The phrase’ you should know people’ became synonymous with the Kenyans after Nancy Baraza, the former deputy chief justice back in 2012, had an encounter with a security guard at Village Market in Nairobi where it was reported that she brandished a gun after refusing her bag to be checked by a female guard.
It is a phrase that is now used loosely and jokingly among Kenyans in several instances such as when one has accomplished a task that required going through various channels after others tried and failed in vain.
For those who are employed in Nakuru, it is important to know people who you will come to deem as important as they will help you out when you are broke.
Some of those who Nakuru people should know are;
1) Mama mboga and mtu wa duka
Mama mboga and mtu wa duka will save you when you go broke as they will lend you household stuff such as tomatoes, potatoes, cooking fat, maize flour, sugar and rice. All you need is a good rapport and mama mboga and mtu wa duka will add you in his/ her page of kitabu ya deni. It is also wise for you to have their mobile phone numbers and especially mama mbogas in case you get to the house late so that you can ask her to katakatia you mboga za mbao or 40 bob, which she will gladly do. This will make your work cooking supper easier when you get to the house. However, you have to repay the debt at the end of the month or when you promise to ensure that they don’t close shop or they don’t blacklist you.
2) Mtu wa nduthi/bodaboda
This person will be your saving grace in case you are broke or you need to rush somewhere in a hurry. All you need to do is to have their number so that you can call them when the need arises. You can also send them to fetch if need be or to take money to the bank, to a family member or friend. It is also convenient especially for the Nakuru ladies to know such people as you can trust them to take you home safely especially at night.
3) A friend who has a car
This friend comes in handy especially when you need to be taken to hospital at night or during ruracio (paying dowry.) For the case of young men in Nakuru, this friend can help you with his car in case you need to woo a lady so that she can ingia box. Woe unto you if she comes to find out that the car is not yours. The worst case scenario is that she might leave you so as to hook up with the owner of the car. In other instances, this friend might come in handy when you need to borrow his car to go somewhere as you will avoid car hire charges and all you will be required to do is to fuel it at your own cost.
4) A friend (s)/ person to bail you out financially
At some point in a person’s life, one may end up being broke or lacking enough money. Nakuru people must have that person/people who will always bail them out financially. The financial help may or may not be repaid according to the agreement made. This person should be one that you can trust, especially for the ladies to avoid being told to repay it back. Just to be on the safe side, this person should most preferably be a family member. However, this person is not to be misused/one should not turn to this person every time they require money when they are broke i.e. when you are broke and you need airtime. Let’s just say this person should be a lender of the last resort. One should look for ways and means of solving the financial problem before turning to this person.
5) Dame wa salon
All ladies including Nakuru ladies strive to make their hair look good. They spend countless hours at the saloon to have that hairstyle that they saw on a magazine or television or on a friend that they thought will make them look good. However, at some point, one may become broke and may still want to look good. ‘Dame wa Saloon ‘will come in handy as she will make your hair without money which you have to promise to pay her back as soon as possible.
6) Jamaa wa nguo
These are mostly guys who sell mitumba (1st camera clothes.) Theses are clothes that are unique and cheaper than clothes that are in a boutique. Most Nakuru ladies also love to avoid what has come to be known as ‘Kenya Uniform’ which are fashionable clothes that sold in boutiques with the same design, colour etc. This person will also give you the clothes even if you don’t have a coin and in addition, they agree to collect the money later. For security purposes, most of them ensure that they know where you work so that you do not ponyoka with their money.
This are just but a few people that you should know in case you live in Nakuru as you do not know when you will need them most.