The remains of the day.

In 2000, Kenya's capital Nairobi suffered power and water shortages which in turn had a negative impact on the economy. This led to massive job losses. John Paul Samuel Kamau the protagonist in this story has just received the news that he is among workers who will be retrenched. Sad, he goes home at midday, a time he has never been home since he married Malaika six years before. For the first time in six years, he is kind and affectionate towards his wife. He apologizes to his wife for battering her regularly, and they have their 'honeymoon' for the first time in six years.

Later that day, Malaika goes to prepare food for her husband. Kamau walks out, and comes across a drunken man. Kamau, still assailed by the pain of losing his job, confronts the drunken man, and after an altercation, he hits the man. He realizes that he has killed the man, and he jumps off a highrise flat.