Retaining Village Customers

I just admire it village kiosks. They are ambitious in their own way. The owner is normally school drop out who is loved by all, not of who he is, but for the goods and services he offers.

The kiosk is in many cases found on a corner of the main road leading to nearest town. The kiosk is strategically built in such a way the seller will see customers as they approach from all sides of the roads. There are no adverts at the sides of the kiosk because everyone knows what is sold at the kiosk. The kiosk has modest things that it offers, but more of that later.

The kiosk is normally made of wood or in some cases timber. The door is at the back and for you to enter you have to bend. The plan is to ensure that the upper part of the door has shelves. Space is of paramount importance.

The kiosk is too small that there is no space for sitting down. When the owner wishes to sit he moves out at the nearby bench outside the kiosk. The bench is semi permanently anchored on the ground.

This bench is used as daytime residence of village idlers. That is where you will get the most sophisticated solutions of all problems bedeviling the village, clan, local and national politics. And any other problems of whatever nature you can imagine.

These guys know everyone in the village and the converse is not true. They know what those they know do for a living and what they earn. They even go to an extent of providing details of who sleeps with who and where! Funny thing these guys do not leave that kiosk bench and therefore you wonder how they know those things.

The kiosk lacks a window. The counter is a small timber usually half a foot in width and not more than two feet long. The kiosk, since it is made of wood, occasionally suffers from termite attacks. Mostly the owner's wife is the seller since the husband happens to be a stone mason. The wife enjoys the free gossip she gets from her company.

Now, the kiosk has those essential commodities that village people would require. Basically it cater is the quintessential kadogo economy since the customers are of modest means. The seller goes at great lengths to maintaining and satisfying customers. Supplies are got in main town once a week but fast moving goods are delivered at midday.

It is no wonder, therefore, for the shopowner to devise all tricks to sustain customers. For example you may go to buy a stick of cigarette and the owner concocts a cock and bull story.

“ati you want a cigarette?” she will ask feigning sudden frustration.

“Oh no, you see that man? Have you seen him?” she poses to you pointing to the opposite direction, yet you see no one.

As you shake your head because appropriate remarks are subdued by thirst for a smoke, she tells you

“ He just bought the last stick. The last stick of your favorite brand. Am so sorry please come later, the supplier was late today,” she says in what appears to be genuine concern for your thirst. On your way home you meet one of the idlers coming to the usual spot for some jaw exercises. You tell him that you are dying of lack of smoke. He advises you to go to town.

“My brother, haven't you heard that the supplier has not come for two days because he has not been paid his dues for a week now,” you cant believe your ears.

In retrospect you remember that you were in town two days ago and had bought enough cigarettes to last for a day and half thats why you didn't know the news earlier. You realize you were duped but the kiosk is intent on retaining its customer base.

It is business.

ends

The Art of Taking Muratina

He had defied the laid down stipulations and he had to be kicked out. The process of kicking him out was not easy. He was drunk and yet he insisted he was not, but he was.

He threw tantrums and diplomatic debate ensured, eventually he defied diplomacy and force was used. He was taken “up up” by a group of men and locked out of the house.The day was a Sunday. The occasion was taking of traditional brew otherwise known as Muratina.It was a meeting of about ten men. The brew had been prepared using highest laid down standards. We had all contributed equally except the host who was exempted.

Contributions were both in cash and goods. Cash was to buy honey from the best honey harvester in the village. Money was also to take care for meat and its preparation. Muratina is a strong drink which can manage a TKO (Technical Knock Out) if it finds an empty stomach. An empty stomach involves a stomach filled with petty foods like rice. Muratina needs to find meat and ugali.

Preparation of Muratina is not a job that can be given to your average upstart. It needs an expert. Experts are those who have learnt the art by staying close to their grandfathers over time and learnt each and every step of preparing this wonderful brew.

We were of the same age and few of us knew how to go about preparing the brew, we agreed on the budget and settled for the day which was to be two weeks away. The host was to plapare.

All efforts were directed to this day. There was no taking chance. Sugarcane was bought and crushed according to the customs.

Sugarcane and honey were in order. We even bought our own container. We didn't intend to have any altercations with the host's parents.It had to be a smooth, concealed process. Concealed because at our age we were not supposed to be taking Muratina. Nonetheless being curious as we were we went on with our plans.

The best Muratina is the one that is prepared for at least seven days. This particular brew is dangerous if badly prepared but awesome when all the rules are followed.

It need lots of heat to help in fermentation. Using a particular formula that I don't intend to let on, Miratina, water, honey and sugar are all put in a container and placed near a fire place.

If there is no wood to sustain a continuous fireplace 24/7 then it is advisable to allow the container to be in sunshine during day time.

The day was finally here and we were ready. We had searched and found traditional drinking cow horns for taking the brew.

We had agreed like men of yore that the the purpose of the horn was to be honored. Horn was used to get rid of jokers.

Unlike the ordinary glass, you cannot put down a horn. You have to hold your beer. Once you inadvertently put it down those around you will know you are drunk.

We agreed on this important rule and stated taking this wonderful brew.

We settled for what we hoped to be an eventful evening. A well prepared Muratina tastes like juice. It is sweet. If well prepared a glass and half is enough to attract uncontrollable chatter as serious inebriation takes effect. By the third glass you ought to be drunk.

Our friend had underestimated the potent nature of this brew and he kept his horn down by the second round, he poured the brew on his partner and all hell broke loose. He refused to leave.

He said it was a mistake but we knew it was not. He was finally forced out. After a few minutes a second person put down his horn and the eviction began....