JOHN THE ROBBER

“Tao mbao mbao!” (Town twenty bob!) , the matatu touts all screamed at the top of their voices in a bid to outdo each other.

I stood at the bus stop in the midst of the confusion that was loud deafening music and billows of smoke emanating from the matatus’ exhausts as the touts surrounded and cajoled me to board their vehicles. This is a scene that I have always hated to be in, but “I have to be smart” I thought to myself, “I need a conductor who looks friendly and honest.”

Scanning through their faces, I settled for one whom I thought seemed trustworthy because I had ‘big’ money and some of them are the worst characters I have ever met. No sooner had I sat down than the conductor  whom i latter learned his name is 'john the robber'stretched his hand for the money, I muttered something as I begrudgingly gave him the only money I had, a 1000 bob note. Anyway, that would give him enough time to look for change as I was alighting along the way. His reaction jerked me from my thought as he started throwing a tantrum because according to him, I had given him a large amount yet he lacked change.

My attempt to ask him why he did not have change yet being 8pm, he should have accumulated enough money since morning only served to fuel his anger. Seeing no need of exchanging words with him I decided to keep quiet, after all, he should look for change and give me back my balance. Having heard what was transpiring, the lady seated besides me offered to pay for me the 20 bob but I turned her down since I really needed loose change.

By this time I was approaching my destination and I reminded him that I needed the money because I was soon alighting, and that is when he pretended to be asking from the driver for change. I started smelling a rat because he did not seem to be in a hurry at all to give me back my money, yet we had already arrived at my destination as I proceeded to ask him for it as I alighted.  Having stepped down, after the driver stopped in the middle of the road, the conductor handed me some 50 bob notes and on counting them they only amounted to 200 bob! The shock on my face was paralyzing, I could not believe this guy, he was holding much more loose change in his hands but only gave me 200! As I was asking him for the rest of my money, the driver sped off in break neck speed while the conductor was busy hurling insults at me and claiming that he had given me the rest of the money earlier!

I was left totally dismayed, in the middle of the road, in the dark of the night and was so confused of what to do. I could not comprehend how I could pay fare of almost 800 bob for a distance that normally costs 20bob at that time! For a moment I thought of running after the matatu but on second thought that would not have solved my problem. It was just by sheer luck that I was not knocked  down by oncoming traffic, one thing I had remembered to do amidst all the drama was to memorize the number plate of the vehicle as it was speeding off.

It is then that I remembered that there was a police station in the neighbourhood and I headed there cursing under my breath and wishing all kinds of evil to befall them. On reaching the station, the Police Officers were reluctant to take my statement, apparently, they are used to such cases that they are no longer moved by such complaints. However, they just wrote it down as a formality and promised to follow up the next day though I could sense that there was nothing they were planning to do. I am still waiting for their call to this day.

That is how I paid the most expensive fare by matatu within Nairobi. I now walk around with enough loose change to get me through the day. Once bitten, twice shy!