals , right here in Meru . The victory comes barely two years since the group was formed, and only on their second appearance at the nationals. Last year, they reached the finals in Eldoret , but this year they decided to carry the whole trophy home — literally. Their win also comes with an invite to tomorrow’s prestigious Gala at Meru School , where they’ll perform in front of none other than Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki . Talk about going from “staffroom practice” to State-level audience. But as group member Martin Muthuri reveals, this success was not just ...

A customer getting served at an Mpesa Shop. Photo/Getty images. Ladies and gentlemen, today I’m not here for my Makutano congregation. I know you love when I sprinkle a few shots at our local madness, but this Sunday, I’m stepping onto the national pulpit. Yes — loyal readers, silent screenshot senders, and secret haters who pretend not to read my work but can’t wait to DM me with, “Felloh, kwani nani huyo alikukosea?”— this sermon is for all of you. --- Today’s Topic: The Rot in the Service Industry I’m talking about transportation, Mpesa shop attendants, and — topping the list — bartenders and waiters. I will spare matatus because their disrespect is already a national heritage. If Kenya were to apply for UNESCO recognition, “Matatu Madness” would get listed right after “Nyama Choma and Kachumbari.” So, let’s focus on my top two offenders of the weekend: 1. Bartenders & waiters. 2. Mpesa shop attendants. --- When Kajembe Took Me Off the Reservation Normally, my weekends are spent...

Mikocheni Team making strategies ahead of Aquadel Sponsored Pool Tournament.  Photo/Felix Kinyua.  Hello again, my good people, Yes, I know what we agreed—I only post stories here on Wednesdays and Sundays, like a proper online preacher of truth and gossip. But sometimes a weekend hits you so hard, you can’t wait for Sunday. This past weekend was too hot to keep. It was loud, funny, sad, annoying—and full of drama. So, please forgive me today. I must talk. I must release this pressure. --- Mikocheni Defeated at Murugi Base Let’s start with the pool drama. Over the weekend, Mikocheni got humbled. Completely. The Kaithe-Kinoru team gave them a real beating at Murugi Base. It was not a simple loss—it was the kind that makes you stay silent in the matatu window for two hours. Now, I respect Mikocheni. But truth must be told. Saturday night, they were loud. Sunday? Nowhere to be seen. I went to check their usual base to hear their side of the story. Shock on me: Mikocheni was close...

  A Player takes a shot during the Aquadel Sponsored Pool Tournament at Murugi's Base, Kaithe-Kinoru, Meru. Photo/Felix Kinyua.  Ladies and gentlemen, Today, allow me to take a break from my usual sermons and sorrows. No complaints, no blame games, and definitely no advice to anyone owing Fuliza. Today, we celebrate . Because this past Saturday, Makutano and its neighbouring areas witnessed something so smooth, so well-planned, so enjoyable — even Murugi’s Base couldn't believe it. This was the second edition of the Aquadel Pool Tournament, and yes, my friends, this one was different. Very different. --- How We Got Here — A Fortnight Ago, in the Backstreets Now, if you’ve been following me (and I know most of you do, even silently), you remember I recently wrote about a man called Bloko, the CEO of Aquadel Drinking Water. Back then, we were just at our humble base in Mikocheni — same pool table, same squad, same arguments about who plays next. Then Bloko showed up, saw potent...