I spent my Christmas at my shags in Mpeketoni, Lamu County. Rather than being excited about going home like the previous years, I was so scared about my security. The journey from Nairobi to Mpeketoni is long. I boarded a Simba Coach bus to Mombasa at 10pm and arrived at 7am, then boarded a Taweel bus for Lamu at about 8am.
The distance from Nairobi to Mombasa is about 480km while that from Mombasa to Lamu is 350km. However, the travelling the two stretches takes the same time (a whole day’s journey) mainly because the last 100km to Lamu is a dirt road. I said a short prayer and looked around the bus to see whether we had many Muslims sisters with buibuis who could assist in case of trouble.
But it was a smooth journey though, and at some point I slept off, only to wake up at the Malindi town stop-over. I was now more worried over the security situation at home, as I knew we were headed to the insecurity hotspots. Past Gongoni, we met the first security roadblock manned by mean-looking Kenya Defence Force and Police officers.
They ransacked our bus, searched our travel bags and demanded identification documents. A similar treatment awaited us at two other roadblocks before we reached Gamba Police station where we found more than five buses packed by the roadside. From here, we learnt, the buses would travel in a convoy from Gamba to Mpeketoni and finally to Mkowe.
Under the scorching sun, we waited for all the buses to arrive before embarking on the risky journey, at about 2pm. My worries only eased when a military helicopter appeared and hovered over us for the rest of the journey.
A security van led the way, another covered the rear as the military chopper provided air surveillance. I was now assured I would get home safe and I did. Though the journey took longer than usual, I arrived home around 7pm excited and feeling like a queen after being escorted by the military.
Source-mediamaxnetwork.co.ke
