This is a guest post by Tony Toikan.
It’s about 6:10 pm in this town deep in the heart of Maasai land by the name Iloodokilani. I happen to have visited the area and stopped by in town to quench my long day’s thirst and probably grab a chapati in a local hotel. Luckily, it was the first Saturday of the year, a typical market day packed with traders buyers and sellers, onlookers, travelers, the young and old.
It’s a bee hive of activities here. It’s moreover, quite spectacular to me, the town is full of color; with locals finely adorned in their traditional Maasai shukas. You can hardly notice the abundance of sandy soil and the steady wind that blows across the land. A beautiful sunset gradually sinks its way in the horizon. It’s a fairly built town miles away from the tarmac commonly known to some as Mile 46.
The warmth in this community is admirable, the peace is desirable and the commodities incredible; fresh farm produce is in full supply despite the semi-arid nature of the area, something that explains the abundance of people from far and wide the areas around. These people travel far to attend the market day, on foot, by local matatus, Probox cars, canters, and interestingly by train.
Before I got carried away by the activities, the train horning its way towards the town. It was the 1800hrs train which the traders were anticipating. The rail cuts right across the town on its way to Magadi and like bees around a honey comb, the locals swarm along the railway line upon the sight of the train headlights. I didn’t understand the rush but sooner, the train pulled over to a halt. I then learned that it was a critical means of transport for them that went its way towards Magadi.
For a day’s heavy shopping, they know that the train would offer the cheapest transport, you couldn’t afford to miss the train here, and so one will dash to secure a spot for their-selves and their luggage even before the train came to a halt. It’s the survival for the fittest that makes the old and the vertically challenged aware of this; and so they dash and secure their luggage on top of the train carriages. This is like a routine for this community on a market day; you need to have walked that road before in order to master this bravery.
Soon the train was again in motion, horning as it pulled away as if to warn those who hadn’t boarded that time was up. The railway rhythm resonated in my head as it cut its way into the sunset, after which the last sun rays faded. I was left thinking of how much adversity is capable of being embraced and curve out bravery and strength in this small town. I left challenged to realize that we are masters in our own way, and you never know too much so you always watch and learn from other people’s adversities. In that,you will appreciate challenging situations better.