Summary

The first true competitor, Gĩtutu wa Gataangũrũ, takes the stand. He has numerous cars, houses, and mistresses. He recalls how his father, on his deathbed, advised him to “learn from the whites” (102) and steal to get ahead in life. When independence arrives, Gĩtutu wa Gataangũrũ decides to get wealthy according to the following formula: “Famine among the masses = wealth for a man of cunning” (104). He gains the title deeds to 100 acres of land, which he divides into 50 two-acre plots of land, which he then sells to the peasants at a tremendous mark-up. In the future, he hopes to sell soil in small pots and tins, and to sell imported air to the people.

The second competitor, Kĩhaahu wa Gatheeca, is skinny. He starts a nursery, which he decides to falsely advertise as “Modern-Day” (113) and emphasizing the fact...