Being a man is tough. Being a man has no choice, if you are a man, then you have to be a man. Being a man comes with responsibilities. A man is supposed to be a breadwinner. A man ought to provide everything and anything that a wife or a baby needs. Whether you have the means or not. Being a man involves sweating, grinding teeth, sacrificing your most basic needs for someone. Being a man is not a calling. You are either a man or a woman. Being a man is not a joke, laughing and smiling comes only once, maybe when you have fulfilled your duties or when out in a pub watching Arsenal lock down horns with the Great Manchester United.
But hey, here is a dude, in his mid 20s, say 23. He is struggling to fit in. He just cleared his Bachelor of Arts from the university, a year down the line, he hasn't been lucky to get a job. Job application after another, sending resume every time an opportunity chances. He has never got any call or even an acknowledgement email to say that his CV has been received. His B.A in Journalism is nothing in the market. All journalistic positions have been filled in by other graduates from the Engineering field or even Law School.
In a time where college fees shoots up to half a million, for two and half years, covering at least 48 units and studying for six days a week, at least three hours each unit, with take away cats, group work and other unnecessary course work, one is expected to get a job immediately after graduation, or better, while still in year three or four.
When a man has clocked 25, a lot is expected from him, starting from himself, from the society, the parents, friends, and everyone. At least you should be having a good job, you should have accomplished something and have something to your name. I am talking of those fast learners who by maybe 16 they were out of secondary school. Lacking something most crucial as money can be a blow to almost everything you want to do. You cannot dress up properly to attract a girl, you cannot eat in a high end restaurant let alone the average Pal's restaurant, you cannot rent a proper apartment in say Pangani Estate, you cannot date, you are broke. You think you are too ugly to date a woman, No, you are not ugly, you are simply broke.
Desperate times calls for desperate actions. As you log onto your Facebook account, it's been long, a whole two weeks! So you are expecting that some friend of yours inboxed you while you were away, maybe some pending friend requests, or even someone might have tagged a photo of you or even liked your photo or commented on your status. To your shock, none has done so, so heartbreaking. And the way you were so sure there is some activity on your timeline. Haiya! Haidhuru!
As you scroll down and read some posts, you come across a post seeking individuals for some online job, it says that you can earn 7,000sh to 15,000sh a week. You say, oh my goodness, why can't I give this a shot? Even the person that posted the advert says he is reachable via WhatsApp or SMS. And clearly you didn't have airtime, you can use the sms service. Let's go.
Peter: Hi, my name is Peter Omba, I have seen you advert on Facebook concerning an online job. It is not clear because it has no job description. Would you please clarify. I am interested to work for you. Thank you.
After a short while a long message comes, it reads;
Congratulations! You have been shortlisted for our ONLINE Work Opportunities for People with Basic Computer Skills to Earn Ksh 7,000 - 15, 000 WEEKLY. I therefore give you an appointment to Attend a 2hours Seminar Wednesday 16/03/2016 @11:00AM at our Head Office and learn how you are going to work with us online.We are located at Commerce House 4th Floor Next to Kenya Cinema, Moi Avenue.
REQUIREMENTS
-Note Book & Pen
-Ksh 200 Seminar Fee.
-Your National ID
-Casual smart dress code. Please Confirm Attendance now by telling me if you will come so that I Reserve Your Seat By (name withheld).
As you scroll further, you meet random posts from your friends in Facebook, one reads, I remember the days I prayed for what I have now. This post gives you some hope and courage that even you one day you shall remember the days you prayed for your needs. Scrolling further is another post which reads, accept and move on, the post is a long one but the content is about a brother who has been dumped by her long-term girlfriend. He didn't see it coming. You console yourself that in this boat of tough life you are not alone.
Your friends are well off by now, most of them, some have kids, some are working, they have real jobs, some graduated and after missing out on job opportunities they became auctioneers and are having the time of their lives. Business of selling second hand goods is booming. The girl you tuned in first year is now very far, far away, she got a green card and is now grazing the American pastures. The ugly girl in class, the one boys didn't bother with is now a proud CEO of her own company.
Sites such as job web, Kenya moja, brighter Monday, career point, are filling your email with spam messages. You no longer have faith in these sites anymore, how come out of all the 1,999 jobs you have applied, how come I haven't been interviewed even for a single post, even the least job I applied as a cleaner! Life is not fair at all, at all.
It is 4 pm, in your pocket is 40sh, you do not want to mess up since you may miss the 4.30 PM train to Dandora, if you miss it, you have to look for another 40sh to take a matatu to Dandora or wait until 10 pm.
Life is just a dream. Row row row your boat. Gently down the stream, merrily merrily merrily, life is just a dream. Wake up!!!
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