The case was taken up by Interpol. Mr. Owen was arrested and tried in Belgium. Dennis was not spared. He was deported to Kenya and was arrested at the airport.Becky was taken to the Kenyan embassy in Belgium where she received a queenly receptionKenya had recently enacted a counter-trafficking in persons act. And criminal proceedings were instituted against Dennis so that he became among the first to be found on its wrong side. Becky appeared in court to testify against him. She was not even sure whether she was being fair. The man had come to her aid in her darkest moments; when she thought she had lost it all.But then again he did her wrong by taking advantage of her situation for his own benefit; by selling her to Mr. Owen. It was okay for him to face justice. He pushed Becky into crossing boundaries she never imagined she would cross and pocketed a lot of money in the process.Becky could not wait to go home. The case had been adjourned. It would come up again in three mont
Becky earned a lot from the government job she had landed. Having built a house for her mother with the money she had earned during her stay in Belgium. She now needed to concentrate on educating her two children Claudia and Baraka. But Baraka still had a year or two before he could enroll in a nursery school.She inquired about Kiplimo. Her mother told her that the last time she heard about Kiplimo was when the boy was having a farewell party at her father’s house before joining Moi University for his undergraduate degree course. Becky missed him so much and thought about going to Moi University to look for him. But her schedule was so tight that the little time she got during the weekends was barely enough for his mother and her two kids.One weekend, a woman from the neighborhood came visiting and requested for a loan from Becky. Her name was Zeddy. She needed a thousand shillings. Becky gave her without question and she returned the money within two weeks.A month later she cam
Becky's daughter blossomed into a beautiful girl. She was such a brilliant kid who filled her heart with more hope. Hope that she would grow up to become somebody in the future. She posted good grades in school. When she got to form four. She used to tell her mother that she wanted to do her undergraduate course overseas. She had always dreamed of going to the US.The mother was troubled by this request. She feared for her daughter. She hated the idea of her daughter going through the same experience she had gone through.She remembered the other girls she had met in Belgium lured into sex trafficking by the promise of a quality education abroad. Her daughter could end up being another victim.But was she not now an ambassador in the campaign against sex trafficking? Did she not have links all over the world? Had her story not spread all over the world making her a celebrity?Her name itself would protect her daughter. She needed to suppress her fear. Her daughter would be well. S
Becky strode gracefully along the narrow path. A twenty-litre barrel of water lay on her back held steadily in place by a robe wound around it and looped about her head. Her upper body slightly leaned forward and her eyes were glued to the path on which she trod. She raised her head a little to have a good view of the way ahead and her eyes caught a glimpse of Pabonya her husband’s venerable paternal uncle who was leaning against the fence his arms folded across his chest and his keen eyes gazing at her. She noticed a weird smirk in his austere façade and her heart sunk in a sickening plunge. There was a marked difference in the way the uncle had been treating her. And it sucked. Her every meeting with him lately had been as discomforting as a bedbug bite on a sensitive skin.“Why don’t you listen?” He started coldly and so suddenly that Becky gasped despite having anticipated this, “Hmm! How many times do I have to remind you that at no time should you be dressed in such atrocious c
Pabonya retraced his steps to his house. He was bitter than he had come; partially suffocated by anger. He no longer walked with an air of superiority. The feeling of self importance in him was gone. He had failed to achieve the purpose of his visit to Becky’s house. He had failed to demonstrate the power of an elder whose utterances became the unquestionable law. He could not even intimidate Becky. It was incredible how she had treated him to a reception of condescendence and disparagement.For several years of his existence, he had never come across a woman, born or married to the clan trying to challenge the elders’ endeavors to guide and direct the younger generation.But here was Becky who seemed to have taken him as her equal and managed to instill a little feeling of inferiority within him. He soon got back home, his breakfast was ready. His wife, Tabutany, had set a table for him. But he was in no mood for food. He sat down and was soon lost in his thoughts.What was it
The women were on their way home after visiting the new-born. Some of them had to pass near Pabonya’s home. They were still debating what fate awaited Becky. At that hour, Pabonya was wondering about his garden. He saw the approaching women and overheard their conversation. Stopping in his tracks he listened more keenly, his interest intensifying as he perceived the subject of their discussion. He hastily concealed himself behind the napier-grass.“Do you think she will get away with it?” one of the women asked.“This thing is very serious,” answered another one among them. “Wait and see how this would cost her so dearly. She is at risk of losing her marriage.”Pabonya felt some joy wash over his self. His plan seemed to be rolling into place. He had managed to get people talking and propagating the narrative. He had been determined to bring Becky down but had not anticipated things to start working so fast.Had these news reached Rebecca's ears? He wondered what she made of it
Becky’s youngest brother had undergone initiation rite in Tirita with the sons of his maternal uncle. In two days they would be graduating from childhood to adulthood. Becky was expecting to host a few visitors. Her whole family would attend the graduation ceremony. She was sure their first stop would be at her house. So she had a lot of cleanings to do. She left her house going to the village canteen to buy soap.When she came back, she heard the girl – the maid she had been staying with – talking to someone. She listened carefully. It was a familiar voice. Her husband was home. She walked faster, her soul rejoicing. She could not wait to meet him.As she entered the compound, there he was holding their son. She felt like running up to him. But she exercised a lot of restraint and just kept walking.Tesot, sensing footsteps approach turned around. His eyes widened and a smile came upon his face. He handed his son back to the maid and moved towards his wife. He stretched out hi
The clan elders gathered in Rebecca’s hut. They had heeded Pabonya’s call. Caring for the clan, none of them would ignore an invitation to deliberate on any problem affecting it. Pabonya had made it known to them that Tesot was around and had convinced them to accommodate his participation in their meeting. Tesot was taking long appearing. And they did not wish to begin in his absence. Pabonya alternately glanced at his wrist watch and at the entrance door hoping he would not keep them waiting for too long. Soon, footsteps were heard from outside and every eye gazed at the door. He came in and went around the room shaking hands with each one of them. When he finally sat, an immense silence reigned. Any keen observer would not have failed to feel the tension in that room. They looked at one another as if unsure what the next move would be. Pabonya irritably tapped a gentle rhythm on the table with his fingernails. Did they fear Tesot? Were they afraid of offending him? Tesot w