My musings seem disjointed because as I explained, this is a group that transacts in their  first language, which I do not understand at all, apart from when they code switch with a fair amount of Kiswahili and/or English

15:30 another member arrives. She takes time to explain why she is late. She is welcomed to the meeting and we get back to business again.

I can tell they are speaking about officially registering their Chama and they switch to English. They are talking about how to get around the taxman. 

The chairman refers to emails they had written to each other on signatories, government regulations etc. He seems really knowledgeable on the laws that govern registration, financial law etc. 

They seem open to new members and are keep referring to what the new member will need to sign with the bank. 

The age seems quite varied … there are people on their 20s through to late 40s

There is a discussion seemingly on an errant member. All members have a stern look fixated in a member who says they saw *Alan , the errant guy. He has been evasive, he will not answer  calls. It seems to be about Chama monies. The chair says in Kiswahili that there is no point of not answering calls from each other. 

I now remember this group did not want me to come to them last moment because they had a disagreement that was threatening to split them. No amount of pleading my case as a researcher and therefore a neutral-somewhat disinterested party- could let them have me.

The discussion on the previous minutes lasted 1 hour. The  chair then asks whether people have an agenda for the day. This is tickling- why would they meet if they had no agenda? I wonder. They seem to have a fairly active whatsapp life…why not raise the agenda then? Then again I realise, there must be something that a physical meeting gives them that they do not get from all the technologies available to them.

They discuss new members. 

I notice one member answers her phone as others discuss new business. She holds a brief with the member seated next to her on the phone call. It is a free Chama this one. They are in each others circles.

The chairman moves on with his brief on a member that he had proposed join the chama. Suddenly, at least for me, a heavy looking meal is served by the hosts wife assisted by a member. The tea and snacks have barely settled in our tummies, I think.

The members ignore the meal and discuss the procedure for getting new members: table their names, invite them for the next meeting, share bylaws , see if they are interested. The chairman encourages people to invite new members. 

I conclude that they are each other’s keeper- they trust each other to recommend and vet ‘suitable’ members. 

As they discuss on, I conclude that this is a cool calm  Chama a lot of the time. They disagree but they are not given overdoing things.

There is a discussion on what it means to be a member- and the chair says “consistent monthly contributions- money, time, self..” That is a profound statement. That it is more than the money that makes them.

The chairman, I notice, seems to be the point of reference as questions are directed at him.

They take time to discuss and laugh about a member who called at noon to ask about directions, and still had not arrived- 3 hours later.

They discuss other members and why it’s possible they are absent, some without apologies. They seem to know each other’s personal detail. 

They discuss one of the members in detail and the secretary reminds them that this is welfare, and they need to take the absence of a member seriously. I later learn that welfare has its own meaning for them.

Food is served. It’s healthy delicious food.

The chair encourages them to eat together so that they can discuss one particular member who seems to have disappeared.  They suggest getting in touch with the wife to find out his whereabouts.

“I’m shocked” one says

“… he doesn’t answer my phone” 

” how do you just go?” Asks another.

“This is serious” 

” That is sad!” 

 As one of the ladies serves their meal, I am not sure whether the meal serves as a formal end to the meeting or a the beginning of a new part of the discussion. The discussion on the ‘lost member’.

The chairman ‘s wife give thanks for food and members dig in.