From An Arena For Drunkards, Its Total Transformation For Lunatic Lane

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During the colonial period there was a street designated for the drunkards in Nanyuki town. That street is the famous Lunatic Lane which serves the bustling Likii estate.
The lane was the only place in the whole town where European men were allowed to act in a disorderly manner after a few too many drinks.
Like we have streets set aside for parking cars, lunatic lane was designated for the drunkards. The only place to behave like a lunatic was in lunatic lane.
Only in the peripheral of this lane, men were allowed to become rowdy after taking alcohol. They would scream and shout along the lane without the care of the world.
They would come here to act outlandishly when their personality morphed and became impulsive after drinking. More precisely, the settlers in Nanyuki were notorious for their urban cowboy lifestyle as depicted by scholar Sheelah Ambani in Colonial Urbanization in Kenya: The Case of Nanyuki Town, 1920-1963.
That was the norm during the colonial days. If anyone misbehaved in any other place in Nanyuki town, one would be arrested and fined heavily. This was to preserve the order in the town.
Different
A 100 years on, things are different and better. Nanyuki is celebrating being a century old as a town this November, the tides have changed in lunatic lane. The one time arena for the drunkards is now a bustling commercial street with all manner of businesses-thanks to the high population of Likii Estate.
The street is today tarmacked and has street lights that allow business to operate even during the evening hours. A lane that Africans were not allowed to inhabit, is now full of activities and is popular among Nanyukians. Here is where many stop to shop when heading home from their workplace.
Also, the alcohol business is now well regulated by the government that ensure anyone enjoys their drinks without being rowdy.

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