It was still dark outside and the usual Kayole silence had not yet broken into the loud bustle of city life. I had gone out early to open our family kiosk. That is when I saw a man I knew very well. He is called Otis. Most of us call him Baba Nuru. I’ve known him since I was a child.
This morning, he was not himself. He was crying. Real tears. He kept mumbling something about shoes and shadows. Most of us thought maybe he had lost someone.
But then he sat on the dusty roadside, leaned against the electricity pole and said the strangest thing I have ever heard in my life.
He said, “The shoes I stole walked away in my dream. They left me standing there with nothing but my shadow. And now even that is fading.”
A Man Everyone Looked Up To
Otis is not a bad man. Or let me say he wasn’t. He was a respected boda rider here in Kayole. Never caused drama. Always paid on time. His daughter Nuru goes to a local academy and is very bright.
But two weeks ago, his behavior changed.
First, he started keeping to himself. Then we heard stories that someone lost their designer shoes during a funeral. Expensive shoes. The type that leave the crowd whispering.
And guess who was last seen around the tent where shoes were removed before entering the family house? Yes. Otis.
His Confession Stunned Us
Otis confessed everything. In front of people. He said he took the shoes thinking no one would ever know. He thought it was a small matter.
“But since that day,” he said, “I have not known peace. Every time I sleep, I see those shoes. At first, they stood still. But then, they started walking. Away from me. And last night, they took my shadow.”
People went silent.
He added, “I am losing myself.”
Crowd Gathers In Disbelief
Within minutes, a crowd gathered. Even school children paused. You could feel the tension in the air. Some people thought he was mad. Others were scared.
An elderly woman who sells tea whispered to me, “Hii ni mambo ya roho. The spirit of theft has turned on him.”
No one laughed. Even the young boys who usually mock everyone kept quiet.
The Shoes Were Found
What shocked us more was what happened next. Otis stood up and asked to be taken to his house. A few men followed him. I also joined.
When we got there, he pointed under the bed. And there they were. The same shoes. Still clean, shining, untouched. You would think they were just bought.
But the moment he picked them up, he screamed and dropped them. “They are burning my hands!” he shouted.
He Begged For Help
He knelt down and said, “Please, help me. I want to return them but I don’t know who to give them to. The owner was not from here.”
A certain woman then stepped forward and said, “If the law cannot help you, if the church cannot help you, then try the only number people are whispering about.”
And she handed him a paper with +254795613711 written clearly.
The Story Behind The Number
I know this number. Many of us do. It has been silently passed around especially among people who have been robbed or lost valuable items.
This number connects you with people who offer spiritual justice. They do not harm. But they expose. And when they do, the thief either returns the item or faces shame in a way you would not wish for your enemy.
Some call it a spell. Others say it is just traditional justice. What I know is, it works.
How Things Changed After The Call
Otis made the call that same day. He said the person who picked up the phone asked for a few details. Where the theft happened. What was taken. And how long ago.
No names. No threats. Just questions.
And that night, Otis said he slept like a baby for the first time. The shoes no longer chased him. But he said his shadow still looked smaller.
Returning The Shoes Publicly
Two days later, Otis took the shoes to the chief’s office and left them there with a small note: “Forgive me. I am now free.”
Since then, he has gone back to normal. Smiling. Speaking. Even working. But you can still see a bit of fear in his eyes. He learned his lesson.
And now, if you mention shoes, he walks away.
The Message To The Rest
This is not the first time such a thing has happened. And it will not be the last.
People are tired. They are tired of thieves getting away. They are tired of crying to police and being ignored.
So they are using this number. Quietly. Without violence. Without noise.
And slowly, the lost things are returning. One item at a time.
What You Should Know
If you have been robbed. If someone took your phone, your shoes, your cow, your money, your peace. And you feel like nothing can be done.
Call +254795613711. Just try.
Theft is not a joke. But exposure is even worse.
Let this story remind you. What you steal might walk away. But it might also return and take your shadow with it.
Final Word
Otis is now a different man. He has even started going to church. And every Sunday, he removes his shoes and places them carefully by the door.
He never takes anyone’s shoes lightly again.
Neither should you.
If you are struggling with something that has been taken from you, quietly try the number.
