From Sparks to Stories

  Life is such a funny thing, man.  Sometimes I sit and think about it for a little too long, and honestly, I probably shouldn't. You start asking questions that have no business being asked at 2 a.m. You begin wondering whether we are all just some elaborate amusement for the gods. Perhaps they sit somewhere above us, looking down, deciding who gets the soft life, who gets the difficult one, and who, for reasons known only to them, is born already sliding through lava. Maybe they even place bets on who makes it.  Which would be particularly cruel because, if they are gods, surely they already know the ending. But maybe I am overthinking it. What do I know? I was having a conversation with a favourite stranger last week about this thing called fate. Honestly, I don't really believe in it. I struggle with the idea that somewhere, somehow, there is an already-written script for my life. That before I even showed up, somebody had already decided who would become rich, who wo...

  Guys, I am rethinking my life, because Who uses matatu? Well… I’m currently seated in one. In fact, I used one in the morning too. It’s not just transport, it’s a lifestyle, a commitment, a situationship I didn’t sign up for but here we are. So what does that say about me? Anyway, I’m here having a deep life conversation with my newly-found friends. You know how matatus do that, force bonding. One sharp corner and suddenly you’re sharing life philosophies with a stranger who smells like strong cologne and ambition. Now… plot twist. One of these guys casually mentions he hasn’t used a matatu in FOUR YEARS. Four. Years. The other one… acha tu. Her relationship with public transport is “once upon a time.” And I’m here thinking we are the same species. Do you know these people use matatus for experience? For thrill? Like it’s some kind of extreme sport. “Bro, have you ever hung on a door at 7am traffic? The adrenaline??” Meanwhile, for some of us, that’s not adrenaline, that’s surviv...

I was about to name this piece "you cannot shame the shameless" but I decided.  You wanna know why?  Free will guys. Free will.  But anyway...  The city under the sun. Such a beautiful name. Right?  So poetic. So promising. You hear it and you imagine golden light kissing skyscrapers, people walking with purpose, maybe a saxophone playing faintly in the background as life unfolds in soft, cinematic motion. Then you arrive in Nairobi. And immediately, you realize the sun is not kissing anything. It is beating. Beating the tarmac. Beating your confidence. Beating your sense of direction. And if you are not careful, it will beat your bank account too. By 4:00am, the city is in full performance mode. Matatus roar like they are in a Fast & Furious audition no one asked for.  Conductors hang halfway outside the doors, yelling destinations like auctioneers who are emotionally invested in your travel plans. Kwani you guys don't sleep? “Town! Tao! CBD! Ha...

  Wait. Guys!  I think I’m officially qualified to say, “niko pahali pa hatari.” Because wait… what? Is this what comes with being 26? You people never warned me that once you hit this age, relatives stop asking how you’re doing and start asking about your marital status like it’s a government project. Suddenly, everyone is invested. Everyone is concerned. Everyone has suggestions. You can be building a career, healing, figuring yourself out, learning how to be a decent human being, but none of that seems to matter if there’s no wedding loading. Apparently, kumbe 2 6 comes with a wedding countdown. You never really start a sentence with “so” unless you are in a crisis. So… today I am in one. A very big one.  The other day my mother casually joked about wanting a grandchild.  I laughed. Not because it was funny, but because my brain needed time to process the plot twist. This is the same woman who, just the other day (okay, maybe a few years ago), used to iss...

Wow… 26 already. Time really does fly! Turning 26 feels like standing on the edge of something electric, a place where lessons from the past meet the endless possibilities of the future. It’s that sweet spot where reflection meets ambition, and gratitude meets curiosity. Honestly, it’s a big person’s age, there are things you can’t just do anymore, and yet, there’s so much you can. They say, at 26, you start to know yourself in ways you never did before. You see your strengths, your quirks, and the sparks that make you come alive. You’ve stumbled, you’ve celebrated, and you’ve realized that life isn’t just about reaching a destination, but how you move through the journey. And yes, just like Mike says, the mistakes… they start to cost more. The lessons are harder, the risks weigh heavier, and the stakes feel higher. But here’s the thing: each “expensive mistake” teaches you something you wouldn’t learn any other way. They sharpen your judgment, stretch your patience, and remind you tha...

It is January 10th, 6:44 a.m. I can't turn my head off.  Funny how I haven’t slept at all, today, or maybe since yesterday. Frankly, I don’t want to sleep. I’m afraid the rest of the day will take a toll on me if I do. But here I am. It’s been a while since I last wrote. This morning, I feel inspired again. And you probably already know what my inspiration is. Yes, you guessed right. It’s a girl. She’s a beauty. Truly. I noticed it at first, felt it even, but brushed it off because of a silly pact I made with myself: no pursuing girls from church. Not after what happened the last time. But this one feels different. She really does. She’s calm. Collected. And when she smiles; man, when she smiles, my head goes into a frenzy. Crazy, right? I finally told her I found her attractive. I said, “It would be unfair if I never told you how beautiful of a human being you are.” It took courage, but I meant every word. My voice didn’t shake at all, my heart did. It has been a while since I fe...

I won’t lie—my writing mojo had packed its bags and gone on an unapproved sabbatical. The other day, Diana texted me, clearly unimpressed, to ask why on earth I’d gone months without giving you guys something to read. “We’re starving here!” she said. I promised her I’d write something soon, but if I’m honest, I had no idea when—or even what—I’d write about. But all credits to Wanyama for this one. You know, the kind of conversation that derails your train of thought but somehow manages to put the wheels back on track? Yeah, that’s the one. So, here we are, all thanks to Wanyama—because if there’s one thing about him, he has a knack for stirring the pot and getting my creative side in motion. For some reason, many believe that men don't cry. Or maybe it's that men shouldn't cry. Perhaps, as some might argue, men were simply not meant to cry. I find myself both agreeing and disagreeing with each of these notions in equal measure. There are moments when holding it in is ...

In today's fast-paced world, a lot goes on, and sometimes we get so caught up in responsibilities and the demands of daily life that we forget to take care of ourselves. Recently, stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion have reached all-time highs. As a result, self-care has become not just a buzzword but an essential practice for sustaining mental wellness. As a mental health counselor and founder of Akilispace—an initiative aimed at promoting mental wellness among young people—I’ve seen firsthand how neglecting self-care can lead to a rapid deterioration of our emotional, physical, and mental health. Self-care is not a luxury or an occasional indulgence; it’s a necessity for everyone, regardless of age, background, or profession. It requires an intentional approach to engaging in activities that promote overall well-being, with the goal of restoring balance in our lives. Why self-care? Personally, I believe self-care is the foundation of mental resilience. Taking the time to ...

  HRs, hebu kuja hapa, kwani hamna budget?  Anyway guys, if there's a question that sends shivers down my  spine, aquestion so terrifying that it surpasses the dreaded, "What are we?" that you might get from that lady you picked up from the club last month, then this question is none other than: "So, how much do you want us to pay you?" Now, I don't know about you, but I've found this question to be a source of great anxiety. It's like being asked, "What's your deepest, darkest secret?" but in corporate jargon. Why does it have to be this way?  Imagine it: you've aced the first few rounds of interviews. You've researched the company, prepared your best "what's your greatest weakness" response (spoiler: "I'm a perfectionist"), and worn your "hire me, I'm smart and also very nice" outfit. Then, it happens. The HR smiles at you, takes a sip of water, and drops the bomb: "So, how much d...

I know, it feels like I’ve taken a million years to get back to you. But hold up, guys—you can’t stone me for that! I was in love . If you were in my shoes, trust me, you’d get it. But don’t worry, I’m here now, flipping back to the pages we once shared. It was one of those whirlwind romances—full of light, late-night talks, and endless inside jokes. They built their love on shared dreams, stolen glances, and Ed Sheeran’s lyrics playing softly in the background. Everything seemed perfect, as if the universe had handed them a script destined to last forever. It was love in its purest form, a promise to grow old together, laughing through the wrinkles and savoring the slow passage of time. But, like many love stories, cracks began to form. Slowly at first, almost invisible. Then came that Sunday afternoon. One simple conversation, with the sun streaming through the window and their hands gently interlocked, would change everything. The words between them picked up speed, and before they ...

  You know what, Inspiration, dedication and zeal is what I bring to the table...and when the table requires me to deliver.... I go ALL OUT MAN! Because why not? 😅🎉🎉.  So, yes, as this year draws to a close, I find myself profoundly grateful for the remarkable journey it has been. 🙌  I've had the privilege of delving into spaces dedicated to promoting mental health wellness, working alongside inspiring organizations, and collaborating with exceptional individuals who are passionately driving the message of mental health advocacy.  From online initiatives and programs to shaping guidance and counseling programs in schools & partnering with NGOs on impactful initiatives, the collective effort towards fostering mental health awareness has been truly empowering. 👥💚 I'm immensely thankful for the networks I've had the honor of building—connections that share the same zeal and intentionality in making a positive impact on mental health. 🤝 Here's to the transform...

 Take a moment and think about it. This might not be one of the most pleasurable discussions to have with self but don't you think it's equally one worth having? So, Who are you? Maybe you probably do know already and that is a good thing mate.  You might think you know, but maybe you don't. I think I belong to this category hence the need to actually pen this down.  Sometimes this question will prove way harder than we thought, but for you to get to a point of being self aware then probably this is a path one must tread on.  What is it that you genuinely love? What is it that you genuinely want for yourself? What is that picture in your head about your ideal self? What do you find valuable or pleasurable? Do you negotiate fairly for yourself?...or do you downplay yourself just because you feel it's the moral thing to do, or probably you think looking out for yourself is such a selfish to do.  Or you just sit there and fit in to other people's definitions of wha...

 She walked in like the way pageants do, small, slow confident steps. Her striking beauty with rich melanin skin as she exuded an air of confidence with every step she took. Her presence commanded attention as her long legs gracefully carried her forward, each movement as a testament to her poise and self assured-ness. You should know that there is a special place in heaven for ladies with long legs.  We had been talking for the past few days on Instagram, she sent me this picture of hear seated at the beach...having the best of what life had to offer and I "fell in love"...then we exchanged numbers and talked alot more on WhatsApp. It was my first time-to my recollection - to feel that close with a lady we met on the streets of social media. It didn't feel strange or odd. For a fact, we both seemed to enjoy this, and the obsession grew. We could have been talking about dogs and trees and stars and all those seemingly weird stuff you guys talk about that oddly feels inter...

              He  kept seeing this girl in class. Some days she would be in an elegant colourful dress, the other days she would wear these big beautiful sun glasses that would make you want to stare at her. Through them he could see her lustrous eyes that shined bright no matter where she looked. And each time she looks at him, he felt like destiny was calling out to him. But he had this  ka -feeling about her, that she had an attitude, and to a certain degree she did. Well, that was not a deal breaker for him, or for any man in that case, he thought. He actually believes men want a little attitude when dealing with women. That ability to relate and vibe with her 'attitude' coming out every once in a while is beauty itself.       It is a Monday, after his first class he spots her, she is some pants that beautifully flare out from the knees, I heard they call them palazzo pants. He is looking at her and he can't ...

 Must have a TSC number, or TSC registered is the most consistent yet annoying thing I have heard this week. Well, like I told Charles the other day, it is humbling. yes ...finishing school can humble you mate.  And just like that seems like we can't get to teach till we graduate ...God knows when but we got to try other options, right? So the other day I saw an advert of this bank hiring interns and I walked right into it, with that ka-glimmer of hope. The other thing that really raised my hopes even higher is seeing a youthful man ... probably in his early thirties seated in a big black fancy -swinging chair all bossy and I thought to myself...this place must really be welcoming young intellectual men...just like me because man, have you met me.  I walked right into the office serving 'yes sir',  'thank you sir' and all manner of sirs at least to get my chances of being hired a little higher. As I drop my letter, ready to throw a final 'thank you sir'  and...

 If riding in a matatu doesn't make you want you to improve your life, then nothing will...because matatu is one of the humbling yet excruciating experience you have to live with, at least till you buy your own car.  I look at my phone, it is 8:46 am, I feel like an early bird because then, at least I will get a matatu, travelling from Eldoret to Kisii, finishing school things you know. Reaching the booking office, I find a huge line, all of them struggling to fill up the countable number of matatus available. If you know me, then you know I have never been the rowdy, loud person. In trying to keep my gentlemanship intact I step aside and let them. You see, being mixed in this fiasco with an elderly 40 something-year-old Kisii woman is something you don't wanna find yourself in. It is like they throw their dignity out of the window.  Finally I get mine, at around 10:26am, a good seat too...number one seat for those who use the matatu. This seat makes you feel like you w...

"The court finds the defendant guilty as charged and sentences you to..." These words were deafening to his ears; he wasn’t sure he was awake at that time, but he sure was. All he wished for was that this could turn out to be a dream, so sad that it was all but the reality. It was dawning on him that he had lost the most precious thing in his life—his freedom—along with his time, his dream of having a family, and so much more. He was a family man, you know, right from when he was a kid. His father always said he would make a great father, and he was sure of that. The sound of the handcuffs clicking signaled his last taste of freedom. Well, all the time left for him to live now would be spent behind bars; what a sad way to live, but did he have a choice? They say life is like a wind; you can’t really dictate in which direction it chooses to blow. Maybe only God knows, but he was too ashamed to even ask God for help. And so he let fate decide his path. His mother was the mos...

 So ngaiz, you remember that 'hotspot lady' I couldn't keep quiet about? The one who made my head go into a fizzy the other day? Yes, that one. Imagine I found out that she eats ugali with a spoon... aiii! like who dasdaat ? Anyway, due to public demand, I am here to tell how it went down, haha! (continued). ..You know that feeling that comes with you successfully getting her to give you her number. Feels so good, right? so, this is me. It's been like thirty minutes since we part and I see the need to 'pop' her phone with a follow up text, just to make sure she doesn't forget about me you know.  I look at my phone, it is 3.10 pm, that's good timing, so I send the text.   'Hey there Pretty, It's Hans, the hotspot guy!' Just so you know, Hans has been my pen name since I went into writing. I find it a lil' classy. You might as well call me Brian but many are the times I have had ladies tell me ' haukai Brayo, wewe baki tu kuwa Hans...