Souls that Matter

Today we traveled from Nairobi to Meru.  Along the way, I learned what it takes to be a good Samaritan. 

I was in the back of a covered truck with Mwiti, a colleague of The General.  We slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road.  There were windows on both sides of the truck, but I could not see in front (think khaki safari-type land cruiser, with a seat bench attached to each side of the back).  I wondered why we were stopping.  Then I saw two ladies’ shoes lying in the middle of the road.  I worried that someone had fallen out of a car.  We stopped, and I heard The General and the driver raise their voice.  They sounded angry.  Mwiti listened to what they were saying, told me to wait there, and leapt from the truck. 

I still couldn’t see what was going on, but I knew there was some altercation.  Then the back door swung open, and Mwiti threw a large box in the truck with me, filled with smaller boxes ladies’ shoes.  He also threw in the loose pair that lay in the road.  He shut the door and continued the argument outside.  I saw the other men walk past the window and approach the truck.  I was scared that they would try to enter the truck and steal the box back.  Mwiti blocked the door.

I heard a new voice.  The door flung open.  Terrified and confused, I stared at six men pointing at the box of shoes and looking at me.  The new voice belonged to a man holding handcuffs.  I hoped he was a cop.  I heard Mwiti explain in English, “These men were going to take great advantage of the shoes that fell from the matatu.  We know the driver.  They are going to Meru.  These shoes do not belong to these men.”

The policeman recorded The General’s phone number, looked at the shoes, looked at me, and then instructed us to proceed with the box.  Mwiti climbed back in the truck, closed the door, and finally told me what happened…

The shoes were tied to the roof of a matatu (public minibus) heading to Meru that had passed us a while back.  Unbeknownst to the driver, the box blew off the roof and landed in highway.  The men walking along the side of the road wanted to take the lost cargo and run.  The General instructed our driver to pull over and recover the shoes, so that we could carry them to their owner in Meru.  The shoes were probably worth over $150, a considerable sum in Kenya.  The passersby claimed that they owned the shoes, and they argued until the policemen resolved the matter.

I think there are several morals we can draw from this story, but here’s one obvious to me:

Although it sounds good to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, I think The General was right and noble to intervene before these thieves put the proverb to the test.  We should always question things…

Kwaheri – Laura Lee/Nkirote J

Ps – Yesterday the Commerce Minister awarded The General his “Head of State Commendation” for his pioneering work with the farmers’ cooperative.  The ceremony was televised, and I was so proud to be his guest.