Everyday we are bombarded with startling
information. Last year, a research
conducted among the Kenyan youth showed that the ladies fear getting pregnant
more than contracting HIV/AIDS. Weird right? So, what can make you to
deliberately infect yourself with the ‘dreaded’ virus?
Golden
Handshake
Jackson (not his real name) who hails
from Kisumu County was an employee of Kenya Railways but he lost his job when
the corporation carried out massive retrenchment that saw hundreds of employees
lose their jobs. Jackson came back home with the golden handshake, built new
houses for his two wives and went ahead to marry a third wife. Jackson was now
the talk of the village. His homestead had many visitors as people came to
watch news and football in his new television powered by solar panel. The solar
panel had just enough energy to power the television and also to do lighting in
the home.
Generousity
The number of villagers who came to watch
news increased as Jackson was providing supper everyday for his visitors. When the
news of Jackson’s ‘generousity’ went round the village, he began receiving more
visitors who trooped in fifteen minutes before the news and would not leave
until they took supper. The habit by the villagers was straining his finances
but he couldn’t stop since he needed to maintain his image as a man with deep
pockets but as it turned out it was unsustainable; the TV suddenly became
dysfunctional.
Life was now difficult as taking care of
his three wives as the money was no more. The wives engaged in farming though
the soil in that area is not very productive but they were at least able to get
something considerable.
Caroline
Four homesteads away from Jackson’s home
was Caroline’s home. Caroline was once married as a second wife to a man who
used to work for the government but he succumbed to the virus owing to
promiscuity of his first wife (who died shortly after him) while he was away at
work in town.
Caroline, about one month after her
husband’s death shocked the village when she screamed her lungs out around 10PM
in the night. Neighbours responded to her distress call and ran to her home
only to find her crying that she is lonely and needs a man to warm her bed.
Suitors
That marked the beginning of suitors who
came to warm Caro’s bed. Three years since her husband’s death, Caroline was
now having three children each with a different father. She had not bore any
child with her husband since he was apparently barren. However, one of the
suitors who inherited her had infected her with HIV/AIDS and unfortunately, the
child was also infected. The child could have been infected during birth given
that she did not deliver in the hospital. When her health began to deteriorate
she was taken to the hospital and the doctors broke the news to her. She lived
in denial and at last fellow women in the village convinced her to enroll for
the Anti-Retroviral drug program provided for free in government hospitals.
Benefits
Meanwhile, Caroline had been pursuing
her husband’s employment benefits with little success. After making several trips
to Nairobi city, the Ksh.700, 000 was released. As always such news usually
spread like bushfire in the village. Once again Caroline was spoilt for choice
as suitors came to inherit her despite her HIV status. This time round Jackson
was one of the suitors. He made several trips to her home and not long after
Caroline was pregnant.
Attack
Jackson’s three wives stormed Caroline’s home
baying for her blood. They were angered by the fact that Caroline knew her HIV
status but went ahead to sleep with their husband. Caroline ran for her dear
life as she saw the women approaching the gate. After the scuffle, the third
wife packed her stuff and went back to her parent’s home saying that she cannot
get infected with HIV. “I’d rather die of any other disease but not AIDS” She
was heard saying while walking out of the home in protest. However, the other
two women remained put.
Waiting
for Death
When
Jackson was apparently asked why he went ahead to make out with Caroline notwithstanding
the fact that he knew her status he said that he had nothing to live for and
that he was waiting for his death. The village pundits argued that he was lured
by the money. Meanwhile, word has gone round the village that Caroline wants to
put up an ultra post-modern house with the benefits.
