Drive up the highway. Think to yourself “I really hope I don’t miss the turn.” Get to the market. Think about illegal housing and how such places have been torn down. Think about disposable people. Keep driving. Reach the flyover. Look for the turn.
Miss the turn.
Go further up the highway. Look for a turning coming back down. find it. Come down. See the little footpath that leads under the bridge through the break in the wall. Think about how people adapt to make unlivable situations livable. Find the turn.
Make it.
(If you are making this trip by matatu even better. Miss the stage. Alight at the next stage 100 m away. Walk back down. See children running barefoot in the market. See basins, sieves, lanterns, sweaters and tomatoes on sale. Count cars. Get lost in the music you’re listening to. )
Up, at the place where the flyover meets the road, ask the taxi guy for directions.
“ukienda mbele, endelea hadi uone left.
Chukua alafu utapata polisi.
Wachana nao.
Teremka kidogo utakuwa umefika”
Follow the directions.
Get lost.
Ask a watchman for directions.
Get lost again.
Panic. Imagine that everyone is there and the food is almost done.
Call and ask for directions.
Get lost again.
Despair. Wander around aimlessly. Ask the watchman next to you “Kenya iko wapi?”
“Ndio hii.”
Walk through the gate. It’s the sixth gate on your right.