Carolyne Onsongo, a Facebook user, has touched many Kenyans' hearts after sharing her encounter with a differently abled young man at the upscale Westgate Mall.
Carolyne posted about her encounter with the young man, whose name she did not reveal, on Wanderlust Diaries Ltd, a popular private Facebook group where people frequently share their travel experiences.
According to Carolyne, the young man approached her and politely asked her for a fist bump greeting commonly known as ‘kugota’ to which she gladly obliged.
After exchanging pleasantries, the young man earnestly asked Carolyne for a favour which involved buying him a packet of unga for his mom in Kawangware.
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Since there were no shops around, Carolyne decided to go get the packet of flour at the Carrefour Supermaket at the Sarit Centre while cognisant of a difficulty in walking she spotted in the fellow.
“I’m walking down to Westgate where I meet this differently abled young gentleman walking towards meHe smiles at me and I smile back.He tells me to ‘gotta’ him and I do not hesitate!!It makes him feel so good,his facial expression and smile would tell!!He quickly asks me to buy Unga for his mom in Kawangware!!I Honestly felt like that was a genuine and humble cry!I look around and there are no shops nearby,the nearest one I can get Unga from is Carrefour Sarit Supermarket!I tell him there’s no shop around,if he could wait for me to go pick unga for him and come backI ask him to sit outside to wait for
me because I noticed his walking was strenuous.
The young man asked to accompany Carolyne to the supermarket anyway, perhaps after many empty promises from strangers or a lack of trust that had built up over time. He also told Carolyne that he had never been to a supermarket before and wished to have and experience.
“He doesn’t seem to trust my words He tells me that he would like to join me to get the unga and he’s never been inside the mall and would like to experience it,” Carolyne said.
“He goes ahead and tells me that if he goes alone they won’t allow him in but if I go with him he’ll be let in!!The two of us agree to go pamoja!As we walk in I notice some people getting out of the mall staring at him with surprised facesYou see Sarit Mall is known for “watu wasafi” and as a wazunguz social and shopping joint!I also know that but I kept telling myself that all humans deserve the best!”
As expected, a security guard at the entrance of the establishment stopped Carolyne and her companion and inquired where they were going upon which she informed the security guard they were together and asked if there was a problem before being allowed in.
“One of the soldiers at the entrance asks “Na huyu anaenda wapi” and I quickly respond that “I am with him” as I smile she’s like” No he can’t enter here I look straight into her eyes and asks her her if there was any problem with my friend and she quickly says no and allows us in !!(But she calls me aside and explains to me that some go in to beg from customers and management would question about the same and I promised her that my friend won’t beg,I was to take good care of him),” she continued.
Once inside the shopping centre, Carolyne explains the events that took place, which made her smile as the young man was beside himself with joy.
“As we walk in………..I look at my friend and he’s clearly so excited.He looks around the mall with a smiley face he asks me lots of questions!But one question made me laugh.He sees a lift and he’s like “nikipanda hii nitafika Nairobi town” ?I tell him No,it goes to other floors!He smiles and laughs loudly!”
“As we walk he’s like Sasaa? Mambooo?Waving at everyone along our way!!I could read his excitement all over his face!Honestly that put a smile on my face too.We walk to Carrefour Sarit,we shop for a few foodstuffs and we come out of the Mall. My friend went home happy,” she said.
At the end of her long post, Carolyne made a passionate appeal to people, asking them to create room for love for the needy and encouraging them to go the extra mile in sharing with the less fortunate to make the world a better place.
“There’s always room to extend our love to those who need it most!!I mean We can go an extra Mile even in a small way to put a smile on someone’s face regardless of our relationship with them,we don’t have to be related in any way!!” Carolyne said.
Finally,if each one of us can go an extra Mile and extend our support even in a small way to people who need our support the most then the world will be a better place for everyone!Don’t forget that we don’t have to be rich to do this!HAVE A BLESSED WEEK AHEAD.”
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