Why Are You Helping Him?” She Asked — I Stayed Silent, Yet That Decision Changed My Life Forever
My name is Jamal Otieno, and I grew up in Lugari Village, Kakamega County, where everyone’s business is everyone’s business. Life taught me early that loyalty is rare, and kindness is often misunderstood. I was just 24 when the moment came that would redefine my future—a choice so simple, yet so powerful, that it shocked everyone around me.
It happened on a rainy afternoon at the local trading center. I had noticed a young man named Brian struggling to fix his motorbike. He was new in the village and had no family nearby. Others laughed, some muttered insults, and a few looked the other way. But something inside me said, “Help him.” Without thinking, I ran over, offered tools, and showed him how to repair it. It took us an hour, but by the end, the bike ran smoothly, and Brian smiled.
That’s when she appeared. Auntie Grace, my cousin’s wife, looked at me with disbelief. “Why are you helping him?” she asked sharply, her voice cutting through the rain. People stopped and stared. My face went hot. I stayed silent. I didn’t explain. I just nodded politely, as if my choice was too small to justify discussion.
