THE LOCAL BREW

The villagers gathered on 5th of May 2020 after the Kenyan Government broke the news about the abolishment of the local brews in the country. The reason for the abolishment was because it had killed many people making their children to be orphans and most students dropped out of school because of lack of school fees. Men also no longer cared for their families. The women were now the bread winners. They provided food, clothing and even paid school fees for their children. The rural areas were the most affected. The village of Siriat had their common brew which they named ‘Ornyo’ meaning ‘our own’. 

There was a very popular woman by the name Mudina who was always the richest with the number of customers. Others were happy while others were so jealous about her, especially women. They said she had injected people with the magic of ‘Ornyo’. Even people from other villages came to buy from her. The deadline was on 10th and no one should be seen or heard selling or drinking the local brews. During the gathering, the villagers agreed to make the biggest celebration and to drink for the last time. They knew it was finally over. No one could resist the government order, for they said it was like playing with fire or digging your own grave. 

On 9th, people woke up very early to prepare for the great day. Most of the villagers came; even those who do not drink were present. I was there too. There was a certain man called Chemosi who always after drinking goes under a tree to take a nap before going to his house. That day the brew was not ready yet and he decided to wait under the same tree, it was called “Benet tree”. The place was very quiet, trees were moving in rhythms and the clouds were calm. Everything was silent. Before his eyes went off, he looked up and saw a lizard up the tree. It was running side to side and it actually had no bad intentions. 

The globes went off and his eyes saw no more lights not even the noise from Mudina’s house where people were gathered. He never minded about the gathering, he was only interested with the drinks. That was what brought him there anyway. In his sleep Chemosi saw the lizard again at the same position; he was too exhausted and thirsty. He yawned continuously and was holding a small container in his hand. He was at the compound under the shade which they normally seat while drinking. He took a sip and the brew was very tasty. He started drinking gulp! gulp!. Then he felt something enter his throat’ it choked him and before he could spit, he was too late; he had already swallowed it. 

Within a twinkle of an eye, his eyes popped out like switched on bulbs. He looked up the tree and the lizard was no more and in his mind knew that he had swallowed it. Chemosi always saw the lizard on the tree before sleeping and after waking up and had never wondered why and what it was doing there but this time it the opposite. He only saw the branches moving from one side to another due to the wind which blew them vigorously. He stood immediately and looked around; he did not see anybody. He wondered where they dad gone. He started wandering; he was afraid to die. That was his greatest fear. He had always heard the preachers saying; drunkards shall not enter heaven. 

This could have been the last drink and everyone knew that. Chemosi had vowed that after the great day, he would go to church and never drink but things became worst for him. He felt death approaching slowly, his legs stopped moving. He called out to his mother’s name; he remembered she was no more and he started to cry. His voice was trembling and very low. No! He could not surrender himself to be taken away. He used all the strength that Mother Nature gave to him. He stretched out his left leg and it moved. He could not believe, so he moved again and decided to run. After some few minutes, wails and screams after Chemosi appeared holding his stomach and shouting that he had swallowed a lizard. 

When he saw the people, His strength was moved, his breath was fading away and he pleaded with the villagers to help him. Everyone moved aside, they didn’t know what to do. Others held their cheeks and walked away. Chemosi fell on the ground and stretched his body. He felt something move in his stomach and he held it tight. All he wished for was just a spare of his life. Suddenly, a strange man appeared from nowhere. He was tall and looked like a warrior. He had tattoo-like marks in his body and his face was covered with white spots. He wore a hat in his head and he walked bear footed. The great native doctor from Tumon village. The people of Siriat knew him but had never seen his face ever since; for they said it was a taboo to look straight into his eyes. 

That day they got an opportunity to look at him and they succeeded. He was known as ‘Sogonje the great’ he had prepared to attend that great day too but with no good intentions; and he finally made it. The nature made him a deal for the day. He looked at Chemosi and went towards him then asked him what had happened. After Chemosi had finished narrating the story, Sogonje asked everyone to remain as he went to check for something under that Benet tree. He assured them not to worry and that Chemosi would be okay. After some few minutes he came back and found Chemosi vomiting continuously. The villagers were staring at him with terror. The native doctor looked up and started to talk in parables or rather in tongues. No one knew who he was talking to but they never minded. 

The native doctor dropped something where Chemosi was vomiting without anybody noticing him, and shouted, “It’s out” and the people witnessed as he removed a dead lizard with a stick. They held their mouths. When the chief heard the news, he ordered the entire brew be disposed immediately. The villagers walked away one by one direct to their homes. They lost their appetites; even the owner, Mudina. The place remained vacated, only the birds were heard singing and the trees started dancing to the sweet song. The Native doctor was the last one to vanish. He looked closely to the place; he couldn’t believe his wish came true. Finally he did it. He smiled. The great day was finally ruined by the lizard. That’s what the villagers thought. He laughed sarcastically and departed.