BY IMANI FREYSTAR
Time niliambiwa “Peter amepass” I snapped,
I thought it was a good punchline Stevo came up with juu ya kuwa beshte ya msanii
But his eyes turned watery, and face became pale, I almost snapped out
Aje na tulikuwa na Peter juzi?
Aje na Peter alikuwa tu kijana?
Aje na tulikuwa tumeet leo?
You see Peter was the jovial guy
The comedian in his circle
Hungeboeka akiwa around
Peter was well known in my village,
A form three dropout but maarifa ilikua ya graduate
Alisukuma mkokoteni na kupea watoi lift
A jack of all trades alijua mashimo zote around
Tests most za life alikuwa amepass
But hii nayo mbona hange pass over?
Sikuwai ona Peter akiwa msick
Sikuwai ona medication akiseek
But for a guy like him si kuumwa na kichwa ni kawaida?
Kusukumana na wathii and all the noise pale shopping center ilikuwa normal
But Peter alijulikana hadi dispensary
Mgonjwa angelemewa Peter was the first to come through with his mkokoo
Never asked for payment we called him Red Cross
He was a paramedic who never got to med school
Kumbe no one awarded Peter’s good deeds
When his time came walimwangalia kama sanamu
Watched from a far hawakumwai hata salamu
Stevo was around na alijua Peter better
He was not the type to idle around bila kutafuta nganji
He was not the type that kept quiet he always held the mic
But this day alionekana mchovu, no smiles, no happiness.
He said his head hurt more than usual, Stevo akaleta painkillers
He was sweating on his mkoko, Stevo akamkimbiza hosii
Maumivu kichwani na mfukoni alikua tu na kichwani
Aliambiwa kumwona daktari ni two chwani
Akawekwa kwa bench akingoja Stevo who went to rest of the money
He pleaded with a nurse that knew him amwitie daktari,
Nurse alimwambia sawa lakini alienda zake
Njeve ilimpiga but Peter was sweating
Stevo kurudi alipewa kadi ya kumwona daktari
The line was long but sasa angedoo?
No one was willing to hear him out
No one believed Peter needed some quick action
Peter aliambia Stevo ampangie line akifikiwa amkujie
Not knowing that was the last time wangeongea.
From eleven in the morning turn ya Stevo ilifikiwa six thirty jioni
Aliita nurse washikanie Peter to the consultant room
Only to be declared dead by the doc.
I cried.
Why would a medical center take emergency situations like a joke?
Why would a nurse neglect their own?
Hawa wacee walijua Peter so mbona this day waliturn away?
I snapped out.
