Babu’s First 24 Hours in Nairobi

Babu arrived in Nairobi at 6 AM with a small sack, two pairs of trousers, and a head full of advice from his uncle: “Msee, Nairobi doesn’t sleep. But if you’re not careful, it’ll make _you_ sleep on the street.”

He stepped out at OTC and the city hit him like a matatu conductor with a timetable to keep.

“Boss, karibu! Where you going? Kiambu, Githurai, CBD, heaven?!” a tout yelled.

Babu, trying to sound streetwise, said, “I’m going to… where the money is.”

The tout nodded seriously. “Ah, that one is in Westlands. 50 bob.”

First lesson: Everyone in Nairobi has a hustle, and if you don’t have one, you become the hustle.

He tried buying mandazi from a street vendor. “How much?”

“20 bob for one, 50 bob for three.”

Babu...