Central Dogma

KASONGO EFFECT:part 1

The other day, I walked into my favorite joint in Ongata Rongai for lunch, trying to squeeze a decent meal. Every time I opened my wallet, I was reminded that in these times, every shilling is a battle.

I ordered my usual—chapati mandondo—and when the bill arrived, I couldn’t help but like any other Kenyan, bargained ,😩😩"Buda, si unishukishie bei kidogo? Kasongo anatunyonga bana!"

The waiter, with a heavy sigh, replied, "Boss, sisi pia tunaumia. Prices for oil, flour, salt—everything’s through the roof. And the worst? Kasongo na watu wake hawajali kabisa. While we’re paying every extra kobo, those in power live without a care."

That hit me hard. As we talked, it wasn’t just about pinching pennies—it was about a system rigged in favor of the few. For many of us, every day is a struggle for survival. And for youths without steady jobs, the situation is even bleaker. With little chance to earn a stable income, some are pushed toward desperate measures, even if that means turning to crime or other corrupt practices.A glaring example is the case of a Kenyan goalkeeper who was bribed to fix a match—a scandal that has rocked the sports community and sent shockwaves through the nation. This incident isn’t just about a single lapse in judgment; it’s a symptom of a system where even those who once inspired national pride are forced into compromising positions. Under constant economic pressure, he too became a victim of a system designed to squeeze the poor out of every opportunity.

Meanwhile, the ruling class continues to dine in upscale hotels, enjoying tax breaks and cushioned subsidies that keep them insulated from our struggles. They wield power through corruption and policies that enrich them, leaving the rest of us to battle a rising tide of costs and dwindling opportunities.

In the end, we cannot simply blame the goalkeeper. He, like many others, is struggling to keep up with a system that’s set up against the poor.... to be continued