Chemotherapy ulipe cash. Dialysis ulipe cash. Mamako auziwe mchanga kwa gunia ya fertilizer. Stima watuzimie seven hours. Wakate misitu. Watufungie Public places za kupumzika. Wachukue loans na title za public lands. Na sisi ndio the treasonous ones juu ya kutaka matanga Sugoi? Ngumu – Shoba Gatimu twitter.
Words are slowly running out. The cries of bereavement have turned hoarse and papers for printing banners are quickly dwindling away.
Kenya is presumed to be an independent state for sixty-one years now, but land and freedom are still a foreign concept here. Majority of the population still cannot be able to meet their basic needs, and when they try to demand for better living conditions, they are labelled as ‘threats’ and ‘children’ who ‘want to destroy the country’. Freedom of speech has been curtailed. Cartoonists and bloggers are being abducted in broad daylight for a mere satirical comment or picture. And as if that is not enough, our nations’ assets and sanctuaries are being auctioned to the highest bidder.
In actual sense, we never truly achieved full independence and we are still being stabbed in the back by the very same ingrates who were ‘rewarded’ for sympathising with the white colonisers. They traded our people as slaves back then, and now they are exporting human labour to go work under slave like conditions in Arab countries.
I mean, how much more truth is there to tell? The people are tired. Tired of living from hand to mouth each day, unable to visualize a brighter tomorrow. Tired of inheriting their ancestors’ mess, being punished for their fathers’ and grandfathers’ actions. Tired of politics that are divided by ethnicity driven by the same tribal lords, with the same script and cast as colonialists. Tired of all the unlawful abductions, tortures and killings.
How many more lives have to be lost for this regime to continue misruling us?
Judging from past and current events, we have had tyrants masquerading as politicians who are thirsty for power and are ready to murder thousands of innocent lives just to quench their greed. When they seize power, they are ready and willing to burn down the country just to rule over the debris and ashes.
For decades now, the so-called leaders have been taking people’s lives to gain power. As if that is not enough, today they are coming back for those survivors who were left behind. All this bloodbath for just a few more years of something that they already have.
Why attack, demean and abduct because one has failed to convince?
Can law and order be found in a country where the police are protecting the rich. The police kill innocent civilians using bullets bought by the same civilians through their hard-earned sweat and highly taxed money. In countries where democracy works and the rule of law is upheld, the police are tasked with protecting life and property. This is a huge contrast to the situation here where they are manipulated into killing, looting and extorting poor civilians.
Clearly, our existence in this land right from birth has not and does not come without a fight or a price. And that has been our story. A story of fighting rogue governments and paying a heavy price with our lives.
A story is often told only in one way because it is largely dependent on those in power. Those in power are the main orchestrators of the story. A story that has made what was once a bright future for a promising country and its citizens now looms in darkness. A story that has been built on a structure meant to cripple us. Characterized by unlawful killings, exploitative laws, bills and taxes.
It is the time we changed that story. No one has the monopoly of writing or telling stories. Stories that are personal and dear to one can only be written and comprehended by those who have walked in the same shoes. Let narrations to future generations be done in freedom, joy and the fulfilment of victory instead of the pain, tears and gloom that has filled current stories.
Although, I must confess that politics can be awful in all forms and ways, especially here in Kenya, refusing to participate in it has proven that it can never be an answer. “Kuna shughuli inatakanga mbogi !’ There comes a time when the nation is more important than an individual, and this is one of them.
At this rate, who really thinks that the government really has our interests at heart? Can you believe even for a moment that they have us in mind they make private deals with foreign billionaires? Deals, mind you, that would not have been exposed to the public were it not for a patriotic whistle blower.
As things stand, we look destined to continue digging ourselves deeper into the holes of poverty and oppression if we do not put up a brave act. Unless we unite together and remember that the enemy is not me or you but the rogue politicians, then our story will continue being told by others. We must learn and sensitize one another to never shy away from holding the government accountable. Never be afraid to demand for justice and better livelihoods
I strongly believe that Kenya is going to be a powerful and wealthy nation once we unlock her full potential. If the youth, who are endowed with intelligence and creativity can get a space to channel to their creativity. If people’s labour is positively tapped into building the nation, and conditions made conducive for businesses and entrepreneurship to thrive, we can achieve much as a country. This will also give us a chance to write our own stories.
