"TRIBUTE TO MOHA"

4th August, 2014,

First I thought my phone was lying to me, how can this be true? It must have been a case of mistaken identity. Another call, then another and am forced to call Abdi.

" Niaje, Abdi, hii story nasikia kuhusu Moha ni ukweli?" I ask.
As I wait for his respond on the phone, I wish he tells me its a rumour but...
"Ni ukweli bana, Moha alipass jana usiku. Ni kama alivamiwa na wasee flani uko kwao..." I feel like the world is against us, he narrates to me a sad story of how the whole thing happened. I am yet to be convinced about it, facebook posts and whatsapp messages keep on popping and forced to accept its true.

Today I say it again, R.I.P Moha, three years later. I promise I will say  it again and again till we meet, God knows where and when.

Being admitted to Chewoyet High was one of the best things that ever happened to me. It's a school that gave me more than I deserved,(that's a story for another day).  If you happened to be there between 2009 and 2013, then you know of one Mohammed Abdulaziz Lopeyon, a proficient footballer and a faithful Muslim.

Death is immortal they say, but on 4th of August, 2014 it proved its  immortality to the people of Alale in Kacheliba, Chewoyet High, and more so to me and many more who knew Moha at personal level.

Today it has been three years since he passed and he is still in our minds with no sign of going any soon. Every other time I meet with my classmates we never fail to mention him, how he was just humble and optimistic. We always think life could be different if he was around.
I therefore write this two letters to console ourselves of what happened.

To Moha:

  I write this to you with tears in my eyes and sorrow in my heart. Mrs Kibet never taught us how to write letters to the dead but I had to learn so that I can send you this letter.

It has been long since we last met, I remember we were in Chewoyet, Nothern field, Watching Chewoyet play football against Kapenguria Boys at the finals of term two B county sports. At that time I was a teacher at Propoi Girls. You were happy and energetic, you wanted to be in that team and play against our all-time rivals, Kapee. I never knew that was going to be the last time we will be together, I would have wished you goodbye. You were happy Chewoyet was recognising talents and doing great in it.

Two weeks later am told you are nolonger with us, please tell me where you are when you get this letter. I have unfinished business with you. Infact the entire East wants you, Malasi claims you were not in class the last time he was in for vectors, Alimoi has your quarter loaf, Kipuno wants you for the Math group, Abdi and Hemedi are waiting for you at the Mosque. Our team is playing against West and your position is vacant, come and fill it.

For your information I no longer do Maths in my life, nowadays I write, that's why am writing this to you. When we meet don't ask me about moles, Physics or Bio. Ask me about writing but not grammar, that's for Mrs Kibet and the language department. I write for you and those who understand me and my language. I inform people, but am still a leader. Remember voting me as your student president? I still believe I can lead like you just believed in me that time.

In the mean time, let me believe you pursued your dreams where you are. I hope you still have the urge to learn, and you found someone like me who is not afraid to tell you when you are wrong. Who tells you he is not sure about Locus but still teaches you better than your teacher. Don't tell me you killed your talent, I want to see you play a winger against the devils in the football tournament when I join you, by the way your team Arsenal won F.A against Chelsea. Your passion for football will never die, I will watch it to remember you.

As I finish writing this, I want to assure you we are still united. The entire East wishes you the best. When we join you we know you will be an elder and you won't see us get harassed, you will take care of us. Especially me, you will pay for the days I defended you from Akuts and Kwelikweli.

Just relax, we shall join you sooner or later. In the mean time enjoy yourself.

We miss you,

From Maritim, your student president, your classmate and your friend.

To the rest of us and I:

I know it's painful to remind you of Moha, at the same time I know you have gone through what I have been to: memories of Moha, dreams with him as a participant and much more.

I know there are people who will cry when they read this, cry no more for Moha is waiting for us. One day we shall unite, we will be part of him or he will be part of us. Moha is with us, so if you ever promised him anything, kindly fullfill it for he is watching over us with the angels. He is with us I believe.

As I conclude, remember life is immortal, we are not special: its just that we've been given a chance to change. Your tommorow is not assured, so let us remain in peace. Let us be what he would have wanted us to be; United, peaceful and optimistic.

Yours loving Maritim Brian, alias Culprit.

LAST DAY!

So today I decide to cut the long story short, I choose to take the short cut. I have thought for it over and over again and nothing is going to convince me beyond any reasonable doubt that am about to take the wrong step.
I get into my feeble accounts withdraw whatever is inside. I want to clear all my debts, the first I pay is mama wa mboga, I cannot go with her money yet the other time she told me she has three kids and one is a sickling; uyo mathee ako na bidii I hope her kids wont dissapoint like I want to. The next on my line is the wines and spirits guy, alinitolea lock nikiwa na exam. I think of paying my M Shwari and okoa bt I remember I dont have any, infact I will borrow and wont repay; Safaricom ni wezi na mnajua, wameniibia bundles severally. Dear H.E.L.B I did not benefit from your money, incase you want it back go ask all the brewery companies you know they are the beneficiaries, major.
I then go ahead call all my friends, crushes and classmates, relatives and family(someone tell me the difference between family and relatives). We talk with those who recieve my call, I dont care those who snitch me; that's what you've been doing all my life and I did not expect you to be good today.
I then go to the last option I pen down all that is about me so that if you never knew me you will get a chance to, atleast when am gone and you wonder who the hell is this guy. I wanted to see weed get legalised in Kenya so I can go have a puff during examtime just incase I get caught confirming my notes. My dream was to see Kenya a united nation but for now I dont think I will since I will soon disappear. I finish my writing and go out to my joint, take two shorts and buy one just incase the going gets tough I will make myself high and move on like am flying.
On my way back to my cube I meet the street kids, they are having a nice time playing cards behind a Range Rover. I think again, do those kids how much that car costs or they just want to be near it so they can console themselves; tunachezeanga hapo kwa gari kubwa. What catches my mind is this street girl, high on glue with two boys following her, I dont know where they are headed to and I cant just follow them like a horny dog. I ask the boys for a challenge in their game.
They are good at it but today they wont beat me, not on my last day, if I could have another day I would let them beat me since there is another chance for me to have a re-match. Suddenly they engage me in a conversation. They ask me how life is when you are decent and people respect you, how we survive life outside the streets, to them they cannot imagine living outside the streets. I feel like telling one of them if he would minde we exchange our lifestyle.
I tell him how he will be waking up early to go to class and listen to a boring lecture for a whole two hours on an empty stomach, how hard it is to seduce a lightskin, how expensive it is to get high on daily basis. He cuts me halfway and tell me to go on with my life, he just cannot make it. He confirms why this should be my last day, if he cannot survive my life and he can survive the street then who the hell am I to think of going on?
We play the last game, this time its a gamble, 50-50 whoever wins goes home with fifty bob extra. He plays smart as his friend watches over just incase a kanjo comes over. I think the owner of this car is somewhere watching us from a distance. Finally the worst happens, the boy wins. I promise for a rematch in the evening and he agrees, I give him his deserved money and add him a 20 bob for glue.
I get to my house, the landlord is on the door with several padlocks in his hand, he gives me that face, the face that says it all. If you are not paying him you are going to know the difference between owning and renting a house. I am broke but I know how to trick him. I give him stories,stories and more stories until we are in terms. Afterall this is my last day, you can come lock your house in the morning, I will be gone anyway, i console  myself as I go in.
I look at my property, the laptop lies there broken, my phone besude it scattered and damaged beyond repair. I go to the back that holds my papers, I reread my C.V like I want to update it, I imagine how those guys who interview  people will look at it when I present it. I laugh at myself because I cannot imagine anyone employing me using that C.V. Anyway its my last day, why should I bother myself?
Its nine and am headed to the streets for my last challenge with the boys before I disappear. I arrive at the venue and they are there warming up. This time its a gang of seven; four boys and three girls, they are all high like kites. The tournament kicks off immediately. This time I win all the games. Thats all in my mind so I am giving it my best. The girls get bored everytime I win and I am happy. The game ends, I am declared winner and they give me my hard earned money. I look at the money then the kids then the money again. I put my money in the pocket then I look for a 200 shilling note, I give it to them to share it just incase they have lost everything they had to a disappearing man.
On my way to the house I receive a call from my brother, he rarely calls and I dont know why I did not call him when I was calling people, maybe its because he was bound to call last. He tells me that grandmom wants to see me urgently. My granny does not have a phone so I did not call her. Of all my cousins and brothers she believes that am the only one who is not spoilt because I shave regularly and speak fluent mother tongue. This changes my mind suddenly, let me go listen to her then disappear some other day.
For now am looking for rent and more money to gamble with the street kids. I will go see grandma for Easter and mybe disappear after that. Hope she does not change my plans or give me something to do.