CIKU'S BEEFS: Go well, our fallen heros

Defence Ministry Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo, Chief of Kenya Defence Forces General Samson Mwathethe and other top military officials address journalists at the Wilson Airport on January 18, 2016 after receiving injured soldiers who had been airlifted from Somalia. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • One of my favourite movies is The 13th Warrior. The critics didn’t like it and it did not make a splash in the box office but I enjoy all things Viking. You wouldn’t know it today from how chilled out the Scandinavians are but their ancestors were pretty tough.

  • For me, these groups of warriors, considered the terror of Europe, are the most fascinating of the lot. Even their religion was about war! Who does that?

They say that the most glorious death is giving up your life for your country. It must be so. Think of all the movies you have most enjoyed in your life.

They probably involved a hero, always in battle, saving the world. From the Spartans, to the Samurai, from the knights to the Roman centurions. From the Aztecs to the Mongol warriors, from the Mamluks

to the Apache Indians. And who can forget the ninjas? These are the people whose names live forever. 

One of my favourite movies is The 13th Warrior. The critics didn’t like it and it did not make a splash in the box office but I enjoy all things Viking. You wouldn’t know it today from how chilled out the Scandinavians are but their ancestors were pretty tough.

For me, these groups of warriors, considered the terror of Europe, are the most fascinating of the lot. Even their religion was about war! Who does that?

Back to the movie. It is based on the book Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton. For the Vikings, the greatest honour (what they considered a beautiful death) is one that involved dying in battle. Their prayers before battles were epic:

 

Lo, there do I see my father.

Lo, there do I see my father.

Lo, there do I see my mother, my sisters and my brothers

Lo, there do I see

The line of my people

Back to the beginning

Lo, do they call to me

They bid me to take my place among them

In the halls of Valhalla

Where the brave shall live forever.

 

Valhalla is the house of the fallen. The dead who make it there are deemed worthy to be in those halls for  being distinguished warriors. “Die well, my brother,” they would say to each other when going into battle.

If you are curious about the Vikings, watch the incredible series by that name. It follows the tale of Ragnar Lothbrok who claims to be a direct descendent of Odin (a widely revered god of the Vikings). The series follows him as he goes in search of new lands to conquer.

This week, the first four bodies of Kenya Defence Forces soldiers killed in Somalia arrived at Wilson airport. Each coffin was lowered from the plane by a six-man guard of honour, draped with the Kenyan flag.

Several other bodies have been received at Moi Air Base. These men died for their country. These men died for you, they didn’t even know your name. Is there a more glorious reason to die? I don’t know what prayer they said as they went into the final battle. Heck, I don’t even know if they lived their lives well. What I do know is that ultimately, for a soldier, it comes down to living their last few minutes well. Fare thee well.

To their Commander-in-Chief, I hope you meet with the families of the fallen heroes since you were not there to receive their bodies. It’s the right thing to do.

Finally, for all the men and women in uniform who risk their lives daily for us (whether in the defence forces or patrolling our streets chasing gangsters) – Die well. Your place will always be secured in the great halls of Valhalla, where the brave shall live forever.