Behind Closed Doors

UP Nairobi continues with its insight into the lives of the people who have intimate access into the lives of the rich and powerful. Today we hear from Mutiso*, a 33-year old chauffeur to a man with close access to the heart of power in our country.

 

Mutiso’s Story

“I work for a man who used to be very close to former president Mwai Kibaki and is still a political heavyweight. He employed me in 2010 and I have been his wife’s driver mostly, although he is the one who pays me and can call upon me at any time.

He has grown children although he takes care of a lot of children of relatives, so his house is always lively. My day begins at six thirty a.m when I go to his house, a commute that takes me an hour as he lives in Milimani and I in Roysambu. I get there early because I take the three young children to school and then return to the house at eight to wait for mama. She has a horticulture business and we usually spend our mornings at JKIA, afternoons are spent at various pack houses where she assesses the other produce and flowers she would like to buy and sell.

She usually leaves me to my own devices when she is tending to business, time which I use to eat lunch and catch a few winks. I was a university student before my father lost his job and I was forced to drop out in my second year, therefore I have a lot of interest in books. I read a novel until she is done, at which point we go to pick the children from school.

Once back home, I clean the car and unless I receive further instruction, I leave at Six p.m. I like working here, and everyone is really nice to me. This job also gives me an opportunity to know the goings-on in the corridors of power. I like to be informed and it shocks me how much these waheshimiwa manipulate the ordinary mwananchi. The front they put up of being bitter enemies in public is very good acting- on numerous occasions I have seen the boss hob-nobbing with political rivals and their children are all good friends together.

Because of his status, the boss is usually chauffeured by armed bodyguards, although he trusts me with his more sensitive needs. He has another family in Kilileshwa with a woman my age and he asks me to take him there on some days. Mama does not know about this family. There was a funny incident when one of his children by his mistress was at a party with his which the boss was attending with mama and the child kept trying to run up to him. His bodyguard had to take the other woman and their child home before his wife cottoned on.

The most surprising thing about my job is the way the boss can discuss highly sensitive matters in my presence and think nothing of it. I sometimes think he does not know I am there. More likely I just thinks I am too far below his station to be of any danger regardless of what I hear. I do not care because the pay is very good.”

As Told To Iloti Mutoka

*Name changed to protect his identity.