A house on construction in Thika, Kiambu. This is the life of a 'mjengo' worker in Njaanuary. [Photo:|Facebook/Thika Republic]It is 6am but it looks like 10am because the scorching Thika sun is already high in the sky to remind Paul Waruru, a construction worker from Kiganjo, that his day won't be that 'cool'.He starts to prepare for the challenging day ahead. He hurriedly prepares milkless tea which he accompanies with some 'ugali' leftovers. By 7am, Waruru is already on the road walking to his construction site at Makongeni Phase 14 where he must be by 8am on the dot. Otherwise, his slot will have already been taken by someone else 'who is interested in work'.By the time he arrives at the site, his ugali has been 'consumed' by the one-hour walk and Waruru will begin his strenuous job on almost an empty stomach. By 11am Waruru and the others like him, cannot take any more. They have started to slow down even before the sun is on top of the head because all their energy is spent. The 'mhindi' like foreman has started to notice this and is already barking at them like a mad dog.Fortunately, a porridge vendor comes hawking her 'uji' and 'chapos'. Waruru can't resist this. He has to 'refuel'. He orders for the big mug of 'uji' and two chapatis all worth Sh40. Waruru tells him 'kama kawa' (as usual). The vendor knows what Warui means. He will pay him at 5pm when he receives his day's wage.Waruru is now re-energized. He moves with speed to cover for the time lost while taking his unpaid porridge and 'chapos'. Otherwise, the foreman will deal with him at 5pm. Time drags and finally, lunchtime is here and 'mathe wa food' is on time. Waruru has one hour to eat and rest before resuming a marathon afternoon that will halt at sunset (5pm).Waruru is served with 'ugali mix' and asks for an avocado to accompany the meal. By the time Waruru is finished, Sh70 are down with him. 'Mathe wa food' knows how they do business here and doesn't need to be reminded. At 5pm she will be here to collect her cash! It is back to business, concrete machines start to roll and so is the barking foreman who had taken one hour off too to go and eat at a decent hotel around. The hot sun isn't sparing anyone. The afternoon seems to move a bit faster and finally, 5pm is here. Waruru and the rest are now washing the concrete off their bodies and the foreman is calling them in turns handing each Sh500.The food vendors, on the other hand, have arrived on time to get their share too. Waruru pays a total of Sh110 and is left with Sh390 which he has to budget for the skyrocketing unga, paraffin, milk for his 9-month-old toddler to name but a few. The maths ends in the negative and, therefore, Waruru has to go and talk nicely to the 'mzee wa duka' to allow him to at least take two items on credit, promising to pay tomorrow.At 8pm Waruru is used and spent and retires to bed ready to face the following day. Do not forget Waruru has a Bachelors in Architectural Engineering and the foreman dropped out of school at class 8. Life is unfair. Isn't it?
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