Wafula the Fixer

Wafula stood outside his iron-sheet-walled apartment in Kangemi, a place he had called home for years. The dim glow of a flickering bulb illuminated the corridor outside, and as he looked around, he realized just how far he had come.

This place had seen him at his lowest: broke, unemployed, and desperate. It was where he'd endured nights of hunger and mornings of uncertainty. Where every sound carried through the thin walls, piercing his privacy. He often heard his neighbors' arguments, their laughter, and sometimes even their passionate attempts at baby-making. A sound that stung more than amused the single, lonely Wafula. But tonight, he was moving up. Literally and figuratively.

With his new job as a supervisor earning him $500 a month, Wafula finally had the means to leave Kangemi. While not a slum, Kangemi was a neighborhood of modest incomes, where ambition often clashed with reality. His current residence, a semi-permanent structure made of iron sheets, had been a safety hazard. He'd even arranged his bed at the center of the room, far from the walls, to avoid the risk of a stray knife from a drunken neighbor's quarrel. But the time had come to say goodbye.

---

Wafula had found a new place in Riverside, a high-end neighborhood synonymous with wealth and exclusivity. He'd secured a modest workers' house a small detached unit in the compound of a rich man's mansion. It wasn't the main house, of course, but the idea of living within the gates of opulence was surreal to Wafula. He imagined the mansion owner, likely someone dripping in wealth, renting out the unit for pocket change. For Wafula, it was an upgrade beyond his wildest dreams.

He'd spent the past week planning the move, discreetly selling off his old furniture; a sagging bed, a squeaky chair, and a wobbly table to neighbors who still had to endure the life he was leaving behind. With the money, he bought newer, sleeker replacements. This was his chance to reinvent himself, and he wasn't going to carry over the old reminders of his struggles.

---

The evening of the move, Wafula chose to leave under the cover of darkness. He wasn't a fan of spectators watching him lug his belongings around. Kangemi was a curious neighborhood, and gossip spread faster than wildfire. A man moving out of an iron-sheet house to a better place would ignite a thousand questions.

With the help of a boda-boda rider he trusted, Wafula loaded his belongings onto a motorbike. His heart raced as he watched the small collection of his possessions stacked precariously on the bike: a mattress, a new table, a second-hand couch, and his prized possession. A set of tools he'd saved up for.

As the boda-boda weaved through the narrow roads of Kangemi, Wafula took one last look at the neighborhood. This place had been his crucible, the fire that had tested him. He wasn't sad to leave, but he felt a strange sense of gratitude. Kangemi had shaped his resilience.

---

Arriving in Riverside was like stepping into a different world. The streets were wide and clean, lined with tall, leafy trees that whispered wealth and tranquility. The air smelled fresh, a stark contrast to the smog and dust of Kangemi. The compound he was moving into was massive, with high gates and an immaculately trimmed hedge that hid most of the mansion from view.

The workers' house was a cozy single-bedroom unit tucked in the corner of the compound. As he unloaded his belongings, Wafula couldn't help but marvel at the contrast between this new life and his old one. Here, he wouldn't have to worry about being stabbed through a wall or listening to neighbors arguing over who stole whose sukuma wiki.

The mansion owner, a reserved man in his late 40s, had given Wafula the keys earlier that week without much conversation. "Don't cause trouble, and we'll get along just fine," he'd said, his tone disinterested but polite.

---

Inside the unit, Wafula arranged his new furniture carefully. The table fit perfectly in the small living room, and the couch, though second-hand, looked almost luxurious under the soft glow of the unit's warm lighting. He set up his tools in a corner, creating a mini workspace for himself.

The bedroom, though small, felt like a palace compared to what he was used to. He laid out his mattress and spread out clean sheets. As he stood back to admire his work, a wave of pride washed over him. This was a fresh start.

---

That night, Wafula sat on his couch, sipping a cup of tea. The silence around him was almost deafening. There were no sounds of neighbors arguing or radios blaring through thin walls. For the first time in years, he felt a sense of peace.

Still, his mind wandered. Moving to Riverside was a step up, but Wafula knew it wasn't the end goal. The job as a supervisor was good for now, but he wanted more. He dreamed of one day being the one who owned the mansion, not just renting a corner of it.

---

As the days passed, Wafula began settling into his new routine. The mornings were serene, the evenings quiet. He discovered a small shopping center nearby, where he could buy groceries and supplies without having to travel far. Life in Riverside was different, but Wafula adapted quickly.

However, he couldn't help but feel out of place at times. The people in the area drove flashy cars, wore designer clothes, and carried an air of sophistication. Wafula, in his worn-out work boots and simple clothes, stuck out like a sore thumb.

But he didn't let it bother him. "What matters is attitude," he told himself, mimicking the motivational speakers he used to watch on his neighbor's TV back in Kangemi. Still, deep down, he knew it wasn't just attitude that mattered. In Nairobi's unforgiving economy, wits and determination were the true currency.

---

As Wafula drifted off to sleep one night, he thought about the journey ahead. Moving to Riverside was just the beginning. There was so much more to achieve, so many dreams to chase. He didn't know what the future held, but he was ready to face it head-on.

For now, though, he allowed himself to savor this small victory. A new home, a new life, and the promise of better days ahead.