A DUKA is a small market located in both rural and urban areas around Kenya, commonly owned by an Indian merchant.
Excerpt from a letter written to my parents by Bob Turton, Owner of Rondo Timber Co in rural Kenya soon after their return to the USA 1961
You will recall Babu and his Duka opposite the post office near the Kaimosi Tea Turn-Off.
Perhaps you were still here and knew about his being tied up whilst a gang of watu robbed him fairly effectively. Whether it was the same gang or not, flushed possibly with previous success or over confident that what had been accomplished before could as easily be repeated, we don’t know.
All we know is that about four months ago Anthony Tucker was awakened by gun fire so in his capacity of special policeman, got into his car to investigate. The sounds came from the Duka area so he hurried there to find that this time Babu had been attacked but was fully prepared!
Apparently, a gang started to batter down his front door with an axe. Babu held his fire, warned the gang that if they entered his shop he would shoot. Evidently the gang - for all the attention they paid this warning; figured he was bluffing. The door crashed inwards, the gang stormed in and then Babu the Baniya cut loose!
It is not on record whether he simply shut his eyes and fired all rounds from his revolver or whether he took deliberate aim. Whichever way it was, it proved mighty effective and great carnage was executed.
It is not known to this day for certain how many died but it is thought that at least one body is missing discreetly buried and not reported. The gang made its escape, dragging its wounded along with it and maybe no arrests would have been made but one of the wounded unable to endure the pain, went to Kapsabet Hospital and gave himself up and spilt on (ratted on) some of the others.
So the gang was rounded up, (those of them that would seem to still be alive) for a week. Babu was a hero, strutted like Wyatt Earp. And since then, no further gangs have dared attack Babu.
