A day in the life of a teenager in Nakuru city

As the bell announcing the end of the two-month school break nears, a group of high school students are making the most of it.

Mtaa Wangu has learnt that majority of the boys find solace in the video game arcades across Kenyatta avenue, where they spend most of their time playing their favourite games.

As I watched from the outside, I loved the thrill they had for competing with each other and with other players. The sound of machines and the music was enough for anyone to be in their own world.

Speaking to the owner of the arcade, Sammy Deng, he says, “The boys arrive around noon, buy their tokens in the slots, pick their characters and play the games as many times as possible.”

Mr Deng notes that he charges Sh 50 per 6 minutes. Most of the high schoolers play u to as late as 8pm from noon.

Meanwhile, high school girls have a different plan. Majority of them gather at eateries in town where they can get fast food with their friends.

Seated as a group of only three girls at a corner table with their chicken nuggets, fries and sodas, I watch them laughing  and enjoying the taste of the food and the drinks as well as the smell of the spices.

Apart from them checking their social media feeds and posting selfies with their food, I eavesdropped on their conversation which was mostly centred on the boys they have crushes on and how they feel about going back to school next week.

Despite their separate activities, both groups  are seen to find joy in their chosen hangouts. As the day waned, I noticed that none of the boys or girls were keen on street photography.

It seemed that the memories they shared in the dimly lit video games arcade and loud fast food joints transcended the need for photography.

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