This Nairobi traffic jam will finish me one day. The honking of cars, touts hanging on matatu windows, parking boys hustling for cash and hawkers pleading with buyers to at least purchase the cheapest commodities and make their day.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead, as some trickled down my neck. I could feel the sun's heat as I sneaked my pick-up through the gridlock. “We need to rush lest we bump into the kanjo (county askaris) at the junction,” I told my handyman, Joseph, as we pondered how we would get through the traffic jam.
“Usinipasulie lights wewe! (Don’t hit my lights)” A lady in a Mercedes Benz yelled after I almost lost control and rammed into her sleek, black GLC Class model. These Nairobi motorists love drama. At times you’d find one has blocked the road after the other has slightly scratched his boot.
Today, my car was heavily loaded with groceries, fresh from the farm and being a Friday, I was excited at making a killing as Nairobians head home for the weekend. I quit my job a year ago to employ myself as I enjoy autonomy. We do all we can to pay taxes, feed our families, school our children and of course, give our wives a good life.
“When you are done with school, you ought to understand that you are schooled to get knowledge and not to be only employed,” my old man always insisted.
“Kanjo ndio hao (There come the county askaris),” Joseph’s lamentations caught my ear as we approached the junction towards the market. This was one of the friendly ones and we didn’t have to worry about that.
Kanjo: What are you carrying today Jemo (James)?
Me: Ahhh! Officer... Just some fruits. Leo soko haijaukaka sana (Today is a good day. We will make some profit.)
Kanjo: Sawa (Okay) Don’t cause a traffic jam as you approach the gates and remember my bet. I told you Portugal will beat Germany tomorrow.
I waved him off as I was so sure that the German machines were poised to disappoint Christiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on Saturday evening.
The game was scheduled for 7 pm and that coincided with my peak sales time as most customers preferred shopping on Friday and Saturday evenings. Every day is a working day in Nairobi.
As I set up my stall, replenishing my commodities, the kanjo’s banter kept sounding in my head. I had already missed watching the Friday games after Njoro, the local video guy where we watched football, closed down his shop at the market and went up country last month.
“Can I order online? Do you do door to door deliveries?” A customer asked.
“Are you rushing to catch the big Euro match?” I wondered loudly as he seemed to be in a hurry.
“Haa! No, my friend. I am late for a date. And why should I worry about football? I can watch it anywhere, anytime on Showmax. Check it online,” he added as he made his order and left his details. In fact, my son Fabian introduced me to online deliveries during the pandemic, and it has won me lots of customers.
Today I made another discovery, Showmax! I realised that football fans across the continent have been streaming every match of the UEFA Euro 2020, which runs from 11 June to 11 July 2021, on Showmax Pro.
The remaining enticing Uefa Euro group stage matches will also be aired on Showmax Pro. On Saturday, June 19, Portugal will face off with Germany at 7 pm in a Group F match. Portugal will also play against France on Wednesday, June 23 at 10 pm. Another scintillating match would be Group A’s Switzerland versus Turkey, a battle of relegation on Sunday, June 20 at 9 pm.
One can subscribe to Showmax Pro at Ksh 2,100 per month for all gadgets and Ksh1,050 per month for mobile phones in Kenya.
“Have you won a lottery Jemo?” Mercy, the next door fashion designer patted me on my shoulder to the realisation that a small crowd had gathered. “We saw you jumping and shouting around looking at your phone!” she added.
“It's Showmax and football!” I responded, adding that I wouldn’t have to worry about watching my games while working and would also follow my bet with the kanjo in Portugal vs Germany clash on Saturday.
You can actually watch the games on Showmax Pro anywhere anytime. What are you waiting for to subscribe?