Mkulima Moments: Twists and turns as chief holds tribunal on tomato disease.

Last week I had no option but to honour the summons by our chief.

When I arrived at his office at 9am, I found a huge crowd of local farmers. Mzee Jeremiah, my accuser, was already there but had moved a little away from the crowd.
He was conversing in low tone with three other farmers while the rest were talking loudly on the other end. When I arrived, the huge crowd of farmers moved forward, all of them trying to shake my hand. I immediately realised that I had the moral support.

The chief’s office could not hold the crowd and she moved the hearing to an open field and under a Celtis africana tree, commonly known as stinkwood.

The case was serious. The charges were that I had sprayed a dangerous pesticide to Mzee Jeremiah’s tomatoes making them wilt, thus, causing him massive losses.

The second charge was that I had attempted to murder him by setting my fierce dogs on him.

The chief kicked off the hearing by requesting Wandia’s aunt to pray. I am not sure how Wandia’s aunt got the information about my summonses.

“Kindly, Dada Nyokabi be brief,” the chief said as Wandia’s aunt, who is well-known for her long prayers that include a brief chorus and praise of worship.

In her prayers, Wandia’s aunt thanked God for bringing a blessing, like Mkulima, to Mashambani despite the devil who comes to destroy.

With a thunderous Amen, the prayers were concluded. Mzee Jeremiah wasn’t impressed.

MEDIATOR OR ARBITRATOR

Clad in her official well-fitting uniform, Chief Jecinta said her role was that of a mediator or arbitrator. “I am not a judge. I only want people to live as good neighbours,” she said.

But before the case could start, Wakageorge told the chief he had a special request. “With due respect, chief, I would like to be an Amicus curiae in this case,” he said, sounding like a lawyer.

“What is that Wakageorge?” the chief asked. “I would like to be a friend of the court,” he explained.

“But this isn’t a court of law, the chief retorted. Okay, a friend of the case,” he replied.

"We are here to reconcile Mkulima and Mzee Jeremiah,” the chief said rejecting the offer.

In his submission, Mzee Jeremiah took us back to the campaign times when he was my competitor in the elections. He argued that I needed to respect elders and allow them to lead.

“Excuse me, Mzee Jeremiah, we are here solely over the drying of your tomatoes, which you are demanding for compensation,” the chief intervened.
“Yes, and the injury caused by the dogs, but I needed you to get the background information,” he said.

“I am aware of that, which is irrelevant at the moment,” the chief said with authority.

Mzee Jeremiah then explained how he found me spraying on a windy day as the poisonous chemicals went to his tomatoes.

LOST CONCENTRATION OF THE CASE

“But you said earlier that it was Wekesa who was spraying the chemical, Mzee Jeremiah,” the chief clarified.

“Madam, when you see a dog barking, look for the owner, you don’t go for the dog,” he said.

“If I was to accuse Wekesa his farmhand, I would have equally accused the dogs and we bring them here to case,” he added.

After listening to Mzee Jeremiah’s confusing narrative, the chief ruled that a laboratory test be carried out to ascertain why the tomatoes dried.
“Before I finish, I am demanding Sh55,000 compensation for the loss. Unless I am paid, I will proceed to a court of law,” Mzee Jeremiah thundered.
As the case was going on, a message from Wandia landed in my inbox. “Hello Dear, We can meet on Sunday.” I lost concentration of the case.
“We shall resume next week to hear the findings of agricultural officers who will carry a test on the tomatoes,” the chief later ended the meeting.

Immediately after the ruling, I met Tesh, who had also heard of my troubles and came for the hearing. She offered me a ‘lift’ in her car.

As last time, I sat in the nice smelling car looking outside as we chatted. This was to prevent my eyes from roving to what her short skirt was exposing. Interestingly, some strange music was playing from the stereo.

All I could hear was, “Nakula kwa macho,… Nakula kwa macho.” She dropped me at the market centre after we agreed to meet that Sunday as she proceeded to the city. I smell trouble.