Kenya is one of the places where there is huge gap between ‘the have s’ and ‘the have-nots’. There are varying degrees of ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ but nothing in between. I know that our family fall within the haves and one thing I can say is that there is certain amount of class based snobbery that exists amongst the haves.
I know one of my prejudices is centered on where I socialise when I am Kenya. There is no way you would find me in any pub/bar/club that has in its title either or any of the following words..”ka-mwangis” “bar and butchery” “board and lodging” and “usikojoe hapa”.
Coming to Belize has really made me aware of this particular prejudice especially when I was in Cayo. Most of the bars and clubs, in fact nearly all their structures have that “bar and butchery” look – rickety wooden structures, mabati roofs, pools of stagnant water near the entrance, extremley loud music and even louder conversation which can be heard twenty streets away.
When I first arrived at Legends nightclub in Cayo I was petrified and that was just on the outside. To add to that I was with the Croc Wrestler and of course everyone stopped to stare at lone white person in the club. After five minutes..I calmed down and had such a good time and if you have been following my blog you will know I was back at Legends the weekend after and the weekend after that!
I am not sure if you will ever catch me at Ka-Mwangi’s when I am in Kenya but I certainly won’t avoid them like I used to.
‘Usikojoe hapa’ lol. Or the one I like ‘tuna maji moto’. So, can we expect to see you in ‘Ka Mwangi bar and lodging’ in downtown Nyeri town?
I had forgotten such places existed you know the ka-mwangis et al. Where l live there are equivalents of those bars which as pubs when you go in at night have a very cosmopolitan and spohisticated feel. However if you happen to pass those places at day- time. There is hardly any difference.
The last bit of the comment should have read ” There is a major difference” Nafikiri nimechoka and maybe Tusker baridi is the answer. For someone who does not like beer.
There’s a pub of River Road in Nairobi where you only get a glass and fork if you are a regular, the rest of us its fanta out the bottle and fingers for the chips.
Mental..I always knew there was a shady side to you 🙂
This is what one does for adventure. I am sure there are those in Belize who would not be caught dead in their equivalient of “boarding and lodging”. They must think you are nuts.
Some of the best ‘matumbos’ are found in those ricketty places. Finger licking good nyamchom….lakini you have to have strong antibodies cauz if you have never been to a ‘third world nation’ and eat there once you will surely die 🙂
To the haves and have nots…If you ever go to a kenyan high school the reality hits you smack dab in the face. That is where I learnt that there were people who were poor with a capital P and those who are soo rich they would fit right in with the Bushes or even look down on them.
Then when you are all put together under the pretext that a mere uniform will equalize you, you see reality loud and clear.