What really happened on 13th Feb 2014 at Uhuru Park, Nairobi?
The media gave the biggest story of the day, an anti-government protest, a complete black out. Later a few articles in the press mentioned it almost in passing. It never really happened, they wanted Kenyans to believe. Those who wanted to know were forced to turn to the International media.
But even more fascinating was this piece in the Daily Nation by KWAMCHETSI MAKOKHA.
Judging by the way people were huffing and puffing in the wrong direction on Facebook most missed the whole satirical message.
In my days we greatly appreciated satire and were quick to spot it. I find it very strange that these days everybody misses it. I have experienced it in this blog several times where my satirical pieces have always gotten people hot under the collar in the wrong direction. What went wrong? Shallow education system? Very sad what people are missing.
In such an environment how would somebody ever get to really appreciate William Shakespeare's classic Julius Caesar for instance which my dad used to great effect to teach me politics? More so the speech by Mark Antony and the immortal words "I come not to praise Caesar but to bury him..."
Anyway to quit boring most of you, it will be of much more interest to you guys to know that as the country moves in the direction of a gagged press and policemen on Facebook satire will be the only way to go folks. And having privileged information on what is going on in the media and the pressure they were feeling over reporting the said demonstrations (the low key media coverage over what should have been the biggest story of Feb 13th was no accident) I strongly suspect that the style of writing used in this Nation piece was arrived at out of necessity rather than by voluntary whim. It may even have been edited at the last minute, I want to speculate.
Apart from the security goons skimming through and nodding their heads in approval, satire is difficult to prosecute for defamation.
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Question to Kumekucha on Facebook;
This is a very honest observation. Please do not read mischief. Why have
high profile demonstrations or political protests become solely Kikuyu
activism? Why are other communities boycotting or showing complete
apathy? Every other lead spokesperson at the Freedom Corner protest
yesterday were our brothers and sisters from Mount Kenya
region.Njoya,Mwangi,Maina etc etc. This is unilateral solidarity for
which I really can't put a finger on.What is happening...??
My answer;
This is a group of Kenyans who have been consistent in their fight for a better Kenya. I have never looked at them as Kikuyus and it would be unfair for anybody to look at them as such. They are Kenyans. PERIOD. They have refused to be boxed into the categories carefully prepared by our so-called leaders for their own selfish political objectives. Secondly those in civil society championing the peaceful demonstrations are wise enough to realize that if they were to allow one of their Luo brothers for instance, on the forefront the whole noble cause would be reduced to the-elections-are-over-move-on rhetoric. Or these-stupid-Luos-rhetoric. Or Raila-has-organized-this-because-he-lost-the-elections-and-wants-to-be-president-at-all-costs etc.
I have had the pleasure of knowing some of these tribeless Kenyans who are largely ignored by the tribal voters of Kenya. I always assure them that even if people see them as confused now, history will classify them as visionaries. And remember that being on the forefront is not a joke. Some like Oscar Kingara lost his life while others like John Githongo have had to live in exile from their own country. And there are many other who continue to suffer. I really get angry when I see some silly tribal comment and remember what people are risking while the rest of us have fun on Facebook and Twitter.
Oscar Kingara: Brutally gunned down in his car (along with his assistant Oulu) by a man on a motorbike a few hours after the government had accused his Oscar Foundation of being a front for Mungiki. There are those who will see Kingara as a "confused Kikuyu" but may he be remembered as a gallant Kenyan. Perhaps long dead and forgotten, but I have written a book available only to raw notes readers that talks about his assassination and those who organized it. Hopefully one day that book will be widely available. Meanwhile you can read an old Kumekucha post HERE. Pay special attention to the first readers' comment because I believe it was written by somebody sympathetic to the killers. Rest in peace Oscar, and may your brutal death not have been in vain.
All my children and others I have influence on have been carefully brought up by me in the knowledge that all those who propagate tribalism are the worst kind of criminals. I have highlighted the strengths of major Kenyan tribes to them and what they should seek to copy from them. The Luo brilliance for those who want to pursue the medical profession and other highly technical fields, not to mention their swag. The Kikuyu entrepreneurial spirit that is unmatched in most of Africa and beyond etc. BUT recently one of them put me in a tight corner when he asked me how come some of the worst tribalists we have are PhD holders. My reply; Son, degrees do not mean automatic intelligence and that is why Kenya is full of very educated but very foolish people. I want you to be both intelligent and highly educated so that when you take over from these idiots you can bring about real and lasting change in our country.
History bores most Kenyans and that is why there is absolutely no chance that most will ever discover that this tribalism monster was birthed and fed in State house after the assassination of Tom Mboya (a Luo man who won all his elections with Kikuyu votes against Kikuyu candidates) in July 1969. Jomo and his team did an excellent job because if you go to the estates even today you will hear kids barely out of their diapers saying "Luos are stupid." The current government has effortlessly used it (guided by some of the people who were around when this evil was first mooted). Admittedly it wins elections. But I have consistently said in my blog since 2005 that the country needs a real truth and reconciliation campaign where people will be made to understand what happened and we should start by apologizing to our Luo brothers for the grave sin we have committed against them. If not this is something serious enough to be tried at the ICC.
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What future for JUBILEE government after 3 explosive developments yesterday?
CBK Governor's case linked to 2 other untouchables
Will "sucker punch" CORD plan to remove Uhuru work?
Drones and how one may have klilled al Shabaab supremo recently
Multi-millionaire caught cleaning filthy streets
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I am President of the county and everybody should shut up
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Why IG Kimaiyo must go
Analyzing the Uhuru Presidency
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Westgate: Why is the FBI contradicting numerous intelligence agencies about fate of 4 attackers?
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President and his deputy want to go on trips with more women
