Normally at a ruracio, one pays dowry and then celebrates a traditional wedding before tying the knot at an official function later. Right?
Ruracio is also treated as a celebration of love. First, for the lovebirds, the close family members and friends who love them come to share the day. It is a day of reaffirming the bond.
Obviously, through dowry, gifts, and any other traditional demands. Or how else will they know someone’s son is serious about settling down with their daughter?
For my friend Arnold, it was something quite different. He wanted a simple ceremony only to be surprised by his fiancee’s parents. He thought he’d just walk into the compound and pick the girl, but alas!
The ceremony was packed, and the parents didn’t even demand a dime for their daughter. We had spent a few months raising some cash for somebody’s son. Haa!
Nestled in the leafy Karen suburb, the mansion - I think it was, I think, a 6-bedroomed house - invites you in by sucking your breath. Its windows were as shy eyes, large to welcome any sun rays.
It gave you a sense of serenity in the soul. We arrived with the groom's entourage. It was my first ruracio, and I was interested in understanding the traditions. I heard that the family had combined two traditions together.
The ruracio date (kumenya mucii), where Arnold’s clan was to come with Njohi ya Njurio (beer for asking the girl's hand) for pleasantries and to appease the girl's homestead and the kuhanda Ithigi (official booking of the bride).
Here, Arnold was to bring a young sheep and goat ('mwati na harika') to symbolise the imminent marriage between both parties.
Man, I am just as puzzled as you. I am not an elder. Thus, I stand corrected on some traditions. All we wanted was for Arnold to take his beautiful fiancee, Jacinta.
While Arnold was wrapping up his speech, our best friend, Michael, tapped me on the shoulder.
“Jordan? Will we let this ruracio end like this?” he asked.
“End, how?” I wondered. “Man, it's Arnold’s best day!” I responded.
“Kuja tuskie anasema aje,” he added, as he urged me to follow him.
High School-Campus Memories
But wait a minute. Michael, Arnold and I have come a long way.
Since we met in high school, we have created an amazing bond. We complemented each other. We both schooled in Nairobi. I was from Uthiru, Michael stayed with his parents in Dagoretti, and Arnold was from Garden City.
We both played football on campus, although Arnold also played music.
I’d narrate all our escapades in high school, but what about campus? Would I even finish telling you these stories?
It was on campus that our friendship grew. We first stayed near each other in the hostels, for, funnily enough, we landed at the same campus.
I studied a Bachelor of Science (Forensics), Michael enrolled for a Bachelor of Economics and Finance, and Arnold took a Bachelor of Music. This guy always aspired to be a musician.
He was the cog in our friendship wheel. We found his course interesting as he had more practicals and events to perform art. I think even Jacinta fell for his skill and art in music.
There were days we would sit with him after a performance and analyse the whole show. We all loved to spend quality time, with some Chrome Smooth & Crisp Gin.
“Easy drink. Kitu safi baba. I love this. Some ice and lemon and mwaaa!” Arnold would state while admiring his drink. He usually lifts it in the air and smiles.
“Get a girlfriend, man,” Michael trolled him someday after Arnold curtain raised for a celebrity artist on a campus tour.
Oh, by the way. Arnold introduced us all to Chrome Gin.
We’d never attend an event and go home without some dry shots at a time, or some chaser.
“Sherehe si sherehe bila nini…? He would ask whenever we toasted to success. Michael and I would respond. “Chrome Gin.”
He always emphasised that the bonding moment, with a taste of the drink, allowed us to embrace our true authentic selves.
“We are freethinkers. Through my music, I express my feelings. Man, this music’s going to pay. It would get me a woman. Get us some mulla (money), and I think I would either teach music or open a workshop in my hood to nurture some artists,” he would always share his vision.
Meeting Jacinta
Arnold was the first among us three to plan on settling down. He had always planned on settling at around 24 years.
I dated my lady, Georgina, for 2 years while Michael was in and out of relationships.
Arnold and Jacinta were together for a year. Mtu wangu, when we met the girl for the first time, we sealed the marriage. Wekelea rubber stamp.
Jacinta’s beauty shone in her soul. She loved and respected herself. She was bold enough to take and own her decisions, she loved with complete strength - her heart and mind aligned.
Haa. Let me not describe someone’s woman, sana. My own can disown me. You know there is also a limit between men when talking about someone's msupa, huh?
We sat at a joint in Karen the first time we met her. Arnold had spoken about how it was closer to her home and, thus, easier for her to drive by. We had seen her photos, but she was marvelling in her most real physical form.
We humbled ourselves, my man. It was a day to know the woman. No drinks at all that day. Just some food and conversation.
She spoke elegantly about her schooling, upbringing, career as a model and nurse, and playing musical instruments. Hmm, the chemistry!
We already loved her, but it was after we enjoyed our meal that we loved her more.
“Okay, boys. Can we now stop pretending?” she asked.
We looked at each other and wondered. Pretence? She summoned the waitress and ordered a Chrome Gin, some ice, lemon and a chaser.
We all broke into laughter. We hugged her.
“Come on, kujinauwo muhimu. I know almost everything about you and was just waiting to meet you,” she added, smiling.
She added that she even was aware that Chrome launched a limited-edition pack for its gin variant. The new pack features messaging that speaks to the attitude and vibrancy of the brand.
The limited-edition design features three messages around the ChromeTM street celebration themes: "Sherehe," "Kujinauwo," and "Kitu Safi." The limited-edition packs were are already available on shelves from December and will remain available through to around March 2023.
As boys, we approved the relationship. Loved and adopted by us, Jacinta was now our own.
I can’t even go into details about how many meetings, events and parties we had till the Ruracio.
Ruracio Drama
Michael pulled me towards where Arnold was speaking, wrapping up the event before we had our meals. We had spoken earlier on as his friends, and everyone wondered.
He pulled Arnold aside, “Man, congrats but me sioni ie kitu yetu kwa list? This is our most important day. We need the drinks asap, msee.
I stood rooted, listening to the two argue. “Inakuja,” Arnold stated.
“You know sherehe is not sherehe bila Chrome Gin. I was to order it last. Haa,” he added.
“Ah, si ungesema you have saved it for the special moment,” I added as the attendees broke into laughter.
We had yet to realise that everyone was listening to us speaking. We had not switched off the microphone. Haaa. No wonder there were some murmurs here and there.
Even the emcee lost his own program as we had taken over, temporarily disrupting the ruracio.
“Let’s add more Chrome Gin to the one ordered. Hawa wanapenda sherehe,” he lightly trolled us.
“And let’s all enjoy responsibly. Being mbogi ya Chrome means we know how to have responsible fun,” the emcee added as the DJ turned up the music.
The delivery man had just arrived and was heading back for some more.
“I love you guys,” Jacinta stated as he hugged us. “In the wedding reception Chrome Gin itaongezwa. Don’t plan to disrupt my wedding,” she added as we laughed at ourselves.
“By the way, I heard you guys had raised Ksh2 million ya dowry na venye dad amekataa doo. Si mnijenge Ksh200,000 ivi niongeze ninunue second hand car,” Jacinta’s younger brother, Tony, added when he walked into our circle.
“Io pesa itaanzisha biashara wewe,” Jacinta added as he pushed him away.
I went for more ice to spice my Chrome Gin. Sherehe, kujinauwo na kitu safi ni filosofi tatu tru!
Chupa ni limited edition lakini dreams zako hazina limit, ama niaje?
While the LEP has a fresh design, the bottle contents remain the same. What has changed is the bottle colour from green to clear and the 3 different themes.
Anyway, the limited nature of the pack makes it a good gift for you to give to each other as a gift, to collect, or to share with friends and loved ones during this festive season and as we usher in the new year. Happy holidays!
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