Joffrey can make you laugh.
If he would be our security guard at the estate on the outskirts of Nairobi, he would be a stand-up comedian.
“You should think about joining TikTok someday,” I told him as I drove past the check-up point.
He was a favourite of everyone on the estate. Even those who move in recently are always informed of the legendary Joffrey.
Joffrey started as an independent security guard at the age of 21, I heard. After a few years when a security company was hired to man the gates, we all vouched for him to be enrolled.
And we nearly demonstrated when they brought in someone new. The estate management was pressured to bring him back under the company, for the daytime.
When he was away on leave, everyone missed him. He was familiar with all kids and had seen some transition from primary to high school and university.
Had attended weddings and funerals, and was tipped by nearly all the residents. He was family to all.
We once contributed funds to rescue his wife from the hospital when she gave birth through a cesarean operation, paid school fees for his elder daughter and even relocated him from the shanty to a nearby estate, where he could afford rent.
I heard he received multiple menial job offers but always insisted on remaining at the gate. In the city.
“This is my home. He would insist.”
So when I heard that he wanted to retire and manage his small business in the city. We had to organize a send-off party.
Most of us were even surprised that he had an SME. Man had saved as much as he can and opened a retail shop for himself and a tailoring one for his wife.
As most of us were away from the city on holiday, we decided to set up an online meeting.
“Online is data consuming,” Njugush complained in the Whatsapp group.
“We need an online meeting so that everyone can say something. He is leaving in a week’s time. Wenye watakua after io online meeting tutafanya io bash (Those who would physically present after the meeting would throw him the bash),” Mama Lisa added.
“Why are you complaining about data and Safaricom has Nyakua promo?” Nzisa, a doctor who lives opposite my house wrote.
“What is Nyakua?” several others wrote and Nzisa sent us an audio.
So through My Safaricom App (updated version) one can opt-in to Nyakua Data Dabo Dabo, a Safaricom offer providing customers with data bonus.
You thus can check your daily target via the app. Customers get 100 per cent bonus data every time they use a Safaricom bundle and achieve their daily assigned target.
The bonus data will be valid until midnight and can be used to browse, stream, and do more with the internet.
“Wacha niwaabie izi vitu leo (Let me enlighten you today)” she added, further informing me on My Safaricom App.
Did you know you can also key in the digits of airtime you have purchased from the shop on My Safaricom App or scan the airtime too?
You can also chat with Zuri, Safaricom’s bot, and get all the help you need. Zuri is a fast alternative to contacting Safaricom’s customer care. You can also chat with her via Whatsapp bila stress.
For those sending money, you can verify one’s identity on the app rather than send money to a wrong number.
“You can also share the transaction, sio kila siku mnaulizana kama pesa imefika (Stop asking each other if you have received the funds,” Nzisa stated advocating for an online meeting.
And there we were, towards the end of his last week.
Kind words for Joffrey who broke down. He was touched.
And a send-off package of nearly Ksh100,000 to support his business.
His last night duty was cold. Since the security company took over, the guards worked in pairs and at times up to four.
I drove in from work, parked near the gate and saw him smile at me. Many years ago, he sat at the same spot when he was hired, then a young boy.