CHAPTER SEVEN

Mr. Mwabili, stood in one of the medical centres at the Kakuma refugee camp. He looked over at the young girl who was now being brought in. Her emaciated figure and her torn clothes showed the journey she had been through. Her cheeks looked sunken and her arms and legs seemed weak and thin. Her eyes told a sad story of not having enough food. As she entered the camp, you could see she had been through a lot.

To Mr. Mwabili, the job with UN seemed as a chance of redemption from his past secrets. Unlike before these days he did not require his sleeping peels to sleep. This global chance had given him a chance to rewrite his story. He often found himself promising God that he would put his energy for the greater good.

When the Internet shutdown struck, many families found themselves facing challenges in finding food. North Western, Kenya, was one of the most hunger-stricken areas in Kenya. Refugees arrived at Kakuma refugee camp in thousands. Day by day the camp became a home for millions of people. The number of deaths also raised and the government found itself with a lot of demand to provide for both its citizens and refugees.

Newspapers were published each day demanding the government to put more effort in closing the gap between the rich and the poor. But even the rich did not have an easy road. They found themselves in a dilemma of providing for their families and sharing their food with their hunger-stricken neighbours.

Theft also increased with the fear to die of hunger. No villages or estates were safe anymore. This created the room for more violence. Those who had large farms were found with a challenge when their neighbours demanded that they should share their farms with them. The leaders in the government who had grabbed more land during their leadership were shocked when thousands marched to their farms and divided the land, cattle and sheep amongst themselves. Those who did not have the courage to stay carried the sheep in their backs and run. The sheep out of fear fainted and some of them died.

Mr. Mwabili walked to the bed where the little girl had been laid. She looked up to him her eyes filled with curiosity and wariness. He noticed how her emaciated figure, full of vulnerability, showed a glimmer of hope. He gently handed her a peanut sachet and a portion of nutrient-rich biscuits. She quickly grabbed the lifesaving portions as a deep connection passed between the two of them.

Just then, one of the nurses passed a message to him that he was been inquired by his boss. He quickly excused himself and went straight to his boss' office.

"Have a sit, Mr. Mwabili," his boss said pointing to a sit next to him.

In Mr. Mwabili's mind this was expected. He had been working hard for the last three months. Even when his son came to his door looking robbed of life, he did not give up. He put all his energy in his work. The work, despite being demanding for him to be at different places, did not discourage him. Today was the day he had always waited for. He was sure that his boss was going to promote him so that he would only be stationed in Nairobi. As he took a sit, his heart quickened with anticipation. A subtle smile covered his face as he envisioned his future.

"Mr. Mwabili, you are hardworking man and that's why I called you to this office today," his boss started.

Mr. Mwabili raised his eyes to look at his boss, Mr. Lucas, with hope. Mr. Lucas, with an illicit look, went ahead to reveal a sinister plan involving the transportation of drugs from the border through tunnels passing through Kakuma. Mr. Mwabili was caught with shock in realisation that the very institution he sought redemption would be the result of his downfall.

"I will give you some days to think about this," Mr. Lucas said.

That evening, Mr. Mwabili drove to his hotel room with a mix of embarrassment. The weight of the boss's proposal hung in the air and a dark cloud overshadowed his personal space. He thought about how his wife would have advised him in this situation. The thought about her almost made him go crazy. The shadows that had been long gone in the past few months overshadowed the place. He felt alone.

"Was he going to be swallowed by greed and corruption," he wondered.

There was only one day remaining before returning back to Nairobi. He frequently made small trips to Kakuma and thus he knew he had one day to make a decision. The competition for places like his were high and one small mistake could cost him his job. He had to think clearly. His boss's offer was quite good. He had promised him to give him a permanent job at Nairobi quarters and thus he would only be running everything from there. This was good chance because the risk of being connected with the illegal business by the police was low. Also, he would not be the one doing the dirty work. The boss had informed him that he had a group of a hundred-armed men who would do all the transportation and thus he would only be an overseer.

In the quietude of the night, after wrestling with his conscience, a reluctant decision took root. Back in his mind he knew he had to fight for survival. He knew that these were desperate times and thus he needed to take desperate measures. Otherwise with communication cut off, there would be no way for the police to be informed. He therefore chose to go ahead with Mr. Lucas' plan. This would be a perfect moment to gain power and provide for his family.

He saw himself dining with the most influential people in the country

"Only the chosen, will succeed in these times," Mr. Mwabili whispered to himself.

The allure of financial gain and power blinded his mind and choices. He saw this as a chance to overshadow the shadows of his past. Blinded by the promise of a different kind of redemption, one measured in material wealth and power, Mr. Mwabili looked ahead, unaware of the darkness that would eventually engulf him.