DG

Kiraka the Boy Child

2018-07-11T23:51:00.001-07:00

He enjoyed it when his friends called him 'KBC', his slang name for Kiraka, the Boy Child. Everyone had one. In the streets, you had to have a name.

This time round, KBC was facing his biggest moment ever, since he came to the city a decade ago.
He had been dreaming about this moment back in the day. This was long ago, when the city was just an imagination in Kiraka's imagination.

Now the day was here, and Kiraka was here. It was real. As he strolled along the narrow winding path towards the Master's house to collect his reward, Kiraka met his neighbour Liam. Liam was his real name, but just like Kiraka. Liam's street name was Mali.

It had been quite a while since Liam and Kiraka had met. About seven years had passed since the terrible incident when Kiraka and Uliam became the newest friends turned bitter foes. Well, Kiraka, had forgotten the past and moved on. But the sight of Mali, despite the long time, brought back the memories in a flash.

Mali was equally surprised to see his long time friend. They awkwardly exchanged pleasantries, and KBC promptly excused himself, rushing towards the Master's house not to be late for his appointment.

'But where would Uliam be coming from?', wondered Kiraka. The only destination on the side Uliam was coming from was the Master's house! No sooner had this thought come to Kiraka's mind than it all dawned on him. The memory was as vivid as yesterday; how it all began.

It was a Sunday afternoon, right after Kiraka had come back from Church. Kiraka would usually spend his Sunday afternoons at his mother's place when he came from church. This Sunday was as any other, and Kiraka lay on the mat under the mango tree at the yard listening to the popular Sunday afternoon radio show.

Then the call came. It was Mali.

African 'Unification'.

2013-06-18T04:48:00.002-07:00

It was rather exciting to watch the proceedings of the 50th anniversary of the African Union (AU), held at Addis Ababa on 25th May 2013. The event was colorful and quite well organized, I was proud to be African. This was especially after I heard a Bob Marley soundtrack, urging Africans to 'emancipate themselves from mental slavery', gracing the occasion.

Speaker after speaker cited quotes and references to the effect that Africa is better off doing its own thing on its own, by itself. Not bad at all, for like Bob, I can only imagine 'how good and pleasant it would be to see the unification of Africans'. It was indeed such a welcome relief to see heads of African states and governments chanting to the sounds of Bob Marley, in an effort towards 'unifying Africa'. It is noteworthy that Jamaica was also in attendance as diaspora Africa.

But wait a minute - What was the motivation for this new found zeal for the unity of Africa? Was it the betterment of the African person's life? Was it for securing a better future for the African child? Was it for the emancipation of the African from mental slavery? The passion exhibited by speaker after another, and the unanimity, consensus and focus displayed in coming up with resolutions was simply admirable. At this rate, the unity of Africa as a single entity politically and ideologically seemed as real as it can get.

What resolutions came out of this unique event though? Would the ordinary African commoner derive any benefits from this show of unity and togetherness now and in the future?

Notably, it was unanimously decided (with the exception and dissent of Botswana) that the cases of crimes against humanity facing the President and Deputy President of Kenya at the International Criminal court (ICC) be deferred or simply terminated. This, according to the panelists, is what Africa needs. Freedom from interference by other states, particularly former colonial masters. The question that arises here is whether this resolution is good for the Kenyan people, and indeed, Africa as a whole. Fifty years after independence, almost all African countries except a few like Botswana are still stuck in high levels of poverty, tribalism, rampant corruption, civil strife, poor leadership, dictatorship and generally worse economic life than it was fifty years before.

Note that on the 50th anniversary of self rule, Africans are even more burdened with 'the philosophy that one race (read tribe) is superior, and another inferior'. This, under the stewardship of these very African 'leaders' lobbying for 'unification' of Africa. What use should this unification serve? If it is to improve the life of Africans, what could Africa need more than the eradication of poverty, bad governance, tribalism, civil strife, nepotism and disease? Afterall, these are the common challenge that Africans from the Limpopo down to the Sahara are grappling with.

'Until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Eritrea and the other African countries have been toppled and totally destroyed', Africa still needs to emancipate itself, this time from African leaders' tyranny. 'Until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race', tribe or political affiliation, Africa still has to fight - this time, against African leaders who inherited the colonial systems and continue exploiting their people with politics of exclusion, tribalism, nepotism and poor leadership. These are the pertinent issues that ought to have been on the agenda of unification efforts in my view, and not 'personal challenges' like cases of crimes against the African humanity facing individuals.

The unification of Africa should be informed by the need to make the lives of Africans in Africa better, to harness the vast potential in the African continent, and to open up more opportunities to all. Unity for the sake of self preservation of a few is inconsistent with the dream of a free united Africa.

The Majority Rule; Where Mediocrity is Majority

2012-12-03T05:02:00.001-08:00

In the case where the majority embrace impunity and mediocrity, then these rule. I cry for my motherland, Kenya. This is the only land where you can never depend on merit. The most important factors for advancement are who you know, how deep your pockets are, and luck - in that order. On a brighter note, it is undeniable that Kenya is a truly blessed land. Some even call it the cradle of all mankind. Boasting some of the best climate in the world, we are indeed endowed. Not only gifted by natural features, but the people are also outstanding in their own right. What with the offspring of a Kenyan becoming president of the USA, barely fifty years from the bondage of slavery!Not to mention the numerous feats Kenyans have achieved in various sectors. I wish I could be proud of my homeland. I really yearn for the day I can sincerely feel proud of my country. But in all accounts, so far, my dear country has been a let down, ever since I was born. I feel more and more frustrated each day. My country is no longer a source of inspiration. Instead, the going-ons are only a source of fear, anger, desperation and guilt. My primary school teacher taught me to appreciate the values of honesty, integrity and hard work. These do not work in Kenya; not any more! And now my son is soon joining the education system. What will the system, formal and informal, teach my boy? What else can explain public transporters 'downing their tools' because they are now required to obey the law? Where else are persons with pending serious court cases celebrated and fronted for presidency? This must be a case of a shortage of upright people, which I do not buy. It is purely a case of the standards we have chosen to set for ourselves, our children and future. These are mediocrity, impunity, lawlessness and utter contempt for anything systematic or ethical. This, in addition to the general lethargy, cowardice and inability to be decisive without seeking 'what other people think', have made my country into something I dread to bring up my child in, or even feel proud about. What a waste! ..........to be continued