"Do You Know Who I Am?"

The current controversy surrounding one Winnie Wangui (actually Winnie Mwai in official circles) is something that brings into sharp focus one "disease" that Kenyans need to get rid of.

It underlines the brutal reality in Kenya that has survived long after the Kanu government was voted out of power. It is what I call the do-you-know-who-I-am syndrome. Why use the name Winnie Wangui when the name Winnie Mwai is a lot more effective? (Mwai, as in Mwai Kibaki).

You can imagine this conversation going on, on telephone, somewhere in Nairobi.

1st stubborn voice: I am sorry madam, this is against regulations and our usual procedure.

2nd cool confident voice: Do you know who I am?

1st stubborn voice: "Who am I speaking to please?"

2nd cool confident voice: "Winnie Mwai?"

1st stubborn voice: "Mwai?…"

2nd cool confident voice: "Yes Mwai as in Mwai Kibaki."

1st stubborn voice: "Is this for real?"

2nd cool confident voice: "Can You give me your name please."

1st stubborn voice: "No that won't be necessary madam, your instructions will be carried out."

Moi's son and daughter played havoc in Kenya during his long reign. Even the son who called himself Jonathan Torotich sent shivers down the spines of many a Kenyan. That name Toroitich was as effective as the name Moi, (belonging to the same person) in magically opening doors where they would otherwise be tightly sealed.

It is used to break the law and get preferential treatment.

In the next government there should be a significant effort in fighting this "name dropping" syndrome.

One incident that occurred during the Kenyatta administration makes for some fascinating reading. A senior police officer in the traffic department going by the name of Mageria impounded some matatus in what would have been an otherwise normal police operation. Suddenly all hell broke lose as he started receiving frantic phone calls warning him to release the matatus immediately or face dire consequences. This brave officer stuck to his guns and went ahead and prepared and processed charges against the vehicles. What emerged was that the vehicles belonged to a member of President Kenyatta's kitchen cabinet and actually a relative of the then president. Don't look so surprised, there were not many other businesses to go into, in those days.

Finally this brave officer (he's still alive today and a businessman in Nairobi) received summons to go to State House Nakuru. It was very clear to him who wanted to see him. It was highly unlikely that it was one of the junior security personnel at State House Nakuru who wanted to have a word with him.

Mageria arrived at State House Nakuru and was ushered into a waiting room where he waited for what seemed to be forever. Finally he was ushered in to see President Kenyatta.

"What is your name?" the old man boomed.
"Mageria, sir," the jittery police officer replied.

The president burst out into laughter. It is not clear what language this conversation was carried out in, but the Kikuyu name, Mageria roughly translated into English means "to provoke" or to "try somebody's patience" it also means trials and tribulations.

Was Mageria trying to provoke The President of Kenya? That was the implication and probably the reason why the old man was so amused. He saw the funny side in the whole incident. (A study of the old man's fascination with names and their meanings should be done by somebody. For instance, for years he refused to address a famous Kenyan runner by his second name. The runner (still alive today) was the pioneer legendary Kipchoge Keino. In the Kikuyu language his name means the private parts of a woman.)

After a hearty laugh that continued for what seemed like forever and brought tears to the eyes of the President, as poor Mageria had no idea what would happen next, the old man dismissed him with the words; "You are doing a good job, Mageria."

That was the charisma of Kenya's first President that sometimes causes people to forget his other side and just how ruthless and cold-blooded he could be.

This story has a happy ending for somebody who stuck to their guns despite name dropping and intimidation and did their job. Of course it leaves many questions. Was Kenyatta under so much pressure from his inner circle that an appointment to see a junior police officer who had impounded some matatus was forced on him? Or did the old man just want to see this courageous one-in-a-million police officer?

Whatever the answer, Kenyans should learn from Goldenberg and the Wangui saga. It is better to stick to your guns and the rules and end up being transferred to some remote and hardship area like Lokichoggio as a punishment, than to succumb to name dropping and still end up being transferred to Lokiuchoggio.

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Rape in a matatu that changed a married woman's life

Kumekucha's Presidential Campaign 2007: We Need One Priority, We Need Lots of Creativity

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