Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Duped in Kenya?

I was going to blog about the overwhelming findings about Eritrea after reading Michela Wrong " I didn't do it for you" book on her findings about this peculiar history of Eritrea that many people don't know about if at all they have ever heard of this very country that have being through a lot! I will have to deal with this another time after getting this other pressing issue off my chest.

I am currently in Kenya for the launch of African Leadership Centre, a centre that will henceforth handle peace and security fellowship for African women and men. I arrived safely but not before I took a bottle of white wine which I kinda drained to get rid of my flight turbulence anxiety. I kinda got drunk and I wrote to God in the plane. I said to God " God, now that I am drunk (forgive me), it is now easier to cope with this turbulence. Yeah, I wrote that.



We got to Nairobi and I had to get a visa at the point of entry. I found out after the deed had be done and I have been burned - I will soon get to the story- that Nigerians no longer need a visa to enter Kenya. Is this true anyone? I have not come across this information anywhere. Back to how I got burnt or duped, I queued to get the visa, got to the visa lady only to learn she would not accept my ATM card, I had to withdraw Kenya Shilling using the ATM machine and paid her. This was fine. I left promptly to do so after asking her how much this would cost in Kenya Shilling as people normally pay in dollars or pounds. This would normally be $25 or £20.



I am always in touch with currency exchange rate and all but this time, I asked how much I needed to pay and went to get the money without giving a thought to the currency exchange rate. How was I to know that I am dealing with a dishonest person, sitting and with a warm and friendly smile on her face? She told me the equivalent of $25 dollars would be 3,000 Kenya Shiiling. I got the money, paid and left. I was already out of the Airport before I found out I have paid Kenya Shilling worth of $40 dollars for a $25 dollars visa! WTF? Do I really have to be suspicious of people all the time? Is this really a good image to give your country? I thought people generally believe this can only happen in Nigeria. Gaddemmit!


I am still very pained by this and could not find a justification for this dishonesty and frudulent act. Gaining $15 off me? Tell me how this experience will not have a cautionary and " do not trust no one ever" effect on me? I am sitting here thinking of what to do. Should I go and report this to the authority at the airport and make the lady face the music and prevent future occurence of this act? Should I just forget this, write it off as a bad experience that I have learnt greatly from? Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirate of Carieabean said " a dishonest person will always be dishonest...", I am finding this to be so true. If this individual has any dignity, this would not have happened. I am not going to blame myself for trusting this individual but this has produced a kind of " put Nigeria on the security watch list, whether this is the first time the country produced a suicide bomber or not or whether or not the father reported to secret agents or even worst whether or not the boy was trained in the UK" effect on how I deal and relate with people of any country, colour and nationality!



I am still thinking of how to handle this fraudulent person and her dishonest act. Suggestions anyone? Yeah, to move to another important event. I was in Nigeria briefly 2 weeks ago and I had to get to Lome by road to leave back for Mali. At the Nigerian border ( anyone can see the difference in the atmosphere on how the Naija border officers conduct their affairs. Man, these guys can be annoying and incompetent!), an NDLEA officer stopped our car to search us in case we carry hard drugs. When it was my turn, this guy asked me if I was a Nigerian, I answered. Where (the state) in Nigeria I came from, I answered. Which town I came from. I asked how relevant that was to his search. He said it was within his jurisdiction. I answered. Then he asked if I speak my dialect? WTF somebody? Seriously? What kind of jurisdiction is this? What this guy just being stupid or what? That is the story of this African queen at the moment...

14 comments:

Molara Brown said...

Kenya now offers a point of entry visa, i think to all nations but am sure about that of African countries. I you can go back, confront her and make her give a refund. If she does not bulge, maybe then should you report her to the authority.

Nigerian officials and their questions, next he would ask is if you have ever visited your state. Enjoy the safari and do not let the woman spoil your fun

Myne said...

I don;t know about the visas in Kenya, but I suggest like Lara that you do go and confront the woman. Maybe she was ignorant of the exchange rate too. Though I doubt that.

histreasure said...

ah, Myne, thinking she doesnt know the exchange rate will sha help you deal but that Lara option might work only it could be cumbersome for you..

@ the Naija officer, seriously? that would put me off so..what the heck does your speaking ur dialect have to do with his search..abi, he just wanted to form activity..mstchewww.

Dee! said...

I also think you should confront the woman and make her give you a refund. She knew what she was doing!

The NDLEA officer was just being a typical over sabi Nigerian.

Really, wetin concern am whether you speak your dialect or not?! Shio!

Anonymous said...

Intresting story. This is my first time on this blog and am liking what I read. If you have a recipt i think you cud get your money back, i think-o, not sure now. about the niaja officer, nigerians have a classic of poke-nosing. Infact if thsi happened to me it wud be so common in my sight I wouldnt even blog about it. seriously it normal in niaja but since I dont know you personally mayb eyou grew up in another country but have seen that happen so many times.

Unknown said...

I guess one just cannot trust anyone this days. It's quite sad but that's the world we live in. Pele o. Don't worry, she will lose 10 times more what she stole from you. Karma is a bitch but she will always be there on payback day.

Nigerian Blog Awards said...

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Afronuts said...

LOL! This just goes to show that its not only Naija that can be corrupt in all places.

Besides you should never trust people in any part of the world. Theres no perfect society. Every society has its own demons.

As for that Naija official at the border...you sure he wasn't trying to get to chat you up cause he thot u looked cute? lol!

Forget any Naija official that works in NDLEA, Police etc...most of them have a complex and think their uniform can compensate for it

bArOquE said...

that's a lot of travelling you're doing madame...for a 1,000KES you would have had her reported, might not have amounted to much but would have made you feel better...

so how did it go with you & the NDLEA man? did you get to speak your dialect to him? maybe he was just doing his job.LOL

ok, enjoy...there's only as much as i can advice

meanwhile, did you say we dont need visas to go to Kenya???

The Activist said...

Thanks my peeps.

Baroque, we sure needed a visa...

Anonymous said...

how come there's so much chinese on your blog. I guess its spam right. it needs sorting-o

Anonymous said...

...lol...inbtwn...thanks for stoping over at mine

The Activist said...

@ Obi- Talker: thanks, I will look into it

The Activist said...

@ Obi- Talker: thanks, I will look into it

My Passion, my focus, the change that I want to see in the world - is my propellent factor.

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