Kenyans walking in the streets of Nairobi City.They are known for some of the most creative lies.[Photo/Dr Phelan]
Kenyans are a good and kind lot but very creatively cunning at the same time.They can use cleverly crafted lies to get their way in almost every situation.Similar lies can be used in a bid to get away unhurt in other scenarios.
However,this is not a characteristic to all of them as there are always a different type of individuals.
Here are the 4 lies ussualy used by Kenyans in their day to day lives.
Haki sina pesa
Very few Kenyans admit that they have the most sought after resource maybe due to the ever growing cost of living or just mere selfishness.This knows no boundaries as it is common to hear even a person who has just stepped out of an ATM with a bulging wallet and an almost collapsing shirt pocket and headed towards a brand new Range Rover Sport saying the same thing even though every other thing about them is suggesting otherwise.
Ndio huyu mimi hapa nimefika
On most occasion the perpetrator is wasting someone's time and patience somewhere and the phrase is meant to console the victim by raising their hopes that they are almost at the meeting point despite still being 2 kilometres away.The victims usualy fall for the lie not knowing that they are in for even more minutes if not hours of waiting.
Further enquiries to follow up ''penye amefika'' are usualy met by the 'Kua mpole' reply mostly common among the male side of the Kenyan population.
Dakika moja tu
Very common among fundis who have been caught hands down by their clients after spending an eternity with their spoiled electrical gadgets or furniture without bothering to look into them or are yet to finalize on them.Also used by 'mtu wangu wa bodabodas' who have been phoned for a job by their regular customers but cannot let the oppotunity slip away despite being 5 kilometres away running a similar errand.
They will show up hours later when the client is already late saying 'nilikua tu hapa stage'.
He was a very good person
Used during funerals.The dead person finds themselves on the receiving end with all the present mourners showering them with praises and telling how caring and loving they were.The worst part is that everybody keeps silent yet they know that they were the complete opposite during their breathing days.
Everybody knows that the departed was a deadly criminal who met his death after being shot dead by the police after a botched robbery attempt but at this point,the 'last respect' is of essence with others fearing to be 'haunted' should they go the opposition direction.
They fear that the dead will 'chieno' them as our Luo brothers and sisters put it.'Omera ibiro chieni'(Hey you will be haunted).