Title: The Bodaboda Rider’s Secret

Chapter 1: The Mysterious Passenger

It was a chilly Wednesday evening in Nairobi. Kevin adjusted his helmet and waited for customers outside a busy supermarket on Ngong Road. Business had been slow, and he needed just one more ride before heading home to his small bedsitter in Kibera.

Just as he was about to leave, a woman in a black hoodie and dark sunglasses approached him.

 “Karen,” she said softly, pulling the hood over her head.

Kevin hesitated. Karen was far, and she looked nervous, almost as if she was being watched. But when she handed him a crisp Ksh 1,000 note and said, “Keep the change,” he nodded and started his engine.

As they rode through the dimly lit streets, Kevin kept glancing at her through his mirror. Something felt off. She clutched a small black handbag tightly, her hands trembling. But he knew better than to ask questions. A fare was a fare. 

When they reached her destination—a secluded house in Karen—she jumped off quickly, whispered, “Asante,” and disappeared through the gate. That’s when Kevin saw it. An envelope had been left on the seat.

Chapter 2: The Envelope

Curious, Kevin picked it up. It was heavy. He tore it open slightly and froze. Stacks of Ksh 1,000 notes stared back at him. At least half a million shillings.

His heart pounded. Had she left it by mistake? Or was it a test?Kevin looked around. The street was quiet, but something felt eerie. He thought about going back to return the money, but the house gate was now locked, and knocking on it felt like a bad idea.

He stuffed the envelope inside his jacket and sped off, his mind racing.

Chapter 3: The Shadow That Follows

That night, he couldn’t sleep. He placed the money under his mattress, but every creak outside made him paranoid.

The next morning, his best friend Otis, another bodaboda rider, noticed his unease.

 “Bro, uko aje? You look stressed,” Otis asked as they sipped tea at a roadside kibanda.

Kevin debated telling him but decided against it. Instead, he said, “Just thinking about life, man.”Otis shrugged. “Life ni kujikaza. By the way, kuna vile nimeona gari inakufuatilia.” Kevin’s blood ran cold. “Gari?”

“Eh, black SUV. Jana ilikua town, leo imepita hapa mara mbili.” Kevin’s stomach twisted. Was someone watching him? Had the woman set him up?

Chapter 4: The Chase

That evening, as Kevin rode home, he noticed the SUV in his side mirror. It was following him. His hands tightened on the handlebars. Heart racing, he made a sharp turn into a narrow alley near Toi Market. The SUV hesitated, then zoomed past. Breathing heavily, Kevin parked his bike and tried to think. He had two choices—report the money to the police or disappear with it.

Then his phone buzzed. Unknown Number: “You have something that belongs to us. Return it, or you won’t see tomorrow.”

Kevin’s breath hitched. He had just stepped into a dangerous game.