The snakes of Mbeere

If you are driving to kindaruma dam on your way from Embu, you might meet a man named Njeru. Even though he has a common name,  that is all he has in common with other folk I know. A common looking fellow, he has some tales and an interesting character to book. Here is one story he told us.

We had heard about him from relatives who live in a nearby hilly village in the countryside of Mbeere. Since this is my home place, it is not unusual to find my family and I there anytime we need a change from the fast city life of Nairobi. The stories we had heard about him were curious enough to send us there on a fact finding mission. After all it is better to get the story from the horse’s mouth anytime.

On a hot Saturday afternoon we got to the village where he works, doing chores for the villagers. A relative of ours lives there and so we were assured of good accommodation since we intended to spend the night. We had been told that in order to get the best of his stories we needed to be able to sit up late into the night.

After receiving a warm welcome and taking a trip around the locality during which we saw some big caves (and a huge snake skin to boot) we were set to meet our hero come evening. I must mention that the place is very scenic since it is surrounded by hills and the evening breeze is unmatched anywhere. Our hostess saw to it that we were well catered for giving us a taste of the hospitality of Mbeere people.

While watching the evening news we got to finally meet the man we had come all the way to see. After introductions were made, we were soon chatting like old friends. He did not waste time before he started talking about his favorite stories.  Snakes.  He informed us that he was a snake catcher in his hey days often being sent to catch and relocate the troublesome reptiles every so often.

With endless mugs of tea(my aunt out host is very generous) we listened to him tell of the many types of snakes that inhabit the hills of mbeere. One that caught our interest was one he said lived in a nearby hill and came out to hunt for prey late at night. He said it was so big that should a car run over it most certainly it would tip over. But what he said next has lingered in our minds for a long time.

The reptile usually comes out at night to feed. It’s prey are small animals like squirrels and since they are usually retired for the night it has a way of drawing them out of slumber. This it does by cheating them that daylight has come. It is said to have a precious stone in the stomach which it then vomits and the blaring glow from it makes its prey come out thinking that morning has come. And then the reptile strikes! Slowly several small animals make it for its days meal.

We were still trying to take in this information when in the stillness of the night he stopped talking. With a finger to his lips he asked us to remain silent. We craned our ears for any sound but heard nothing. All this time he sat there, listening for whatever it was he could hear. Still we heard nothing. It was a relieve for us when he resumed talking and we could all get on with the conversation. What he told us will make a story for another day. It was as mysterious as it is scary!

Eventually tired out from the tales of the horror of snakes we retired to bed at 4am in the morning. I checked and double checked under my bed for a lingering snake and having found none fell into a troubled sleep dreaming of talking snakes and dragons. I am glad that was only a dream.