Small courtesies sweeten life

A matatu overlaps on Ngong Road




Courtesy is the art of treating others with warmth and respect. It means according dignity to others by being considerate and kind in our dealings by expressing gratitude and acknowledge feelings. Courtesy enhances successful interaction and helps in laying a firm foundation for understanding and harmonious living. 

The little things we do to our fellow humankind make a big difference in life. Every human person likes being treated well, with respect and honour. Courtesy gives life a meaning and distinguishes man from other animals. Surprisingly, gone are the days when people used to embrace courtesy and extend it to their neighbours. The word courtesy to today’s generation has a different meaning, if at all it exists in their dictionaries.

Treating people well is about small things and short phrases that cost nothing to say or do, such phrases like: “thank you”, “welcome”, “I am sorry”, and  “excuse me” among many others. These phrases and words create rapport and make people feel at peace with each other. How many times do we remember to say “thank you” whenever another person does something good to us?

The other day as I was running my usual errands in town, I met this former high school classmate of mine and we decided to take a seat at Kencom bus terminus for a tete-a-tete. Just in time, one heavily built lady passed by in front of us and accidentally stepped on my friend’s toe with her nail-like pointed high heels. My pal who was in sandals was left bleeding profusely. To our astonishment, the lady gave us both a stealing glance and went about her business without even bothering to utter an apologetic sorry. That’s how far our courtesy has sunk down; we really don’t care about other people’s feelings.

Visit our banks and some Matatu terminus where people are supposed to queue up for efficient service and order and you will be left wondering. Some people consider themselves so important that queuing to them is a waste of time. The behaviour is not only exhibited by the young but the aged as well. The old adage says the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, they do it, and their children emulate them.

All it calls for is a little patience and everyone will get served finally. Personally, I don’t see any sense at all in one cutting the line in a bank, well, getting served before I am, but thirty minutes later after I am served I find him standing at the bank’s verandah admiring passersby. That defeats the purpose of one not following the order, and getting served before those who had more important and urgent matters to attend to.

On our roads, the situation is even worse: courtesy was long forgotten. Fellow Kenyans should stop directing our blame only on the Matatu drivers because everyone is doing it anyway;overlapping. Be keen and you will see even cars with GK registration numbers overlap, including the Passats. What does that tell? Our honourable ministers are at it too. Is this what we call leading by example? Where are we hurrying to? Our friends are in a hurry and would also wish to get to their destination in time. Let’s be patient and follow order. We can’t solve one problem by creating three more problems.

Pedestrian crossings have lost their meanings over the years on our Kenyan roads. If the boys in blue happen not to be in the vicinity it will take you more than fifteen minutes to make it to the other side of the road.



Hawkers sell wares along Moi Avenue in the Nairobi Central Business District. Hawkers often take over streets in the evening, creating traffic congestion.

Traffic lights to motorists mean nothing. The car driving at the highest speed enters the junction first, without caring weather the junction is clear or not. This has led to increased accidents at junctions and thoroughfares on our roads. Let’s stop this sickening behavior and we shall live long.
 

The pedestrians are even more notorious than the motorists. If you don’t believe this, spare a day and take a walk on the streets of Nairobi and you will witness it live. The worst hit streets are Moi Avenue and Tom Mboya streets, especially between Kenya Cinema and Kencom and outside Tuskys Imara around commercial bus terminus. These have turned to be idling places and meeting points for most of the people in town  hence making the place always overcrowded and therefore impassable.

Most irritating is when you happen to be walking behind a group of about five to six ladies.(I mean not to hurt ladies, for they are my sisters and Aunts). They usually walk dragging their feet, with their hands clung to each other’s and in a line. If you thought that is enough then you are mistaken. Wait until they meet a person they know coming from the opposite direction! They will stop on the street like permanent statues, they will start hugging the friend one after another,and completely oblivious of others walking behind them, the exercise  will take them not less than six whole minutes!

As if that is not enough, they will take some more ten minutes admiring each another and discussing how their friend looks in her accessories and her new mutumba dress, not forgetting to tell her how bootylicious she has become since they last met at another friend’s birthday party last weekend.

Try to make a way between them and the girlish giggles they exchange will leave you wondering what crime you just committed. If you are not lucky, they might raise an alarm that you intended to make it into their very heavy handbags in order to make away with their expensive mobile phones.

Please our very dear beautiful sisters, just a humble request; be courteous to other road users, your fellow pedestrians. Do them a little favour by standing besides the pathway and no one will bother you as you go about your usual business of admiring your friends’ hair and clothes.

Let’s all embrace courtesy, it is a small word but it makes a difference. Let’s understand each other and create harmony. Small courtesies sweeten life.