#9- Riveroad industrialists

It’s one the most celebrated streets in Nairobi, home to unimaginable innovations and a den of the most cunning antics of all time. This is where backstreet inventions meet real-life applications. Nairoberry aint a trait of this mushrooming economy but the heart and core of its working model. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Nairo-berry a product of Nai-roberry; thus we coin Nairoberry.

A stroll in the beehive streets of this area betrays its entrepreneurial clout. From retailers, wholesalers to the inventors and manufacturers all under same roof. It’s a place full of garages, hardware and spare-parts outlets to car-parts manufacturers. Like the legendary European remark: “Need anything, ask the Germans.” In Nairobi, need anything? Ask the Riveroad gurus.

Once in this hub of the town, German automakers are given a run for their money. Need a piston? Brake pads? Well, no need for custom duties, these guys can fabricate an identical part. To sweeten the deal, their parts are exclusively cheap, durable and come with a ‘one year warranty.’ Unlike their exorbitant exotic counterparts from the other end of town! Their slogan? You invent, we revamp; we’re the masters of your inventions.

The artisans of their art, have little to worry about. They need little from their model operations. They have software engineers, video-editors mechanics…anything you can think of. Theirs is a perfect blueprint of operation. “It’s always side that the cheapest things in this city are found in that side of town, even for a quickie,” people always joke about it. “The most durable things in this town are found here, even prostitutes?” I can’t stop wondering.

Are you an upcoming artist, need a cheap recording studio? A broke engineer who has a bright invention but needs it actualized? A 19yr kid who needs an ‘original’ certificate with bright grades? Riveroad is the road to walk. They all come in droves, even farmers from deep rural parts of Kenya. Donning a map, a times they come, all in such of this elusive Riveroad.

Ps; I almost forgot to mention that these Kenyan-made artisans have not been left behind on the social media platform, they have twitter handles; #riveroad and also a Facebook page…numerous I can’t list them. To crown it all, also websites.

The masters of their brains, the artisans of their art, and the dancers to their own tunes are here to stay. Inventions that no one can think of, creativity that’s unheard of. The river-road ‘dons’ are a class above. Hail to the #riveroad_industrialists.

LONER

Ever wondered what really makes the loner tick?  The springs that nourish their fountain of life? Take a look at this!

As a flock of sheep graze,

One of them alienates itself.

And grazes a distance from others.

As if in search of self-identity

What a beauty it is!

To watch it graze gracefully.

Completely oblivious of its surroundings,

But grace and peace epitomized

It’s bleating oozing satisfaction,

For it’s a being momentarily in perfection.

A sight exhibiting tranquility,

If not a form of spirituality.

With its occasional raising of head and bleating,

One is left in utter mesmeration.

Might it be talking with the winds?

Might it be talking with the trees?

Tranquility epitomized in solitude,

Is the best way to put it.

A body in peaceful solitude,

Glows and radiates abject tranquility

Solitude is a fresh spring,

That waters solitary vines.

Solitary souls nourish and flourish,

From its rich inspiration and fascination.

by phiny

 

NAIROBERRY #10: THE REAL-ESTATE AGENT

view of the city

Everyone seems to be in a traditional gait of hurrying somewhere this part of the world. Streets filled to the brim and everyone oblivious of their environment. The city is a beehive of activity where ‘man for himself’ adage seems to be the norm of the day. It’s Nairobi, the greatest economy in East Africa. Where all types of income generating tasks are dully accepted by the society.

Rea- estate’s sector in this part of the world is a booming industry. Everyone can’t help but scramble for a piece of the pie. With classifieds all over the local dailies, it’s not hard to see an investment opportunity once it arises. May be you can also see them online via the social networks like Facebook, twitter and blogs.  Having contacted the agents and arranged a meeting you just sit and relax, ready to make a move to property ownership.

As you walk up the steps into the offices of ‘Kamau real-estate managers and agents’ you can’t help but realize the humble furniture of a multimillion real-estates agency. “This is our office, feel free to pop in anytime. We’ve arranged for a viewing of the property.’’ In a few minutes time, you’re off to view a half an acre piece plot that is available on the cheap.

 The property on sale has a sign post erected on it reading, ‘this land is not for sale’. “That board is erected there because we don’t want cons selling this property of ours. Nairobi has become a den sprawling with them lately, but you can be free to check ownership with the local authorities if you don’t trust us.” The agent says with a smile on his face.

Checking with the authorities the land is proved to be theirs hence you make the payments. Trouble begins when it time to develop the property, court junctions fly into your face. Anti-fraud investigators come after your ass. Then you realize you’ve been duped.

The people in council offices had been bribed to temporarily change the lands registry, and the office that you visited existed virtually not technically. A revisit to ‘Kamau real-estate managers and agents’ offices you’re shuddered, a kinyozi which doubles up as a salon is what you see. Your real estate agent is nowhere in sight. Welcome to Nairoberry ladies and gents.

FEAR OF UNKNOWN

It’s a sunny afternoon, gloom and doom seem to be inscribed all over. My sullen face and irritated mood are nothing but a testament of my disgruntled being. It’s my first day in high school; ‘where boys are made to men’. Weird stories have always ran on the molesting that usually takes place in Kenyan schools. And here I am, a tiny boy ready to walk into the sea of students, some with overgrown beards who I can only hope they aren’t my father’s age. “Am I going to be singing someone a lullaby for the night? Am I going to be cleaning someone’s rugby socks? Am I …”

“Listen to me son. Your hands tremble from fear, I’m certain your whole being withers from it. Fear of the unknown will always be there. The question is, will you be able to fight the course? Both the young and the old, have that fear of uncertainty. Will I succeed? What if I fail? What if this or that happens? What if the deal doesn’t go through? What if she rejects me? What if I make a loss? What if ….

Truth is, you’ve to take the bull by its horns. You’ve to make several decisions in life, which may either fail or succeed. But the most important thing is to learn. Learn the rules of even the most basic things you have to partake. For in knowledge lies baits of wisdom. Let each failure be a learning point and not a cause to panic.

You have to learn the rules of the game and then you have to play better than anyone else.                                  -Albert Einstein.

Learn the rules you have to, then play better than everyone else or adapt them to your own suitability. Play by the rules but better than the best in the game’’

If you live in fear of the future because of what happened in your past, you’ll end up losing what you have in your present.- Anonymous

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid but he who conquers that fear. –Nelson Mandela  

 @lessonsfrommyfather#2

BIRTH OF NAIROBERRY

From a liberals point of view:

It’s one of the DE-facto economies in Africa, a technological hub and the foreign investors’ darling in this parts of the world. It’s Nairobi, the ‘silicon savanna’ of Africa. A city full of booming businesses, home to multinationals and mother to inventions like the MPESA. Glamor, fame and competition are embedded within the town’s traits. But, behind all these, lies the ugly face of adversity in third world countries. People in this part barely survive. Oh! Did I say people? Most people survive! Hence the birth of Nairobbery.

From the street urchins who go great depths to extort you money, to the fraudsters rotting away in Kamiti Maximum Prison but minting millions. A trait embedded in our genes; always make that cash no matter the means. After all, the end justifies the means. From computer hackers, pirates, and brokers to the modern day imposters. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Nairobi home to Nairobbery.

In a series of articles dubbed Nairoberry, I’m going to bring you the typical dangers that lie in the murky waters of this city. The fears that hang on walls of the most dingy streets in Africa, the phobia in some of the most ruthless slums and the great ‘inventions’ that leave nairoberry victims impressed. It’s a modern day hustle, all in a bid to support  ‘the Kenyan dream’

Step by step, we’re going to give you an expose` of the modern day fraud tricks. From the simplest to the complex. From just mere stealing, to some of the biggest multibillion fraud scandals in silicon savanna. From local shops robberies to forex doctoring in the central bank. It’s in this part of the world where the government is given a run for its money in tax collection by gangs, fancy that!