Terror at Night

Armed police officers engaging with protestors

Yesterday, while going home from school at Ruaka, I was told there was maandamano in Kiambu. Instinctively, I knew I would have to go to Limuru, then home.

When l got to the stage, there were no cars going to Limuru. However, there were cars going to Kikuyu, but if l connected through there and maandamano started, l would seriously be stranded, and that was not an option. I waited 30 minutes and still no vehicles.

On the opposite side, there were cars going to Ruiru. I choose to use those. On Kiambu Road, there weren't any PSVs. It took almost two hours to get to Ruiru. Finally, we get to Ruiru, and I alighted a few meters before the stage.

I was thirsty and said to myself, "Let me get to Magunas, go to the fridge for some cold water." Magunas was on the opposite side. I walked through the busy stage to the supermarket. I got to the fridge and picked Dasani 1 liter, opened it, drank, and slowly walked to the cashier, still drinking my water. There were two customers in front of me. I placed a hundred shillings note on the counter and waited to be served. That's when it happened.

The terror at night. Hundreds of people were running outside from the stage into shops and everywhere else. Shouting, screaming, and gunshots. I stood there watching it all happen. In minutes, we were locked into the supermarket for the next two hours.

I climbed the stairs to the first floor, sat in one of the chairs, and called my friends to laugh at my predicament. In an attempt to flee from Kiambu violence, l found myself in the midst of Ruiru violence. The panic in the supermarket eventually wore down. I surveyed my environment. On the first floor, there were no windows or doors. On the ground level, there was a back door and no exists in the basement. Back on the ground level, we stood there discussing amongst customers and employees what was happening. The manager guided us to the back exit. Ironically, people didn't want to leave, and that's when l looked outside and saw armed police officers.

Walking outside the supermarket, I confidently passed the officers and took a turn heading towards the police station. At this point, a group of youth stood facing the town. I walked past them and kept on walking. In the darkness, my white coat shouting my presence, but l walked on. More youths stood on the roadside. Suddenly, an older woman walked up to me carrying some luggage. I gave her way and we walked together. We exchanged thoughts on what sparked the chaos and my worries on whether l would find a car heading my direction. In the back of my mind, l had options. One, find a matatu to go home, two, take an Uber at the clubs ahead, three, stop a personal car for a lift, or four, call my friend who lives in an estate up ahead. The lady l walked with even offered to house me for the night.

Luckily, there were cars packed on the road two kilometers from the town. I bid farewell to the lady and boarded the matatu. We sat there for another 30 minutes as more people came our way and filled the car. While still waiting, a police land cruiser drove up to the driver and asked him to leave. Immediately, we left the scene. An hour later, l was home safe and still in shock. It took me 6 hours to get home last night.