MERU DAILY

Boda Boda Operators Waiting for Customers. There has been issues within Makutano after a New Sacco was allegedly registered in the area. Photo/NTSA. If there is one thing Makutano boda boda operators know very well, apart from shortcuts, traffic police moods and where to get tea at odd hours, it is their Saccos. Mention Cornerstone and almost everyone around Makutano knows what you are talking about. Mention Mark 5, Three Steers or Kinoru and riders can tell you where they operate, who belongs there and probably give you a brief history before you finish your tea. But apparently, somewhere along the way, a new Sacco entered the chat. And according to several boda boda operators and leaders who spoke about the matter, even the people expected to welcome it were left scratching their helmets. The controversy surrounds a newly formed boda boda Sacco in Makutano which, according to operators, came into existence roughly a month ago. Questions quickly emerged over its formation, certificate...

A view of the Beautiful Mati Road. Photo/Felix Kinyua. Ladies and gentlemen, I love technology. A lot. In fact, I work with technology almost every other day. I trust it. I defend it. I tell people technology is the future. But after what happened to me last weekend, I have reached a painful conclusion: Vitu zingine ni za wazungu tu. And today, my exhibit number one is Google Maps. You see, our now-infamous Mikocheni Base is more than just a place. It is a family. Apart from the occasional story za jaba, serious national debates that solve absolutely nothing, and other activities that cannot be properly documented for legal reasons, we also attend social gatherings together. So last weekend, one of our own, Mr. Boniface Mutuma, AKA Tush, was having his dowry negotiations ceremony somewhere in Mitunguu, roughly 50 kilometres from our beloved Mikocheni Base. Naturally, we had to show up. That afternoon, I confidently told my childhood friend Ali that I was not going to touch my jaba unti...

      An illustration of the modern day Relationships. Image/AI Generated.  A few days ago, I came across a WhatsApp exchange that forced me to put my phone down, drink water and reconsider everything I thought I knew about poverty. I have encountered broke people before. In Kenya, being broke is not exactly breaking news. It is practically a national weather condition. You can wake up financially stable on Monday, then by Wednesday a relative falls sick, school fees become urgent, your car develops a gearbox problem and the landlord sends that deceptively peaceful message: > “Good morning.” By Friday, your bank balance looks like the last three digits of a phone number. So being broke was not the issue. What shocked me was the confidence with which this particular poverty conducted itself. The lady in the conversation casually described herself as: > “Mh nae ni maskini jeuri.” A maskini jeuri. A stubborn poor woman. Broke, but unwilling to let insufficient fun...