This archive report was first published on 23 September 2019.
September 23, 2019, was a day I will never forget. It was a day when I narrowly escaped death while cooking in my hostel room.
As a student, I had a passion for cooking, but I was not willing to follow the rules. I had bought an electric coil and its stand, which looked like a paraffin stove, and was using it to cook in my room.
The electrical power bills had gone through the roof, and the power distribution company was complaining about frequent power disruptions. However, I was not concerned about the risks I was taking.
I had connected some naked cables to the coil and left the other end open for inserting into the electrical power socket on the wall. Getting a decent electrical plug was not worth the effort, and every cooking activity was like working on live high-voltage power lines.
One day, a cockroach accidentally stepped on the naked cables, and a series of fireworks ensued, leaving the poor cockroach roasted and the occupants of the entire floor scampering for safety.
Despite the risks, I continued to cook in my room, even going to the extent of removing my shirt to prevent myself from igniting spontaneously. I was determined to make a decent meal, even if it meant putting my life at risk.
However, my luck eventually ran out. A big piece of ugali excused itself from the pan and landed on the naked cables, causing a massive electrical shock. I jumped onto the bed and somersaulted out of the room, narrowly escaping a fatal shock.
As I leaned on the balcony panting, other students trooped out of their rooms to check what had caused the power to trip. They did not have kind words for whoever was responsible for creating the darkness, but I was not about to own up to my mischief.
