What Kind Of Times Are These?

Aah! What kind of times are these?

What kind of times are these?

What kind of times are we living in?

Times that seem like a place between two stands?

Where growing trees and grass rambles?

And the old revolutionary road, disappears into shadows?

In the street we gathered, 

Our voices strong and clear,

Leaving our parents behind,

All we wanted was to win battles over a punitive bill. 

Please mother, please father, I am okay,

I will put up in this battle,

I have worn the shoes that never fitted me,

Because this is for our now and our future.

Hope you have seen in the news? 

Thousands of youths matching in streets,

All over the country

They were referred to as GEN Zs.

Did you hear the revolutionary songs? 

Songs such as Tujiangalie, Tumechoka, Toshanisha?

We marched peacefully, singing as patriots,

But they raffled us,

With bullets and teargas.

We coughed with tears in our eyes,

But we still matched,

Walking through the pink fluid they splashed at us,

But we marched on,

Like in Kifo Kisimani. 

What kind of times are these?

Aah! What kind of times are these?

I know they will say I am now following politicians,

Don’t allow them to blame freedom fighters,

Don’t allow them blame those jailed for our freedom,

Don’t allow them to blame those of us opposing the status quo,

Don’t allow them to make accusations about the Owls in Parliament,

They can’t be blamed

We all did it for our beloved country. 

They celebrated our fearlessness, 

Did you see how even celebrities gathered and we all sang?

Did you see the writers, comedians, and influencers? 

This was a historic moment, 

Unprecedented in our country.

We marched towards Parliament as we had vowed 

And finally we occupied it, 

The walls yielded and we entered. 

Some took the risk, others hesitated.

Some took the dish made for dishonorable MPs,

Some even took away the speaker’s mace

One even wore the uniform of the Sergeant at Arms

Thousands were outside the gates of the Parliament, 

We had taken over!

Albeit briefly

Bullets rained down upon us, claiming the lives of 23 more of our comrades. 

They are now martyrs to our cause of freedom. 

Many others were gravely injured, their sacrifices not in vain. 

The regime has acknowledged its losses. 

There are betrayals from within our ranks, yet our struggle persists unabated. 

Our battle will continue until the voices of the masses are truly heard!

What kind of times are these?

Aah! What kind of times are these?

What kind of times are we living in?