It's not clear who today would be called 'hero' by future generations
What you need to know:
- Heroism is not limited to exceptional service and dedication during violent struggles, neither is it limited to the exceptional performance in the international arena of champions.
- Often, the question of who are the true heroes of Kenya’s independence is muddled with politics and its deformed twists.
- Day after day we read that our patriots have shattered the public coffers, our saints are yet to be canonised, our celebs are in drugs, and children are growing up in fatherless homes.
Mashujaa Day gave us a good opportunity to reflect on heroes, heroines and heroism.
We are prone to celebrating big things, big heroes and great achievements but often forget the small things, those hidden heroes that make a huge difference in our lives.
Kenya is not able to honour all her heroes. She doesn’t know all of them, and cannot honour them sufficiently.
She will forget them, unless of course their statues are cast in stone along major avenues.
Many Kenyans have done us proud, lifted our flags high and made us feel really great about their achievements.
There are also Kenyans who have suffered, even lost their lives, to preserve our dignity and self-rule, and Kenyans who have pursued noble causes unstintingly at the risk of humiliation.
There are Kenyans who have fought against the social ill of corruption, and other Kenyans who have, in their own small way, forged paths to excellence, their names remaining obscure as the rest of us reap their fruits.
There are Kenyans whose names will remain unrecognized, Kenyans who have exerted themselves at their work, and from their effort, improved our conditions of life tremendously.
Heroism is not limited to exceptional service and dedication during violent struggles, neither is it limited to the exceptional performance in the international arena of champions.
It is not the preserve of a particular community or restricted to a particular profession or occupation, let alone gender.
The thousands of men and women who endured the oppression of heavy-handed colonialists are heroes and heroines of days past. The thousands of men and women who rose up against oppression and fought for a just society are heroes and heroines of latter days.
The thousands of men and women who have remained committed to a just society, free from hunger, disease, poverty, ignorance and corruption, are the heroes and heroines of the present days. Heroism is well within our reach!
Mashujaa Day was a special occasion to commemorate the noble deeds of these men and women who have given us some bragging rights ,and it is a joy to celebrate it. We need more heroes, modern heroes and genuine role models.
The media may have its part in this disease of only bad news being breaking news. Often, the question of who are the true heroes of Kenya’s independence is muddled with politics and its deformed twists.
E.S. Atieno Odhiambo, writing on the seven theses of nationalism in Kenya, notes, “over the last 40 years (now 50), the question of who is a Kenyan nationalist or not has always been important. In the context in which this term has been used, a nationalist has been one who fought for freedom, Uhuru. And that last phrase is the beginning of our problems for the claimants to that badge of honour have not been few.”
Are the proper claimants the Kapenguria Six (Johnstone Kamau, Fred Kubai, Kung’u Karumba, Bildad Kaggia, Achieng’ Oneko and Paul Ngei)?
Or should they be the Mau Mau warriors Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi, General Stanley Mathenge, General China, General Baimuingi, General Mwariama, General Kago Mboko, General Gitau Matenjagwo et al?
Should they instead be the educated elites who fought intellectual battles? Or the post-colonial leaders?
Even more importantly, are these all the heroes that are worth a mention from that period of Kenya’s rise?
Where are the women in this list? Maybe all of them are heroes, maybe none of them are. One thing, however, is clear from this sample – their love for great ideals.
Heroes are extraordinary people; sometimes annoying and difficult to live with, exceedingly hardworking and precise, overly passionate.
In the State they are called patriots, in the church saints, in music celebrities and at home…mother and father. Where are these heroes today?
Day after day we read that our patriots have shattered the public coffers, our saints are yet to be canonised, our celebrities are in drugs, and children are growing up in fatherless homes.
Who today will be called 'hero' by future generations? Can our modern heroes please stand up?
Dr Franceschi is the dean of Strathmore Law School. [email protected], Twitter: @lgfranceschi
