I am informed that I need to be in Nairobi the following day for some engagements. I should be there by 8AM, the following day. But I should be in Meru till around 5pm on that same Monday.
There are two ways to it, travel overnight, ama nichukue zile matatu za 3am ndio nifike by 7am.
Na gari za miraa za usiku. And just like that, I decided to take them. I get a number and call the guy, he is so relaxed on call, and he promises to pick me at 10PM.
Having heard stories of thrilling speeds and how mtu anapanda gari na soda anashidwa kukunywa all through, I decide sitakula, I might ninii kwa gari.
Guy arrives some minutes past 11pm, he has two passages so he gives me a number to call. This particular one is driving an Isuzu, apparently the only Isuzu pick-up delivering khat (I stand to be corrected) currently. I call the number and the guy tells me, kaa hapo niko Kianjai nakuja. Kianjai is about 16kms from Makutano.
The guys who was to carry me tells me: “mtatupita, kuja na huyo. Hiyo gari ako nayo ni rweeni (lightening). Ngoja utajionea”.
Am like, I think zote ni rweeni. But ni sawa.
Shortly after, anafika.
He is alone. Mimi pap, kwa gari. It is a Toyota Hilux, 2.8L not the 2.5L, note
If I give you a ride, lazima nikwambie ufunge belt, hii sikufunga, I was holding my small bag. The guy turns to me and tells me; “funga mshipi”. Hapo nikajua baaaaas, Abraham, Moses, Joshua see you shortly.
Now, these guys do not drive fast, they just maintain a speed. Simple. That is all you need to know.
So this is what happens, if incase I, (them in this case), do delay with say 2mins, I must recover. The speed was doing roughly 120kph. Mahali tuanapata na a small snarl-up (snarl-up hapa ni kitu ya 1 min), the car will do 130-140, why? To recover the time lost (yes, that 1min is very important).
Something else to note, these guys will only overtake when they have done their math. Mimi nilikuwa naona, boss, c upite? He was like, kwanza unapiga hesabu. Usipige mtu, usijipigishe. So unlike wale wa acha nikanyage chini kabisa nione kama nitapita, these ones are, are am I sure? Yes or NO, not maybe.
BUMPS:
It is not all bumps that watapita with those neck braking speeds, nah. Those who have been to Meru will know very well that bumps zenye ziko katikati ya Meru town na Embu ni mingi kama kizungu ya Baraza JM. But these guys know which to slow on and not.
CORNERING:
They were the scariest of them all.
Mimi kupiga corner na speed ya 80 labda kama sijui ni corner. 110-120, and the car was stable enough. That tells you that the aftermarket engineering is something to write home about.
BRAKING:
The best I ever experienced. Gari inasimama ikiambiwa.
FYI: Unlike wale wenu hungoja zinaanza kulia kama Watoto wa baby class ndio you change them, most of these cars you make two trips and change the brake pads. Safari ya Nairobi that is. Ya Mandera maybe once
STOPS:
Just one at Kenol, that lasted like two mins. We recovered them, hapo ndio nilisikia roho ikiwa kwa socks
BROTHERHOOD:
These guys know each other by their kid’s name. I remember one calling saying he had gotten to Meru headed to Nairobi but did not trust his car, the response, wachana nayo gari ingine ikujie. They do not take chances, never.
CONCETRATION:
This particular Hilux had an infotainment screen, it was blank all through. I told myself: “kama ni music nataka nilifaa niingie kwa club.”
Either the hands are on the steering wheel, or on the gear lever (which is the least used!)
Oh, yes, the guy with the Isuzu was right, tulimpitia somewhere in Chuka. Akatupita hapo Kenol.
Authored by Phineas Imaana  owner of Kleen CarWash located in Maua Town, Meru County

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