An Armband & a smile

By Tamara May

So we are travelling home.

Our bags are overweight...kama kawaida.

At the Airport,I scan the check 

-in staff to see who might be a friendly staff and might wink me through with my overweight bags.

I stand in line, nervous.

Trying to look carefree and relaxed, but I am tense.

Now we are at the front of the line....the check-in lady gestures to us to go to her.

I try to ignore her because she has just sent a family away with wrapped up bags to go offload excess weight.

I don't want her to serve us.

But then she gets up and comes to us and tells us she will check us in.

Wueh, I plaster a fake smile on my face,inwardly cursing as I follow her to the counter...leo hatuponyi.

We reach the counter,she politely but sternly says;

"Pässe bitte!"(passports please!).

I reach into my bag to get our passports.

She then notices my Kenyan 🇰🇪 armband.

Suddenly her face softens and she smiles.

She asks;

"Are you Kenyan?"

I say yes I am.

Then she starts laughing.

I am laughing with her... nervously and slightly confused.

Turns out she saw the video of the Jensi protester who was allegedly smoking teargas from the canister.

We start laughing together,I tell her there were even some who were playing football with a teargas canister kule Waiyaki way.

Si tumechekaaa.

Si nimepitaaa na excess kilos hivyoo.

Kenya,my Kenya.

Long live Kenya!

Long live Kenyans!🇰🇪❤️