Sitting comfortably, twelve kilometres from Kenya’s capital, is a city, yes city, by the name Githurai. Almost every Kenyan is at least familiar with the name, even if due to some self – imposed excuse, has never set foot in the dusty (and muddy when it rains) slumburbia. If you were born somewhere between the 80s and 90s, you must have jammed to one of Kenya’s greatest hits by Mr Googz and Vinnie Banton – Wasee Tumetoka Githurai.
Well, tribalism aside, the name Githurai sounds Kikuyu-ish if there is such a word. And the fact that literally everyone you meet there speaks to you in some deep Kikuyu language is no coincidence. In fact, many businesses there have Kikuyu names like ‘Shosho Wa Kamau Gas Distributors’ or ‘Kiamaiko Mutura Base and Butchery’. In spite of this, there is one thing that this city has and is not in any place else. The Githurai atmosphere.
There is the funny joke that Githurai residents have learnt how to text with their mobile gadgets inside their pockets. They also are said to have two sets of cloths while trans-githuraing, (passing through Githurai) so as not to appear too rich for the slumburbia. The Kasarani Police Station is recorded to be amongst the busiest police posts in Nairobi area due to the numerous insecurity cases brought to book each and every day. One almost feels unsafe even while on the upper lane of the fly – over where surprisingly, the population of people is scarce.
In spite of all this, Githurai is a wonderful city. It is here you will find almost anything for almost any price. From hardware materials, to clothing, to electronics, to real estate, to legal drugs, to cheap transport to the CBD, to motor parts to groceries and bla bla bla. There is literally no mention of the words ‘Hatuna Iyo’ or ‘Iyo Imeisha’ when you ask for anything. The most fascinating thing is that vendors sell stock worth hundreds of thousands of shillings, on a space less than a metre squared. The noise that emanates from the round – about area and the perimeter space around it is deafening, but the buy – sell conversation here is never affected.
In a day, goods worth millions of shillings are sold and bought within this marketplace now popularly known as Gikomba Ndogo. It is amazing that thousands of mouths get to feed from the hustle and noise and congestion which the residents have now adapted to. In short, we can call Githurai an outdoor mall.
And who talks of Githurai and fails to mention the huge fancy 72 seater buses whose hooting sounds is heard all the way from the neighbouring estates of Kahawa and Roysambu. The music inside makes one get high without smoking anything. The way they are driven makes one regret why you boarded them in the first place, but funny enough, you can never resist the urge to go back home in one after a heavy day’s work. The buses are so popular that residents of Ruiru and KU students invented the ‘Connection’ where they pay ten shillings to Githurai, from where they board the buses to town at half the price the express vehicles charge.
In as much as we would want to hate, Githurai is the pride of Nairobi.
It should be on everyone’s bucket list to visit Githurai and do some outdoor shopping.
While you are at it, holla at me with your phone in your pocket!
2 Comments
The G town is also where the neighbouring estate residents spend better part of their evening after work to shop Fresh and cheap vegetables!
G-Town. Nice Name, Lol.