First Deliberation

The clan elders gathered in Rebecca’s hut. They had heeded Pabonya’s call. Caring for the clan, none of them would ignore an invitation to deliberate on any problem affecting it.

Pabonya had made it known to them that Tesot was around and had convinced them to accommodate his participation in their meeting.

Tesot was taking long appearing. And they did not wish to begin in his absence. Pabonya alternately glanced at his wrist watch and at the entrance door hoping he would not keep them waiting for too long. Soon, footsteps were heard from outside and every eye gazed at the door. He came in and went around the room shaking hands with each one of them.

When he finally sat, an immense silence reigned. Any keen observer would not have failed to feel the tension in that room. They looked at one another as if unsure what the next move would be. Pabonya irritably tapped a gentle rhythm on the table with his fingernails. Did they fear Tesot? Were they afraid of offending him?

Tesot was a man who commanded the respect of the entire clan. He had made history becoming the first person from the village to join the prestigious Kenya Military Academy where he would later graduate to be among the high ranking officers in the Kenyan army. None of them knew exactly how he would react to what they intended to tell him.

Everybody knew how Tesot was so much in love with his wife and how unlikely it would be possible to convince him to turn against her. Most of the elders in the meeting – including Pabonya – believed that any attempt to break their strong relationship would certainly be as an exercise in futility as trying to break a rock with a fist.

Nevertheless Pabonya had purposed to experiment. Fed up with Becky, and loathing her fancy clothes and jewellery – which he thought added unnecessary cost to his nephew’s expenses – he had tired of reminding her to burn them; to burn the miniskirts and sleeveless blouses in order to eliminate any temptation to be clad in them.

But how could Becky burn her beautiful clothes, some of which, her husband himself had purchased?

“My dress my choice,” Pabonya recalled her scoffing at him; an act that escalated his hatred towards her, developing it to an extreme extent that he no longer cared coming into conflict with his nephew. Let there be difference and even war. He had declared to himself.

This assembly provided a rare opportunity to set up everybody against Becky, to plant the seeds of discord, to begin the work of deception and to secure the support of as many elders of the clan as possible in the disguise of seeking to uphold the clan’s norms and customs. And Becky would pay the price for her defiance. In the end he would present her with the one thing she was blatantly seeking; a break from the marriage she so much bragged around with. He would hit her where it hurts the most regardless of how much effort that would take. If it would mean compromising the truth, so be it; as long as she would suffer. For Pabonya’s victory would arise out of that suffering. And he would celebrate.

Pabonya’s arriving at this decision had not been easy. It had been a real struggle. A part of his mind had told him “You don’t have to do this. It is not for the best interest of everyone in this family.” The other part had said, “You got to do something. You can’t keep up with the kind of humiliation she has caused you. Her continued presence here mocks you. Just wipe her away no matter what. You shouldn’t care about anyone else’s interest but yours.” He had managed to ignore the negative voice trying to inhibit the execution of his resolve.

He rose to his feet and forced a deep breath into his lungs. He took a quick survey of his audience, his eyes resting on Tesot and cleared his throat.

“I am glad Tesot is finally here," He began. "We have been waiting for you. We have something to tell you; something so important and urgent. It concerns our clan. As the welfare of any of us is the welfare of the whole clan. Haven’t they always said, ‘be your brother’s keeper?’” he paused looking briefly at the crowd seated before him eye brows raised.

Everyone shouted “Yes,” except Tesot. He was totally confused and without a faintest idea as to what these were all about. No foresight that Pabonya was launching a war whose sole purpose was to destroy his marriage; an operation ‘deport Becky from the clan', for contaminating it with her rudeness and for challenging the mighty authority of the elders.

“You will all agree with me on this. That it is not right for anyone to just sit and watch as a brother unknowingly walks towards a pit. He has a moral obligation to prevent such an accident. Similarly, it is always wise to repair a crack on the wall as soon as it is discovered. That is the business for which this meeting is convened here today. So, let's get to the heart of the matter.” Pabonya was going to stop beating about the bush and cut right to the chase.

Tesot lifted his gaze. His eyes met with those of his uncle who was now looking in his direction. They stared at one another for a few seconds in a way two dogs would when they are about to fight over a bitch on heat. “Tesot our son!”

“Yes Bamong’o!” Tesot surprised at the sudden invoke of his name, responded in a coarse voice after clearing his throat.

“There is something you should know. There is a problem in your house. There is a crack on your wall which got to be fixed and we; all of us here are trying to figure out a way to fix it. We got to bend the rod while it’s still hot.” Pabonya said.

Tesot, still oblivious of what the old man was talking about continued to stare blankly at him, his body tensed. “I am absolutely blank on whatever you are talking about,” he made his ignorance known. “I would like someone to tell me what is going on here.”

“We are concerned about some things that have been going on that not only negatively affects your reputation but also the reputation of this clan and I think you should be privy to,” he paused purposely to caution him of an impending shock. “It is your wife.”

“My wife!” Tesot exclaimed in doubt that he heard him right.

“Yes. You’ve got to reconsider your relationship with her.”

“Reconsider my relationship with her! I still don’t get it.” The fact that the rendezvous could have been convened to discuss his wife and family darkened his temperament.

“I don’t think you know her as much as you presume to do. She is dangerous, rebellious, disrespectful and extremely stubborn. I don't think it wise that we just sit down and watch her cheating on you and remain dumb.”

Wait, did he say cheating?

“Let her wear every piece of fashion that comes to the market regardless of its appropriateness. No son! She has no respect and respect is paramount as our ancestors used to say ‘Konyit ko toror te tany ak muren.’ We have a role to play as the elders; an oversight role to ensure that our family's reputation is safeguarded, to ensuring that everybody upholds highest level of respect and lives according to the established norms and customs; that everyone upholds the values that we so dearly cherish – which she has chosen to defy.”

“Why would I believe you?” Pabonya’s massage had clicked into place in Tesot’s mind. “Let me be very clear on these.” He said. “I don’t agree. My wife has always been decent and honorable. She has been very much submissive, respectful, humble and obedient to me. I have never seen any sign of rebellion or disrespect or stubbornness in her. And I won’t give her up. Not even for you.” He found himself in his anger speaking more bluntly than he intended.

“You should hearken to the counsel of the elders. Trust me when I say we’ve seen the other side of her and there is no telling what may become of her malevolent qualities. She is threatening everything we hold dear. She has disobeyed our every norm and custom and is about to tear up this clan into pieces. She has been masquerading to be so much in love with you. But in the real sense she is not. This may be something you’re just too young to understand. If she loved you, she would love your parents, she would be willing to live in harmony with all your relatives. In the first place, she would not have gone to such an extent as to sleep with another man in your own house.” Here he paused to let his message sink deep.

“Think about that son,” he continued. “You are a casualty of a wife’s betrayal. What a shame she has brought upon you. Just imagine, a man of your caliber, so honorable.”

There and then Pabonya knew that he had touched a live wire. He saw Tesot getting into his feet and read the look he wore on his face. He felt the might of the war he had started and doubted the possibility of winning it.

“Drop it! Don’t give me that nonsense! This inquisition is beginning to bore me." He shouted, his eyes a blaze as he marched towards his uncle. He had been rubbed the wrong way.

"Very well,” Tesot had now totally lost grip on his self control. “I have seen that brush you are trying to paint my wife with. I have never known you hate her. But don’t accuse her of adultery. It is far too much and insane. My wife loves me. There is no way you can convince me that she has slept with any other man apart from me. For God’s sake how can she even think of that? Needless to say, she is my wife, not yours. And the peace between her and I is all that matters here. She is the most precious thing I have. I love her and I don’t plan on abandoning her. Not even for you. Here is a piece of wise advice. Stay out of these. It is not any of your concern.”

Tesot was not mincing words. He had said these, at first beginning with a low tone then raising it to a shout, moving closer to Pabonya so that the distance between the two men had been reduced to a couple of inches apart and Pabonya had felt he was inhaling at the furry and bitterness behind his words. One would have been forgiven for predicting that the uncle and his nephew would soon engage in a fist fight.

Tesot's acrimonious reaction hit on Pabonya really hard. He lost direction.

I never knew you hate her…. My wife loves me… she is my wife not yours… here is a piece of wise advice. Stay out of these.

His words lingered long in his head. He knew Tesot meant every syllable. He was happy and contented with his wife; he trusted her much enough to cast away any of the allegations labeled against her. He felt so helpless as if he had already lost the fight. He wanted to walk out of that room. Yet he persistently stayed put to the cause, for pride forbade him to give in. It would be embarrassing. He had patiently waited for this moment to get even with Becky. And here it was. He had to finish something he began. He didn’t come this far only to give up mid-way.

He exhaled deeply in the manner of a man trying to control a strong emotion. Then he sat down, pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and with his face facing down wiped away sweat from his face.

“Well, thanks for the unsolicited advice. But allow me to say you’ve spoken like a naïve young man.” He said these politely and in a low and a sad tone. It was more to himself than to Tesot. “Apparently, you don’t believe me.”

“No, I don’t,” Tesot said firmly.

“With my share of experience?” Pabonya seriously glared at his nephew. “I have always thought of you to be smart and brilliant. But I now realise that you still have a lot to learn. Do you think I made it up? Hmm! It wouldn’t be long until we proof this. You are the one we are trying to help. We want you to see the reality. But you don’t want to. You are keeping your eyes shut. Continue deriding our wisdom. We have seen and experienced so much in the course of the years we’ve lived. Believe me when I say your wife is in love with some other man. And love sometimes makes people do stupid things. I may as well give some free advice. Leave it to the elders to work this out. We will be able to confirm with absolute certainty that what I tell you is true.”

Pabonya could not help thinking that his effort to separate the couple was utterly futile; his endeavor of pride was likely to lead to disappointment and discontent. It could end up complicating the good relationship he enjoyed with his nephew. He now realised that he was up against a huge immovable rock that no amount of strength would shift. He told himself silently that he that punches on the wall hurts his own fist. Some battles can’t be won because some forces are too strong.

Everyone was calm. Of course, they were a bit surprised with such turn of events. Although Pabonya had been wise in addressing the issue, using proverbs and parables, Tesot had read between the lines and knew exactly the aim of his speech.

“I have listened to both of you,” Kurgat one of the elders, also a respectable member of the clan, intervened. “We need to approach this problem in a soberer manner. This is an emotive issue that needs a careful approach. We all agree that the allegations made against Becky are serious and unacceptable. And as such, we need to dig to the roots to know the truth. Pabonya,” Kurgat angled his head to face his cousin. “According to your allegations, Becky has been sleeping with another man. Please shed more light on this, how has this been happening? What evidence do you have to back up your claims? Tesot here, as you have seen yourself, and possibly many others in this congregation are not convinced. You are an elder in our clan. And as our fore fathers asserted, 'magilembechonen kalwal.' "

Pabonya took the opportunity to convince his audience that he had a point. He explained that he grew concerned when a certain old lady from Tirita village whose name he withheld, hinted to him that she highly suspected Becky to be having an affair.

The lady, according to Pabonya had observed severally that there was a certain man who usually visited Becky at the evening hours and no one ever saw him leave. Presumably he spent the nights with her. She was annoyed that such a married woman, well provided for by her husband, would go out of wedlock and was compelled to act. She contacted Pabonya with hope that he would initiate a way to get to the bottom of the problem.

Pabonya revealed that though he had not seen anything yet, he was tempted to believe the old lady and armed with the little information he obtained from her, he dug deeper into the matter. “I was like there is no harm in investigating it,” He said.

From his inquiry, he established that on several occasions, the man had gone out on a ‘date’ with Becky. They would go to a particular bar in Chebunyo center.

He had one last card to play. The one he knew once he threw the game will be over.

“There are people who saw Becky in the bar. They have talked to me and shared this information. If you let me I will parade them here so you can hear from their mouths.”

Pabonya’s message shocked everybody. Yet still, some people had their doubts.

Surprisingly Pabonya had already made a prior arrangement with them such that they were waiting somewhere nearby and ready to tattle to this congregation. He had had to part with little money to secure their testimony. How meticulous had been, in assembling his arsenal?

One by one he invited them and they supplied the information that they had been procured to.

The ladies were further interrogated by those in the meeting. The first to interrogate them was Tesot.

“I hope you wouldn't mind answering a few questions." Tesot said.

“Of course, you can ask anything,” one of them said.

“My first question is this. How well do you know my wife?”

“We know her very well.”

“Could you have confused her with some other person?”

“No! We have interacted with her at a personal level. We attended your wedding. Besides we have met in this house two times; the first time was when she gave birth to your son we came to visit with her. Then there was that time when your mother was sick, we came to see her. During the two visits we came to know Becky very well that it is impossible to confuse her with any other person even if she had an identical twin sister,” she was proving to be the most outspoken of the witnesses.

Their testimonies quickly withered Tesot’s brief rebellion benumbing his sensibility. He experienced a stab of pain in his gut as he began to think that there could be some truths in what Pabonya was claiming. No one in the room had harbored the thought that he would soften in any way.

When the ladies were let go, the elders set about analyzing their testimonies scanning for shreds of truth. Everyone began to feel that Pabonya had a point. His allegations were not baseless after all. He had tabled plausible and credible evidence before them. Of course an elder like him was unlikely to make such serious accusations unless he was absolutely sure.

“Pabonya!" Mr. Kurgat drew the attention of his cousin. "We are very appreciative of your concern, your goodwill and the spirited effort with which you are trying to protect our son from the shame and embarrassment brought upon him by an unfaithful wife. You have done a fantastic job.

“However, as the principles of natural justice dictates, ‘no one should be condemned unheard’. We should not judge Becky without knowing her side of the story. Therefore, this meeting will not be deemed to have acted fairly if we make decisions without doing her the courtesy of listening to whatever she may have to say about these.”

“But Mr. Kurgat, her father is around today. I think it will not be a bad idea to bring him on board. We need him to know the atrocities that his beloved daughter committed the soonest possible," Pabonya interrupted.

“Yeah! We cannot let him leave. Where will we get him again? Let’s call him here,” Josiah, another of Pabonya’s cousins seconded.

“Isn’t it too early to involve him now?” Kurgat asked.

He had all along felt that there was something unique in the manner in which Pabonya conducted his investigation. “I would prefer we try to fix this issue by ourselves first. Then if we fail to get a good solution then we can contact Becky’s father. Like I said it is only until we have heard from her that we can condemn her.”

“I beg to disagree with Kurgat. Given the evidence laid here by Pabonya it is crystal clear that Becky is guilty. We don’t need rocket science to prove that. The truth can no longer be denied. For that reason, I think Mr. Sigilai should come here. We let him know what happened and hear what he has to say and then we make a decision thereof.” Kibomwai argued

“What if he has a busy schedule? Remember his presence in this area was totally for a different mission. I don’t think it will be prudent to interrupt him.” Mr. Kurgat said.

“Let’s call him here. He is definitely obligated to come. It is her daughter’s marriage at stake. How can he fail, it would be a bad gesture. In fact his failing to honor our summon would translate to disrespect unto us. And in such a case, we will be free to make whatever decision as we may.” Kibomwai said.

It was agreed that Sigilai be involved in the matter. And a message was sent to him.

However, just as Mr. Kurgat had foreseen, he had no time for such emerging issues. He was even annoyed that his in-laws - could actually ambush him like that. How could they take advantage of his presence? He gave the massage that the elders reschedule the meeting to some different date and let him know in advance so that he could note it in his diary and make necessary adjustment. He did not even care what it was they wanted to discuss with him.

The elders decided that Sigilai’s response exhibited the same arrogance that was seen in his daughter. The attention shifted to Tesot, a lot of pressure build up upon him as he was told to act like a real man and to dismiss Becky; to get every trace of her out of their family.

Tesot’s firm stance in defense of his wife had now been greatly withered. He did not get any sympathizer from the elders. Although Kurgat– a man of sound judgment and comprehensive views – appeared not to support the idea of sending Becky away, the other elders were for it. And he was the odd one out. And so, he succumbed to the dominance of the majority, his logical reasoning suppressed by the conservative elders who were unwilling to let down their ego.

“So, you resolved to separate me from my wife?” Tesot asked Paponya after the meeting ended, unable to wrap his mind around the unfolding reality.

“Don’t make the worst mistake of your life by not giving her up. It is a painful decision which you have to make."

“And what will become of me, a man without a wife?”

“But of course, we shall find a way to make it up for the shortcoming,” Pabonya was quick to reveal a remedy he had in mind for the unintended consequences. “This is worth it. Sometimes in life we are forced to make such sacrifices. As an army man, I expect you to have a ruthless edge. Isn’t that how you were trained, to be tough and firm? Now you need to be tougher than you’ve ever been before. I need you to step up and act swiftly and definitively.”

Tesot was squeezed between a rock and a hard place. It grieved him to ask his wife to leave. But the instinct to keep from being perceived to be weak was too strong. He sent his younger brother to go fetch his Becky.