Across the Bridge by Mwangi Gicheru
In Across the Bridge by M. Gicheru, the narrative serves as a gritty and cynical exploration of the vast chasm between the social classes in post-independence Kenya. The story is told through the eyes of Symon Chuma, a man who views himself as a “factory reject” of creation, possessing the “brain of a chicken and the body of a human”. His journey is one of repeated attempts to “cross the bridge” from the impoverished slums to the world of the elite a journey that leads him through the halls of justice, the darkness of prison, and the violent world of professional gangsterism. The Houseboy and the Forbidden Encounter The story begins with Chuma reflecting on his time in jail, which he calls “the house for all,” the only place where equality is exercised regardless of social class. This perspective is rooted in his past as a houseboy for Kahuthu, a top civil servant and “progressive native” who lived among the “cream of creation” in an exclusive, well-guarded residence. Chuma initially considers this life a “heaven,” enjoying delicacies like “royal jelly” and sleeping in a comfortable bed, far removed from the “god-forsaken suburbs” where he grew up. However, Chuma remains an …