The unloved hospital benches are full
Scores of patients are laid under every available shade
All soothing their pain with the breath of hope
And like the multitudes at the Pool of Bethesda
Praying that their turn for healing comes
When the doctor, as an angel, comes again.
Those admitted at the hospitals share beds
Each patient’s head facing a different direction
Each patient’s feet next to the head of the other
On torn canvas covered mattresses
Shielded from shivering
By the MoH emblazoned bedsheets and blankets
And a cloud of putrid air
Their weak eyes evidence of tortured sleeping fits
Long awaiting, either the unavailable medicine or doctor
But Pharaoh feels nothing
He regales mammon-worshippers with feasts at the Palace!
Tender souls in schools
Enduring pains incomprehensible to their minds
Pains faintly read in their eyes
But holding no hate against uncaring adults
They gather in classrooms with cracked walls
Floors worn-out
Doors and windows either missing or broken
Sitting in triplets on old desks
But these are luckier
As they wait for the teacher
Who is in another class
Other classes are waiting too!
But this government has hired the most teachers since independence
There are no books and chalks
Pharaoh said the school feeding programme is also not sustainable
We must live within our means!
But there is feasting at the Palace!
The teachers’ union officials are meeting Pharaoh!
Teachers, lecturers and doctors are on strike again
They have not been paid again
CBAs are negotiated and signed
But they do not have to be honoured
There is a great feast at the Palace!
The union officials are meeting Pharaoh!
A young man died in a police cell
The police contracted experts to sodomize and strangle him
For he told of the wealth of a senior government officer on social media!
The woman arrested yesterday evening
While protesting against police brutality
Died in hospital today morning
She suffered a severe headache overnight
But she was in good health when booked into the cells
Robert Ouko killed himself, remember?
Let the people run and rant
In a few days they will tire
IPOA is at the Palace
The IG is at the Palace
The DPP is at the Palace
The AG is at the Palace
And the Law Society is there too!
And the human rights activists are there too!
They are negotiating for compensation
To the families whose children have been maimed or mowed
What about those who disappeared?
Pharaoh advises parents to teach their children
Warning them that the police are not parents
There is great feasting at the Palace!
University graduates are boda boda riders
The government has lowered the prices of motorbikes
Secured opportunities in the Middle East too
Sad that no government thought about these since 1962!
The sons, daughters, nephews and nieces of politicians are Pharaoh’s advisors
And the youth mobilizers
Now wear expensive suits
Like them!
Drive expensive cars
Like them!
Have bodyguards
Like them!
Fly in government helicopters
With them!
Why aren’t people grateful?
For the first time the youth hold senior positions in government!
There is feasting at the Palace!
Preachers are hungering for Pharaoh in their churches
To proclaim his greatness and goodness
Oh! Yahweh has been good to me!
To raise me to the throne
The son of poor parents
Therefore, I will give millions to build Jehovah a better sanctuary
Millions to buy a Mercedes Benz for the preacher
Bwana asifiwe!
There is feasting at the Palace!
The preachers are meeting Pharaoh!
But you,
Will you also forget your loyalty?
Can’t you be like Moses?
Refusing the pleasures of the palace
To save the souls of the suffering millions?
~ Augustus Onchari Nyakundi
