Reflecting on my Childhood Days in Sergoit

By Bakari Kemei

During my childhood, I attended Emsilies Primary School for my elementary education. My parents had recently moved from Charar Scheme and Tugen Estate to Kapchunga. Interestingly, a portion of my family remained in Charar Scheme, giving my siblings and me two homes to navigate with the permission of our strict parents.

The occupant of Karo Farm was an Indian man named Hudda. The mzungu’s compound housed a variety of fruits, which became a target for some of the older students who would steal them for lunch. The stolen fruits were a delicacy for certain individuals, while others would only dare to try them at their own risk.

Another exciting activity was swimming in the nearby stream and dam, especially during lunchtime for those who had no food due to the long distance from their homes to school.

Although my home was 4km away from the school, my siblings and I would run the entire way for lunch. It was fascinating how we could cover 8km in just one hour.

One other wonder was a place called “Kaptagataka”, a place where trash was thrown in Hudda’s compound. This used to be a favourite spot for me and a few friends, especially on Mondays. This is where we would collect a lot of tins and other unwanted things, some of them dangerous. But thank God, we are now men in impeccable suits nowadays.

Edited for the archive by William Kiptoo.

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