Kitu miaka 47 badaye

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Kitu miaka 47 badaye


 

Grandpa, I know we never met; I guess life is funny like that... I'm just filling you in on the details...You succeeded in freeing our country; some think you did it for Mount Kenya and keep reminding others that you and their kinsmen fought hard for this land...

But talking to Grandma, I understand that you never thought of it as your land but as one country fighting for lands you had never seen and with people whose language you never understood. I wish you were here to tell these idiots that you just wanted a free country and did not care about languages, tribes, religions, regions or power...

Forgive my language; I mean you no disrespect, but these idiots really fucked up our country… Only two years ago we turned on each other; people were slaughtered by their countrymen the way the British slaughtered your friends in their concentration camps...

I wish you were here to tell them that Odinga and Mboya were part of the resistance that they paid for it more than many did in blood that we are one nation...But as I look back and see the mess, I still thank you for the gunrunning that kept the Mau Mau supplied, the food that your two wives fed to them for those nights you spent in the concentration camps...

Every time I see the graves of your 1st wife and the children she lost in the struggle, I remember that I must be better than my leaders; I must push for a better day so that your dreams come true... I know you see us and wonder if we'll ever get it; we've had 47 years, over 12 elections and one referendum there is another one coming I do not know if we'll get it right, but I promise you we'll keep trying and as I look forward to passing on my name, handed down from my father and his father, yo father and his father, one day it will get to one boy or girl who will see your dream; I hope it will be in my lifetime but maybe it will be yo great grandson or his son or his son's son or daughter...

I know there was no place at the table for you at Lancaster, a freedom fighter hero, no place for soldiers, but at least I get a vote, that's all I can hope for; whichever way me and my countrymen vote, we played our role... But I'll tell you a secret, we have already succeeded; look at the universities my friends range from Omondi to Senteu from Hussein to Kwalanda from Atieno to Ndunda from Mtali to Mutua from Kiprotich to Mayaka from Mukabanah to wasilwa from Syagga to Ongachi and beyond my race to Krunal Kavit Malhal Kalpesh..

Yes, different tribes, languages, religions, and most times I don't even know which one, nor do I care, neither do they the next generation may not even speak our languages, but if we have to lose it to become one nation, it's a price we are willing to pay... Forgive us, for our leaders led us here... maybe one day our children will want to know your language and we shall teach it to them gladly, like we learnt English and French but we shall not let their language divide them like it did our fathers...

Finally please forgive our leaders for as much as their politics and that of those around them led our nation to raise against itself it must have taken a lot of courage to bring us out of it, and now they work together; whatever their reasons, we are a stronger nation for it... It took us 47 years to get here, your blood and that of your children; I pray that it will not take us another 47 to turn it around...
Let us remember the one prayer that we prayed at independence, and ever so often, a prayer as old as our nation; may its spirit always guide us, let us pray...
O God of all Creation
Bless this our land and nation,
Justice be our shield and defender,
May we dwell in unit peace and liberty,
Plenty be found within our borders.

Let one and all arise,
With hearts both strong and true,
Service be our earnest endevour,
And our homeland of Kenya,
Heritage of splendour firm may we stand to defend.

Let all with one accord,
In common bond united,
Build this our Nation together,
And the glory of Kenya,
The fruit of our labour,
Fill every heart with thanksgiving

Kitu miaka 47 badaye


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