Arrested

 I am on holiday in Kenya. I have to wonder why I'm being arrested here for nothing. Here is the whole story. I went to Mombasa because everyone here raves about this city. My first impression was not very positive. I saw a lot of sex tourists, old white men with young black women. I was ashamed, I have to say. OK, I went to the beach to have fun in the Indian Ocean. So I went to a public beach. At the beginning of this beach there were young men and they all wanted something. I ignored them and wanted to go to the sea, which was about 100m away. On the way there, the police called me to come to them. I went there. They were sitting at a small house and talking. A lady said to me that I was under arrest. Why, I asked. She said because I tried to go on a closed beach. How was I to know that? I was told that it would be written on a board. I didn't see one. I meant, yesterday I was also on the beach and there were a lot of people. That was another state, kilifi and now I am in Mombasa. I meant that it is strange that the police are sitting here, watching me enter a closed beach and just let it happen without warning or informing me. The police's actions must be seen as premeditated because if the beach is closed, then it is their job to guard that no one enters that ground. I remarked on this, apparently the chief said they were only carrying out orders issued by the governor. I can't believe, and I don't accept, that the governor gave such an order, that was an excuse and nothing else. What the police did was simply rubbish. After two hours in prison I wanted to know what would happen next. You must be patient, said the lady. I replied that my question was about the time and not how I should be. She had called and a car was on its way to take me to prison. That was too much. I am sick, I need my medication, I cannot get involved in a maybe. I called the embassy, that's when they got nervous. Threat after threat. The lady and 4 other policemen wielding their guns. Maybe they wanted to scare me. Maybe they were trying to scare me. I said to the lady, are you going to shoot me? Why do I say that? I'm not walking around with a gun, and in a cell. Finally, my companion was asked for 2000 kshs. It was a bargain, because normally they ask for 5000 kshs. I would be released, now I was allowed to walk across the closed beach! The private beaches were open. A little further away, I went swimming after all. However, I did not like it. The behaviour of the police raises many questions. No one can or wants to answer them.

You should do something, not everybody is a sextourist. Actually im a doctor in philosophy, writing a book about Africa. I came here to see life of Kenyans. 

The following message arrives me:

Hi! Very sorry for your bad experience. I just want to tell you that what happend to you happens also to Kenyans many times. Once my underaged son was arrestet at the same beach together with his friend, because of loitering around. He was there with the whole family of his friend and the parents tried to explain the officers that the boys weren't alone but they packed them in the lorry and drove them to the police station Bamburi. The father had to pay 5000.- to get them released. Bamburi police station is one of the corruptest on the cost. Police harassment and killings are a big problem here.

Waliopotea

Wacha nianze tangu mwanzo. Bila shaka! Mimi ni mgeni, ninakuja Kenya kukutana na mwanamke. Nilipata kutoka kwenye mtandao. Mawasiliano ya mtandao kawaida ni hatari na ngumu. Unaamini, amini kile mwanamke anakuandikia. Ikiwa hauamini mwache, kata mazungumzo. Na nilimwamini. Jina lake ni Jacqueline Ogutu. Yeye sio mchanga, sio mzee, katika umri mzuri, mama wa watoto wanne. Kufanya hadithi hiyo kuwa fupi, nilihisi kumpenda. Nilikuwa nikifanana sana. Yeye ni mwanamke mzuri na mzuri. Baada ya wiki kadhaa, tulikaa pamoja huko Mosocho, Kisii, ananiuliza ikiwa sitaki kununua nyumba kwetu. Nilidhani hilo ni wazo zuri na tunaanza kutafuta. Riuru, Kilimani, na maeneo mengine mengi tuliyokuwa tunatembelea. Lakini hoses zimekuwa, kwa hali yangu, kupanuka. Niligundua, ikiwa nitajenga nyumba yangu mwenyewe itagharimu nusu ya bei! Kwa hivyo tulikuwa tukitafuta njama. Hiyo ilikuwa rahisi basi shangazi yake alituunganisha na mmoja wa washiriki wenzake katika kijiji chake. Jina lake: Charles Mukuzi. Jambo la kushangaza ni kwamba pia kulikuwa na mtu, Patrick Hamazi. Alikuwa karibu kila wakati, hata wakati tulikuwa huko kutembelea njama hiyo, na sio njama yake. Mimi bougth njama. Tulikwenda kwa mtumishi, anafanya mkataba, hapa inaitwa makubaliano ya mauzo, kwenye stempu ya karatasi na Wizara ya Ardhi. Jackie walikuwa wakitafuta fundi. Alikuja na mvulana mmoja, jina lake ni Innocent. Nilijadiliana naye mara kadhaa juu ya jambo hilo na polepole sijahisi kufanana na mtu huyu. Nilimuuliza afanye mpango tunahitaji vifaa vipi na ni gharama gani ikiwa ni pamoja na kazi. Hakukuwa na matokeo. Baada ya siku kadhaa alikuja na akanionyesha ujumbe kwenye simu yake kutoka, kama alivyosema mbunifu, kwa kupaka rangi nyumba na kuhesabu vifaa. Hiyo ilikuwa chumba cha wageni sana. Alitaka 50.000 na 30.000 kwa kuchora nyumba. Namuuliza Jackie ikiwa Innocent ni fundi kweli? Alisema ndio. Kutoka wapi unamfahamu ?, lilikuwa swali langu linalofuata. Tuna nyumba kadhaa, jibu lake. Nadhani hakuna kitu sahihi. Wiki kadhaa baadaye nimefanya mchoro wa nyumba yangu kama vile ningependa. Tulikwenda Migori, tukapata mbuni, nikatoa maoni yangu, akasema hiyo ni sawa. Amefanya kuchora, stempu kutoka kwa serikali, nililipa ada na tulikuwa tayari kuanza na ujazo wa nyumba. Jackie wa karibu tukapata fundi, Benard. Bei ilikuwa sawa. Muonekano wake uko sawa. Hata hivyo amefanya vizuri.

Wakati wowote tulipotembelea tovuti ya ujenzi, kulikuwa na Patrick huyu. Alikuwa karibu kila wakati na pia shangazi ya Jackie. Swali lililofuata lilikuwa ni kutafuta mtu atakayesimamia ujenzi huo. Jackie amekuwa na wazo nzuri. Shangazi yake na Patrick wataangalia tovuti, na napaswa kuwapa kila mmoja 50.000. Ili kudumisha amani nilikubali kwanza, kisha baadaye nikakataa. Kwa pesa hizo ilikuwa inawezekana kwenda kila siku kwenye wavuti. Na huyu Patrick anaanza kwenda kwenye mishipa yangu. Chochote ambacho tumelazimika kuagiza, kufanya, yeye hutoa maoni yake kila wakati na hivi karibuni nimegundua, chochote alichosema ni sawa. Hakuna maswali zaidi, hakuna mazungumzo tena. Patrick huyo ni nani, nilimuuliza Jackie. Nilidhani ni jamaa kwa sababu alikuwa karibu kila wakati. Simjui, alijibu. Kwa hivyo anachotaka hapa, sijampigia simu, nilimjibu. Anataka kutusaidia, jibu lake lilikuwa.

Tunazungusha matofali kutoka kwa mkulima wa karibu. Ilikuwa nafuu kidogo. Kinachozidi kupanuka ilikuwa usafirishaji. Bei za wazimu wanauliza. Matofali yalisafirishwa na ujenzi unaanza.

Basi imenilazimu kuondoka nchini. Lockdown alikuja. Miezi sita nilikuwa nikingojea kurudi.

Ninaporudi, kitu kilibadilika. Ndoa alitaka. Sawa hakuna tatizo. Tulikwenda Kisumu kwa usajili. Hoteli ya Palmers tuliamuru sherehe hiyo. Siku nyingine tulikutana na wazazi wake. Jackie na mama yake walikwenda kwa askofu kuzungumza naye. Ikiwa kweli wamekuwepo? Wao tu ndio wanajua. Askofu alikubaliana na Hoteli ya Palmers, magari mawili ambayo nimelazimika kuagiza kwa watu wa kanisa, lazima waje. Askofu pia alihitaji msaada kutoka kwa mchungaji, kwa hivyo watu wasiopungua 15 kutoka kanisani wanapaswa kuja kusaidia sherehe hiyo. Nikauliza, lazima washike mikono? Inawezekana. Siku kadhaa baadaye tumekuwa na nyaraka za usajili. Askofu na mchungaji walipewa jukumu la kutusaidia. Ninawaambia ukweli, wote wawili walikuwa wamesimama kwenye sajili kama kifurushi kisichochukuliwa. Kwa hivyo, hakuna msaada kutoka kwao. Tulitoka kwenye sajili na Jackie akasema, hebu tupate kitu cha kula katika Hoteli ya Palmers. Askofu alikuwa akiangalia pembeni, akiuliza, Hoteli hii ya Palmers iko wapi? Hiyo inanifanya nihisi kutaka kujua kidogo. Kweli sasa siamini kwamba askofu ni askofu au mchungaji ni mchungaji. Siku kadhaa baadaye tulikutana naye huko Kisumu. Tulikuwa huko kwa usajili wa mkondoni wa ndoa yetu iliyopangwa. Alitoa ushauri ni nini na vipi tunapaswa kuchanganua na kunakili hati zetu, kuliko alivyoacha. Jackie alitaka harusi ya kanisa kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu. Kwa hivyo lazima ajaze nambari ya usajili wa kanisa na mchungaji, wala askofu hajampa! Ajabu, angalau hii tgey inapaswa kujua. Nilinunua mabaki ya harusi, na vitu vingine, wanawake wanapenda. Na ndio, alikuwa anaonekana mzuri katika mavazi hayo, kama malaika.

Wakati unapita. Ndoa haikuwa jambo tena. Nyumba haikuwa jambo tena. Binti mmoja amekuwa na shida katika ndoa yake lakini hii hainihusu.

Tabia yake inakuwa ya kushangaza. Ajabu sana. Sasa najua ilikuwa hii ilisababishwa na. Alikuwa akifikiria kuwa mimi ni tajiri na polepole akagundua kuwa mimi sio tajiri. Ninaweza kununua chakula changu, naweza kulipa bili zangu, lakini hiyo ni yote. Kwa hivyo akafikiria kutafuta tajiri. Na alidhani amepata moja. Alikwenda Nairobi kukutana naye na alikutana naye. Aliniita kutoka hapo na nikasikia sauti ya mwanamume, ikimwambia, mwambie unampenda, halafu unacheka. Swali ni tu kabla au baada ya kulala naye. Nina hakika, alimfukuza, uwezekano mkubwa baada ya wao kuifanya. Siku iliyofuata alirudi na macho mekundu. Nadhani alikaa usiku katika kituo cha kuhamisha.

Nilikuwa nikizurura kile kinachoendelea, kweli. Hakuna swali zaidi juu ya nyumba. Hakuna swali zaidi juu yangu. Ninaanza kuwa mgeni. Binti mwingine, Jenny, alianza biashara yake mwenyewe. Nilikuwa nikizurura, kwa sababu hadi sasa hana uwezo wa kukaa kazini. Alipoteza kazi zote ambazo aliweza kupata. Na hiyo sio ajabu. Wakati mmoja nilimuuliza ni ngapi ni 10x50 na hakuweza kujibu. Labda kwa zero nyingi kwake. Kile nilichosikia ni kwamba walikodi duka na kuifanya tena, ambayo inagharimu karibu 25.000. Hizo pesa zinatoka wapi? Jibu rahisi, haswa kutoka kwangu. Kwa miezi iliyopita Jackie amechukua pesa kutoka kwangu. Siku moja niliangalia kwenye mkoba wangu na pesa zote zilikuwa zimekwisha!

Hadithi lazima ifupishwe. Nikamuacha. Niligundua kuwa hakunipenda kamwe, nilikuwa benki tu kwake.

Miezi baadaye nilirudi. Hakuna haja ya mimi kuwa na nyumba, shamba nchini Kenya, nataka kuiuza. Nyaraka hizo ziko kwa Jackie. Nilikwenda Mosocho, nikakaa katika Hoteli ya Venus Gardens. Huko Mosocho kila mtu ananijua. Dakika kumi baada ya kufika kwangu Jenny rafiki yake Joy alikuja, akiangalia ikiwa ni mimi kweli. Baada ya muda Jackie alikuja. Tuliongea. Muda mfupi alisema, alikataa kunipa hati. Alikataa kila kitu. Nilimwambia ikiwa atafanya kama hivyo sina nafasi nyingine ya kwenda kortini. Jackie alikuwa akicheka. Aliniambia nini kitatokea, wakili atachukua pesa zangu na atachukua njama yangu. Tulikuwa tukijadili haya, kisha akaniinama na kusema, sasa tunaingia chumbani kwako na utanivuta! Nilikataa, kulikuwa na mtu mweusi anayezungumza naye, kwa hivyo nikamwambia kwamba mtu huyu anataka kumtomba. Nilienda chumbani kwangu, Jackie nyuma yangu. Nilipofungua mlango nimeona kuwa kuna kitu kilikuwa kibaya. Niliibiwa! Jambo la kushangaza ni kwamba makubaliano ya mauzo yameibiwa. Pia kiliibiwa koti langu, mkoba wangu na 40.000, miwani yangu, chombo changu cha kupima sukari, suruali moja. Vitu vingine vyote vilikuwa vimebaki.

Sasa nina wakili na hakuna kinachokwenda. Pesa zangu tu. Nilipoteza kila kitu. Jackie hajatumia KSh 1 na sasa anapata milioni 2. Kama nilivyogundua, Kenya hakuna sheria iliyopo. Na hiyo ni kweli. Hapa unaweza kufanya unachotaka.

Mgeni ndiye aliye huru zaidi. Na hiyo sio kweli kila wakati. Vijana wengine waliniuliza ninaionaje Kenya, kwanini wazungu wengi wanakuja Kenya. Waliamini nitasema kwa sababu ni nchi nzuri lakini naijua vizuri. Wazungu wanakuja hapa kwa sababu hapa kuna biashara nzuri inayowezekana. Hiyo inamaanisha hapa wanaweza kufanya kile wanachotaka, pesa hufanya barabara moja kwa moja. Ulaya watasindika, hapa hakuna kinachotokea.

Nimefanya utaftaji mdogo. Kweli nilijaribu kupata ukweli.

Hapa kuna matokeo yangu.

1. Jackie ameolewa na Odongo. Nikamuuliza kwanini kwenye ID YAKE anaitwa Odongo? Ni makosa na serikali, alisema.

2. Patrick, kwa hivyo ujumbe, ni mpenzi wake.

3. Nilijificha. Hiyo ni hakika. Na hii ilipangwa na shangazi yake, Patrick na Jackie. Swali hapa ni, Charles yuko wapi? Je, ni jamaa, mpenzi? Au nini?

Hiyo ndio hadithi. Mimi sio mtu mweupe pekee ambaye alinaswa. Kuna wengine wengi. Shida ni kwamba hakuna mashtaka. Wezi wanaweza kuiba. Hakuna anayewazuia. Polisi hawafanyi chochote, CID haifanyi chochote. Conning inaweza kuendelea.