By Alex Maina
When the sun sets in Lower Bondeni and deep in Kambi Teso, people do not just go home they prepare for battle. The streets turn dark. There are no streetlights. Only shadows. And in those shadows, danger hides.
People in this area are living in fear. They are not afraid of wild animals. They are afraid of other people. Thieves wait in the dark, hiding near maize farms and corners. The roads are quiet, and without light, no one can see where they are going or who is following them.
Mercy, a mother of two who works at a nearby shop, shares her painful experience.
“One evening I was walking home from work. It was around 7:30pm. Two men came from the side of the road and grabbed my bag. I screamed but no one came. They pushed me down and ran. I lost everything my phone, my money. Even now, I still feel scared walking alone.”
For Mercy, darkness means fear. She now closes her shop early and always tries to find someone to walk with. She is not alone.
Kevin, a young man from Bondeni, says, “We know the places where thieves hide. You can’t even use your phone. They snatch it and run into the farms. You scream, but no one comes. Everyone is scared.”
People have learned to walk in groups. They wait for each other at stage corners, hoping to find safety in numbers. No one feels safe walking alone at night. It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman. The danger is real.
Mary, an older woman from Kambi Teso, adds,
“I have lived here for 20 years. Before, we could walk freely. But now, after 7pm, we stay indoors. If you’re late, you must call someone to meet you. Or sleep where you are. It’s not right.”
Residents believe that one thing can change this streetlights. They don’t ask for much. Just light. Light to see the road. Light to know who is coming. Light to make thieves fear.
Streetlights would bring back peace. People would walk without fear. Children could go to the shop in the evening. Workers could get home safe.
The people of Bondeni and Kambi Teso are not asking for luxury. They are asking for safety. They are asking to live without fear. They are asking their leaders to see them, hear them, and light up their streets. Because no one deserves to live in darkness.
