My first time in Nakuru and how I got hustled by a boda boda guy

Allan Odhiambo was very excited when he boarded a matatu in Busia and left for Nakuru. The prospect of visiting a city he had only seen snippets of on Facebook left him overjoyed, and he could not wait to embark on his new adventure.

"After around seven gruelling hours on the road, I arrived in Nakuru. I remember we were making our way past the Total roundabout I had never seen such a huge roundabout before," he says.

His cousin had told him to ask the driver to drop him off at the KFA roundabout.

"My cousin works at Westside Mall, so once I got off at the KFA roundabout, specifically at the Rubis petrol station, I just had to cross the road and find the mall entrance where he would be waiting for me," he says.

"When I got off the matatu, I have to say I was very confused. At that moment, I didn't even think to call my cousin. Some people asked me if I was going to Nairobi and other boda boda riders asked me where I was going," he says.

Allan says that he asked a boda boda rider where the Westside Mall was, and the rider told him that he could take him there.

"I remember my cousin telling me that it was within walking distance, but this boda boda rider was insisting that he could take me there. I found that peculiar, to say the least," he says.

Fearing he would get lost, Allan boarded the boda boda and off they went.

"We rode along the Nakuru–Nairobi highway, passing the roundabout near Prime Plaza and the Pinkam roundabout. Then we turned onto Kenyatta Avenue and rode all the way until we reached Westside Mall," he says.

During this time, Allan took in the sights and sounds of the city. Upon arriving at the main entrance, he dismounted.

"Boss, unanidai ngapi?" Allan asked the boda guy.

"Ukinipea Sh150 kwa mbaya, unaona kwa hapa tumetoka venye kwa mbali," said the boda guy.

Allan gave the man Sh150 and he immediately reached out to his cousin, who came to the entrance to pick him up.

"When I told my cousin that I had paid Sh150, he looked shocked and surprised. 150 to get here, he looked shocked and surprised," says Allan.

"I remember we crossed the road and walked all the way to the KFA roundabout and then on to the Rubis petrol station. I was so confused and honestly lost for words. To this day, I don't know why I didn't immediately call my cousin to pick me up after I got off the bus,” he laments.

As Allan recounted his ordeal, we were having lunch at our favourite roadside kibandaski. I bought him a small soda to help him forget the embarrassment.