I hurried back home and went straight into the house, I was about to

enter my room when I realized something very unusual in the sitting

room…,the serene ambiance was tainted with smoke and an acrid smell of burning
cigarette smote the air. This was strange as my folks were anti-cigarettes
ambassadors in our humble hamlet .I slowly turned my head towards the direction
of the smoke with questions flooding my puny mind fast and furious. My eyes
finally landed on the source of the smoke, I just could not believe it. How did he
manage to get in? What did he want? I soliloquized within.

Mr.Makasi, my father’s main competitor in the upcoming gubernatorial

election, was seated right in front of me. His probulent belly hanging loosely
forming a valley between his thighs. His unmatched expensive way of dressing
would easily hoodwink an innocent soul, however deep within; he was a bad egg, a
wolf in sheep’s skin. My mind was thrown in a trance like state. Not knowing
what to do I, released the goods still grasped in my arms. In moments like this one
has three things in mind; fright, flight or fight. I choose the latter trying to master
an ounce of strength but my muscles were not in sync with my spirit. I could
neither scream for help nor take to my heels and run.

“Young girl! Do not try anything sinister or I will comb through your brain
and render you both helpless and lifeless.”He roared at me exposing his well set
pearl-white teeth. Truly the sages were not wrong when they coined the aphorism:
its better the devil you know than an angel you don’t, better still all that glitters is
not gold. “Your father has been out of town for three days campaigning against me
and also collecting evidence to prove that I wrongfully evicted people from their
lands,” he paused as he scanned my visage as if looking for a lost needle. A vice
like grip held me from the back, raised me above the floor and from our well
polished cutlery I could tell his face. Majuto! He was the most feared goon in our
hamlet and here he was. A thin line of sweat dropped down my countenance like a
tear drop. “Tell him when he comes today he must drop all the charges leveled
against me, failure to which he will have himself to blame for the outcome and to
stay out of the gubernatorial race. It is mine!” He barked at me. As sudden as
brambles he grip softened and I landed on the linoleum floor with a thud.

1
 The two darkened the doorway looked at me released a mirthless laugh
and walked away. I remained riveted on the ground like a wax statue shaking like
an old battleship. I can’t tell how long I lay on the ground as fear had rendered me
helpless. The hooting and honking of father’s automobile revered me back to my
senses. As soon as he got into the house I narrated to him the whole ordeal and
luckily our closed circuit television (CCTV) had recorded the whole ordeal. Father
could not hold it together and he charged out of the house like he was in the war of
1812.We sped down the highway as traffic was low we consequently drove at a
nerve-jarring speed. We arrived at the police station recorded a statement and
walked out ready for the next day.

Early the following morning all members of Mavumbi Village thronged

Utumishi Court room ready to hear the case before the judge. The courtroom was a
simple structure with few furniture here and there. Portrait of the president hang on
one wall while a head of a rhino hang tall just above the judges chair. A masaai
trinket had been stylishly mounted on the wall adjacent the dock. “All arise,
honorable judge Makali entering the courtroom to precede over today’s case. “ We
all did as instructed. “Today we gather to listen to a case that has been on
everyone’s lips. Mr. Makasi you are accused of opening the flood gates on the
night of 13th March this year. This resulted to a flood downstream. This forced
more than a hundred people to relocate. You later grabbed the land incognisant of
the various families plight. Do you plead guilty or not guilty?” “Not guilty your
honor,” Mr. Makasi responded. “ I therefore call the defense counsel to make his
submissions. My father sashayed to the front and made his submissions, calling
one witness after the other. “I order the court to be adjourned till afternoon.”The
judge proclaimed as he hit his gavel on the table.

It was not long when the court session resumed. As he emerged from the
court chambers the judge seemed to be decided on his verdict. Oar silent was the
courtroom as we waited for the verdict. “After carefully listening to what both the
defense counsel and the accuser’s counsel had to say and what Mr.Makisa did
yesterday in Mr. Smith’s house, I pronounce him guilty. I sentence him to five
years in prison and hard labour.”Everyone jubilated as the verdict was pronounced.
Members of the forth estate circled round my father as they circled like vultures
above a tottering camel. In my mind I wondered, what next for Mr.Makasi? What
kismet awaited him in prison. Would my father clinch the gubernatorial seat?
2
TR.KEVIN.