We have forgotten the real heroes and instead pile accolades on charlatans
What you need to know:
- The 2010 Constitution brought us the merger of Kenyatta Day, October 20, and Moi Day, October 10, as a well-meaning attempt to shift us away from hero worship of individuals.
- Instead, Mashujaa Day simply collapsed into one separate celebration of two people who, by turning Kenya into personal fiefdoms, ruined what would have been great legacies.
- The Moi regime had no concept of planting a tree to eat the fruit, preferring to simply uproot the entire tree and move on to the next one in a rapacious orgy of slash-and-burn economics.
Today is Mashujaa Day. It is the national holiday set aside for us to celebrate and recognise the brave men and women who, through sacrifice and selflessness, led the fight for freedom from colonial subjugation, led the struggle against one-party dictatorship, and freely gave of their time and talent in all fields of human endeavour towards making Kenya a great nation.
Unfortunately, we no longer celebrate our mashujaa, our heroes. We celebrate tyrants and thieves.
The 2010 Constitution brought us the merger of Kenyatta Day, October 20, and Moi Day, October 10, as a well-meaning attempt to shift us away from hero worship of individuals.
Instead, Mashujaa Day simply collapsed into one separate celebration of two people who, by turning Kenya into personal fiefdoms, ruined what would have been great legacies.
President Jomo Kenyatta and his successor, Daniel arap Moi, both, no doubt, deserved recognition. The first led the country to independence.
He steered Kenya through a peaceful period and held the ship of state together through fairly stable and prosperous times. Unfortunately, Mr Kenyatta also thought Kenya owed him all its riches and spent a bit too much time ensuring perpetual riches for his heirs.
His vice-president and eventual successor, Daniel arap Moi, was a logical choice. His ascension saved Kenya from the jaws of instability.
Mr Moi also led the nation through fairly peaceful and stable times but inherited the former regime’s kleptocratic tendencies.
The Moi regime had no concept of planting a tree to eat the fruit, preferring to simply uproot the entire tree and move on to the next one in a rapacious orgy of slash-and-burn economics.
After a one-decade interlude of the Mwai Kibaki regime that at least tried to get political and economic governance back on an even keel — save for the scar of the Anglo Leasing scandal — we now have the heirs of Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi in power.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto cut the picture of a pair of nice guys. They are earnest, warm, approachable, and modern. They are cool. But behind the veneer, one cannot fail to see that they are good students of their mentors.
The return of grand corruption, wanton looting, intolerance, and endless rounds of angry political rallies are all reminiscent of the Kenyatta-Moi Kanu regime.
I can bet that the Mashujaa Day festivities today will not be about celebrating our national heroes, but about hypocritical calls to fake nationalism and patriotism.
The typical leader who has lost direction tries to win support by rallying the citizens against some imaginary external enemies, and we may see plenty of that today.
We will also see that, apart from token parading of a few national heroes, the frontlines will be occupied by Cabinet secretaries, politicians, top civil servants, and the friends, relatives, and business associates of those in power.
Yes, this day belongs not to the real heroes and heroines, but to the parasites, ticks, and sycophants that have rebounded strongly under the Uhuru-Ruto regime.
Just watch the ritual award of State honours on a day like this. The real top decorations such as Elder or Commander of the Golden Heart or Burning Spear will go to political flunkies and relatives.
The real heroes — the sportsmen, soldiers, entertainers, scholars, artistes, scientists, entrepreneurs, and social justice campaigners — who make this country stand tall on the global platform will have to be content with the lower class of gongs reserved for those who do not really belong to the eating classes.
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I really fail to understand the Obama doctrine. Syria and Iraq are in danger of falling to Isis, that monstrous Islamic supremacist movement spreading its tentacles across the region and beyond.
But instead of backing the Syrian government against the monster, President Obama insists on a self-defeatist support for the armed rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad, that he assumes can also be used to fight Isis.
You can’t have your cake and eat it, Cousin Barry. On this one I am with Russian President Vladimir Putin, if his military intervention is what will strengthen Assad and keep terrorists from our shores.
[email protected]. @MachariaGaitho
