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Second-hand treasures, first-hand joy, Gikomba market festive memoir

Traders and buyers going about their activities in Gikomba market (Photo: Amin Abdullahi)

By Patel Okumu | 20 Dec 2023

Dust swirls like confetti over a throng of bargain hunters. Gikomba Market, sprawling and chaotic, erupts with a holiday fervor that transcends its usual din. Christmas, a beacon of cheer, paints this East African behemoth in vibrant hues of anticipation.

Dust swirls like confetti over a throng of bargain hunters. Gikomba Market, sprawling and chaotic, erupts with a holiday fervor that transcends its usual din. Christmas, a beacon of cheer, paints this East African behemoth in vibrant hues of anticipation.

Among the throng, Mama Mboga, a fishmonger with scales glinting on her weathered hands, surveys the scene. "They come from everywhere," she says, a smile breaking through her fish-scented mask, "Kisumu, Nakuru, they all know Gikomba is where Christmas cheer comes cheap."

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Traders, buyers and transporters at Gikomba Market. (Photo: Amin Abdullahi)

Across the aisle, Wanjiku Njeri, her fingers flying over a towering bale of second-hand clothes, echoes the sentiment. "Dresses for mama, shirts for baba, toys for the little ones," she lists, her eyes sparkling, "it's all here, waiting to be loved again."

Shoes, gleaming like forgotten dreams under the midday sun, draw their own dedicated disciples. Mzee Jaram Kamau, his leathery hand caressing a worn leather boot, chuckles. "Quality you won't find in fancy shops, at prices that sing carols to your wallet."

The symphony of haggling blends with the rhythmic grunts of cart pullers. Peter Otieno, sweat beading on his forehead, muscles straining under the weight of Christmas bounty, groans, "Heavy pockets, light wallets, that's Gikomba for you. But a smile on every face, that's what makes it worth it."

Pickup drivers, horns punctuating the air, weave through the human semi-porous wall. Geoffrey Ondego, his eyes twinkling with the glint of a thousand deals, calls out, "Nakuru bound, Christmas cheer on board! Hop in, don't miss the ride!"

A busy Gikomba Market (Photo: Amin Abdullahi)

Bodaboda riders, dodging pedestrians with practiced ease, zip like festive fireflies. Peter Njunge, his helmet adorned with a faded Santa hat, grins, "Need a quick dash through the madness? Hop on, but hold on tight, Christmas is a bumpy ride in Gikomba!"

Amidst the cacophony, a shared melody hums beneath the surface. It's the song of hope, whispered in threadbare shirts and secondhand shoes. It's the promise of joy, tucked away in dusty corners and forgotten baubles. It's the rhythm of community, pulsing through every bargain, every sale, every tired smile.

In Gikomba's messy embrace, Christmas isn't just a season; it's a shared story, written in scuffed shoes, faded fabrics, and the sweat of honest toil. It's a testament to the human spirit, finding magic in the mundane, beauty in the discarded, and joy in the simple act of giving, one second-hand treasure at a time.

For in Gikomba Market, even the echoes of worn soles whisper a truth: Christmas isn't about the price tag, it's about the stories woven into every thread, every bargain, every shared laugh amidst the dust.