Early January 1986, Moses Wanyoike of the Muthithi Komesha Band ensemble was already a household name releasing hit songs which made good sales at various music stores in Nairobi.
Just after new year festives, Wanyoike made a trip to the costal strip of Mombasa for a short vacation; to utilize the trip, Wanyoike acquired copies of his records from various labels which produced him to sell and distribute whilst in Mombasa.
The expedition was all successful; Wanyoike had sold all the records with him and was just about to hop in to the next bus bound for ‘bara’ when he met a truck driver working for Kinya wa Hiuka transit fleet who were his homies hailing from Kigumo.
Kinyua Wa Hiuka engaged in the transit industry transporting cargo from Mombasa port to Kampala, Uganda; On that day, one of Kinyua’s driver asked Wanyoike to accompany him to Kampala an offer which Wanyoike took, unknown to him, it would be one of the most memorable odyssey if his life.
The two men from Kigumo had a great journey to Uganda only for situation to change few hours into Kampala; by then Museveni led insurgent army NRA surrounded Kampala in a push to capture power from a junta led by Tito Okello.
Wanyoike and the driver were caught up in the fierce exchange of live fire and explosive and scampered to different directions and would henceforth get separated.
Its from this incident that inspired Moses Wanyoike to compose his hit song ‘No Nguuka’ which was done in a spectacular sequel.
First, Wanyoike composed the first record which was done by Muthithi Sisters led by Wangeci a lady from Ndaka-ini and later remixed by Florence Wangari.
In the track, the lady laments that Wanyoike has neglected his young family
“Ka ri ku kuú wathire ithe wa twana twakwa kai watungire nyoni njúúrú?
Ciana ni irarira niundu wa kurarira makiuragia daddy witu eha…”
From hearsay, Wanyoike was love smitten by either Fatuma or Zainabu but word had it that he married Zainabu Mwana Hamisi and settled somewhere chini ya mnazi enjoying life in the coast and now the wife back in Murang’a vows to track him down and settle the scores…
“Kai wariirwo ni ciau ukihikania Mombatha? ata kama ulioa Zainab Mwana Hamisi, nitawaleta watoto wako, Ona akorwo wi kuraya Nairobi kana Malindi kuú wathire no nguuka!..”
On the sequel track, Moses Wanyoike replies to his wife, he assures her that he didn’t start any family rather narrates his odyssey at the pearl of Africa as earlier stated
“Ndathire thabari Kambara(Kampala) thirikari ikigarurwo ndi kuo mwendwa wakwa ngiurira Sudan,
Kiriro kiari kinene mucií ucio wa Uganda ciana nyingi itiari manyina, micinga yararamaga nganyita mara na ngundi, twohanitio mbili kwa moja…”
Back to the 1986 coup setting, Wanyoike fled to the North and would loss bearing and found himself in the Southern Sudan but he hoped for Kenya but luck was on his side as he hitchhiked on a UN truck from Juba bound for Gigiri, Nairobi and he was back to his motherland and the wholesome experience inspired him to write this spectacular piece of art.
Moses further assures his wife that he has no other family and that soo he will be at her safe hands.
“Onaokorwo wi kuraya nyina wa twana twakwa cooka mucií no nguuka,
Njiguaga na kameme uturaga thabari uri Nairobi, uri Mombatha ukiugaga ni ndahikirie Zainab Mwana Hamisi no tiguo kwari,Niko safarini nakuja!…”
