Christmas in the city: A security guard’s tale on new norm amid tough times

Scratch that. What I meant to say is, ‘Tis the season to crunch hard numbers.'

It is the week before Christmas and Nairobi has officially transformed into a city adorned with lights and echoes of celebration.

Bus stations are jammed with people rushing back home but in the midst the cacophony of urban life, is Alex Mosemo.

For the 30-year-old security guard, the festive season isn't marked by merry celebrations, but rather by the pursuit of survival in a city of towering buildings.

His is a story of countless nights spent awake in vigil protecting others while his own dreams remain tucked away, leaving little room for celebration.

This is the truth about the City Under the Sun which with its vibrant energy and relentless pace, is both a dream and a struggle for many.

“Life in Nairobi is tough,” Alex admits.

The burden of high taxes, meager income and the constant juggling act to make ends meet weighs heavily on his shoulders, making every decision a careful calculation of survival.

For Alex, the decision to work through the holidays is not a matter of choice but a response to the harsh economic reality that grips Kenya.

“I am still working because life in Nairobi is tough, taxes are high and there is little money coming in. That is why I am still working to get the much that I can, and that will determine if the festive season will be full of celebrations or not,” he says.

In the past, Christmas meant more than just another day on the calendar for Alex. He reminisces about the joy of escaping the city's hustle and bustle, trading noisy and polluted capital for the quiet and lush green of his home town.

However, this year paints a different picture. The soaring transport fares and financial constraints have made the journey home impossible. 

Transportation costs once allocated for a journey home, are now redirected to support his family’s basic needs.

“In the past, I was able to go home for Christmas, however this time round, that is impossible because transport fare is high and there is no money. That is what has influenced my decision to work through the holidays in preparation of the new year, with schools reopening and all,” states Alex.

The little he manages to save, he sends back home to support and ensure that his family who are maize farmers in his rural hometown, have essentials.

Furthermore, the rising expenses have also curtailed his ability to send the customary shopping to his family. 

The security guard who was once able to send back shopping; an annual tradition and a touch of the city life to his family, says that that is a luxury he can not afford at the moment.

“I used to buy shopping from Nairobi that would cost me around Ksh.5,000 and send it back home, but this time round, the task has become almost impossible,” Alex reminisces.

Despite the physical separation from his family, the maize farmer’s son reveals that he receives bags of the crop, the fruits of their labor, that helps sustain as well as connect him to his roots.

“I am separated from my family. They should be able to stay here with me. We all love our families and I am sure nobody would take joy in the fact that they are far from their families however, they are understanding and supportive of the fact that situations have become tough. We are maize farmers back home, and so they send me maize they harvest to sustain me,” he says.

However, Alex’s gaze extends beyond his personal struggles and like most Kenyans, casts a critical eye on the state of the nation. 

In his words, the nation is not moving in the right direction, marred by the shadows of corruption that loom large over the corridors of power. 

“I do not think that Kenya, as a country, is going in the right direction. I am not going to lie,” he confesses. “Our leadership is filled with corruption, and the only way to move forward is to get rid of corruption.”

Despite his struggles, Alex offers words of encouragement to those who find themselves in similar circumstances, toiling through the holidays. 

His words, carry the weight of experience, urging others who find themselves working through the holiday season to persevere. 

“Life is still there for us to live. Continue working hard, keeping in mind that some days you will have plenty, while on others you will not. If you did not succeed in getting enough that will enable you to go back home and enjoy with your family, do not lose hope, your time will come,” he asserts.

You have managed to get to the very end of this article so, dear reader, where will you celebrate this Christmas? 

In the exchange of gifts, the laughter around the table, or the quiet gratitude for the moments that define this season?

From the heart of Nairobi to wherever you find yourself, this author wishes that your celebrations be filled with warmth, hope, and the promise of a better tomorrow.