A Land Purchase

The village sits on a small flat, extending further up the hill, towards the lower slopes of the mighty Mt. Meru. The mountain affords the village with adequate seasonal rainfall, from the short rains and later, the long rains. It is because of the rainfall that the village is shaded by a mix of indigenous and exotic trees, among them the two large mangoes and the avocado gracing the yard of Henry’s house.

Perched on the hill above his house stood a school-owned house, where three families lived, attached accommodation in English terms. Each had an entrance room, an even smaller storeroom and a pokey little bedroom. Spartan accommodation but still better that the accommodation provided by many government primary schools.

The toilet was across the road and was  communal, a tin shed with a bomb-box hole in the floor. It served also for bathing. Water was carried by bucket up from the small stream, ten minutes away, down the hill.

Each family had their own cooking space outside; small enclosures with barely protection from the rain. Cooking was done on the traditional three-stone hearth. Families learned cooking skills because the hearth is where they sat in the dark until the meal was prepared at around 9:00pm.

There was electricity in the form of a single bulb inside but was seldom used because of the cost and unreliability of supply.

Mags and Henry had become close friends with the family living in the middle section of the housing complex, stemming from the friendship of Mbise, one of their nursery workers.

Mama Upendo was a solo mother whose husband had absconded around the time of the birth of her youngest daughter, leaving her to raise three children on a scant teacher salary.

Henry shared some of their household/nursery water with them as well as firewood from some of the large trees in their yard. The firewood came from fallen branches that the wind or monkeys broken loose.

Mama Upendo and Mags often spoke about Mama’s uncertain future because she had no family entitlements and the school had the right to evict her at any time usually on a whim of the district supervisor. The pair were often wistful about the possibility of her owning her own home.

One morning Henry knew that Mama Upendo had something on her mind; her body language always gave her away. She strode up the drive arms outstretched to bring them together in a silent clap – and she was alone. That was another sure sign.

‘Shikamoo, Mzee.’ She gave the respectful greeting that was unnecessary between friends, but meant  she had a formal request to put to us.

Mags caught on to Henry’s look, so a soda was offered and they sat out on the baraza, small-talking until Mama was ready.

‘Mzee.’ She addressed Henry, but held Mags’ hand to include her. ‘There is a Pentecost man who has some land that he is selling.’ The ‘Pentecost’ was her way of identifying him.

Henry took another swig of his soda.

‘He needs money,’ she continued, ‘and will sell the whole plot or even half of it.’

‘Where is the land?’ Henry asked quietly.

‘Just up the footpath above our house.’ She replied looking for a reaction and seeing none from Henry.

The three climbed the short distance to inspect the area, which Henry estimated at about two acres. It sloped slightly to the south and there were some scattered trees, a good plot of land.

‘Pentecost wants 800 000/- for the whole area so half will be 400 000/-' Mama had apparently done her homework.

‘We will think about it.’ Smiled Henry, which encouraged her.

Winks between Henry and Mags affirmed their intended help.

Henry was apprehensive because legally all land belonged to the government and he was likely opening a can of worms and he did not want to have to confront 'issues'. He checked with the village government and his mate Loti; they said it was merely a matter of passing over the money. Canny Henry drew up a plan of the area and typed a sale agreement making several copies. With Mama’s help he found all the adjacent landowners and included their names on the agreement. He also named the village chairman and the vendor’s sons.

 

The time for all the signatories to meet on site  arrived but before they left, Henry handed Mama Upendo the 400 000/-. She had not ever touched that amount before.

They found that the owner and his mate, who had heard on the grapevine that Mama wanted the bottom half of the plot. They had marked the area out, but obviously the top ‘half’ had much more area than the bottom. On Henry’ urging, Mama said she wanted to buy the top half!

Confounded and embarrassed because an empowered Mama Upendo spoke so all could hear, ‘Do you want the money or not? It’s not just paper I  have in my pocket you know!’

By evening, Mama had her land and the agreement signed by all parties – with a copy given to each.

Henry, as was his way, planted a tree on each corner of the plot, but neighbour, Sumari moved two of them to his advantage!  Henry said nothing, he simply moved them back.

This was just the beginning.