But it wasn't my fault!

Driving in Kisumu town is crazy. I usually try to avoid down town if possible, but had some important pre-travel shopping to do. The rule is just keep your eyes open and looking everywhere at all times. But even following the rules doesn't always help. Today as I was coming out of the bank parking lot onto a side street I looked twice, but could not have anticipated the motorcycle that came tearing off the main street just as I had pulled out. I did stop and he could have swerved around me. But he panicked and hit his brakes. The 100cc bike couldn't handle the brake on a hill with the large momma and her toddler on the back. It skidded. landing about 6 feet from my car. Naturally I called out my concern and was relieved to see the fat (I mean well-endowed) lady and her toddler walk away, shaken but uninjured. The driver didn't respond when I asked if he needed help. In the states I would have helped him get his bike off the road (it looked fine except it's mirror had been ripped off) and been on my way.... its not like I hit him. But here there is the always the mob factor. There were of course about 20 witnesses to the scene - mostly young men who spend their days sitting on the low wall wishing someone would come by and make them a millionaire. And they started egging the driver (in swahili) about fleecing the mzungu. As soon as I sensed the mob spirit I got out of there... unfortunately the main road was uphill and busy and the driver caught up to me and did all he could to stop me from getting away (like standing by my window so I couldn't see the traffic I was trying to merge into, grabbing the keys from the ignition, opening the door.) Stephanie, who was with me tried to help by putting the car in gear, getting it into neutral instead...(don't ever try to help the driver drive) Anyway, God is good and provided an opening in the oncoming traffic just as I was able to fend off the driver.

I am really looking forward to traffic that consists of cars, trucks and the occasional motorcycle. The bodas and tuktuks and pikkis, goats, chickens, cows, and pedestrians are driving me crazy!