Which hat was Mwakwere wearing in Maathai advert, and who picked the bill?
My attention was caught by an advert carried on page 43 of Thursday’s Daily Nation which was signed by Chirau Ali Mwakwere, the Trade minister.
It was quite simply hilarious. What was ostensibly a heartfelt tribute to Prof Wangari Maathai sounded like something else.
This is the way Mr Mwakwere signed off his effusive condolence message: “Honourable Ambassador Chirau Ali Mwakwere, EGH, FCILT, MP Matuga constituency and Overall Leader of the Mijikenda.”
Mmmm... overall leader of the Mijikenda? Where did that come from?
But first things first. The advert was on the official Ministry of Trade logo, together with the government coat of arms.
A photo of Mr Mwakwere’s handsome visage, with a miniature Kenyan flag on his desk, was on display. Nothing wrong there.
But then I got somewhat lost when the rambling advert I assumed was an official ministry tribute veered into the mention of Kaya elders and the minister’s community and family.
One would wish to know — which hat was Mr Mwakwere wearing in this instance? That of a minister, or a community leader, or a Kaya elder, or what? And who was paying for this advert?
Still, the minister has quite a nerve. He is not known as Zipapa for nothing. Zipapa is a shark in the Digo vernacular.
But all too often Mr Mwakwere comes across as more of an entertainer than a serious type.
The good thing is that unlike some of his political friends there is no hint of menace in him. So much for calling himself a shark. Let’s go back to where we started.
Pray, when did Mr Mwakwere become the “overall Leader of the Mjikenda”, the Mwinza Mkulu as he put it? There is no question he carries clout among his Digo people.
But the whole of the Mijikenda — all the nine groups of them? Really? Would the Giriama, for instance, or the Rabai, bow to Mwinza Mkulu’s supremacy?
The Mijikenda are not the homogenous entity we assume. In the past, Arab and British colonisers at the Coast found it convenient to lump them together for ease of reference.
They are close, but not in every sense. There are many points of divergence, large and small. The Giriama, for one, are largely Christian. The majority of Zipapa’s Digo are Muslim. Politically, they are often at odds.
Many of the groups across the country we take for granted as being “single communities” are anything but single. Take the Luhya for instance. Or the Kalenjin.
The fact of the matter is they are each a hotch-potch of very distinct groups put together for political and administrative convenience, and who in reality are even more divergent than the Mijikenda are.
It may probably be easier, say, for a Tigania to comprehend the language of a Mbeere than it is for a Pokot to follow what a Kipsigis is saying.
Politically speaking, of course, it helps people like Zipapa to sound off as spokesmen for the larger, related group.
And they will miss no opportunity to do so, even when it comes to mourning fallen notables of whatever hue. Mr Mwakere is hardly alone in that.
One of the most intriguing messages of condolence I have read in recent times was from Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.
It was a tribute to the late South African reggae star Lucky Dube. The VP actually took the trouble to print it as an advert in the Sunday Nation of October 21, 2007.
Let me say I have absolutely nothing against a Kenyan politician paying homage to this great foreign musician. But I was left scratching my head as to what political mileage was being sought there.
Was it with the youth? Or the Ukambani electorate? I had no clue that our dear VP is a fan of reggae music!
My one quibble was that the last sentence of his message — “[Lucky Dube’s] music will leave on” — got the spelling wrong.
But at least Mr Musyoka did not use his ministry letterhead and logo in his advert.
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IMPUNITY WATCH: What is this about a Mombasa Republican Council which professes to be seeking the secession of the Coast Province?
I understand this outfit like Mungiki is officially proscribed yet current and former MPs in the region have been making statements in sympathy.
