(Guest post by Jeremy Kinyanjui)
Newly elected Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and US President Barack Obama: Two Kenyans with strikingly similar stories and strikingly similar connections to each other;
1. As mentioned, both men are Kenyans
2. Both men born in 1961, Uhuru on 26th October 1961, Barack on 4th August 1961
3. Both are left-handed
4. Barack is of mixed-race, while his wife Michelle is not of mixed race. Uhuru is not of mixed race, while Uhuru's wife Margaret is of mixed race
5. Both men are devoted to their spouses, judging from their public utterances and actions
6. Both men do not have Christian names even though they are both very religious and spiritual. Uhuru's full names are Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, while Barack's full names are Barack Hussein Obama
7. The first names of both men have profound meanings in Kiswahili, the Lingua Franca of East & Central Africa. "Uhuru" means "Freedom" in Kiswahili, while "Barack" is derived from "Baracka" which means blessings in Kiswahili
8. Both men are from Kenya's two biggest tribes. Uhuru is a Kikuyu, Kenya's biggest tribe, while Barack is a Luo, Kenya's second biggest tribe
9. Both men lead sharply divided and polarised countries. Kenya is worryingly divided on ethnic lines, while the United States is worrying divided on ideological lines i.e. Democrats and Republicans, the Left and the Right
10. Both Uhuru's father and Barack's father attended prestigious overseas institutions. Uhuru's father went to the London School of Economics, while Barack's father attended Harvard University
11. Uhuru is from an aristocratic background, while Barack isn't. Uhuru's father Jomo Kenyatta, was independent Kenya's founding Prime Minister and President, and his great-grandfather Kongo wa Magana (i.e. Kongo son of Magana), was a medicine-man. On the other hand, Barack's Kenyan grandfather, was a cook in colonial Kenya's army, what was then known as the Kings African Rifles (KAR)
12. Barack's father was a senior economist in Kenya's Ministry of Economic Planning when Uhuru's father was President of Kenya. At the time, Barack's father wrote a fiercely hostile critique of Jomo Kenyatta's economic growth & development module for independent Kenya, what was then known as Sessional Paper No. 10 of 1965 on African Socialism, which in Jomo Kenyatta's words , combined both "Western Capitalism and Eastern Communism". The senior Obama's dismissal of Jomo Kenyatta's Sessional Paper No. 10 of 1965, earned the senior Obama the wrath of Jomo Kenyatta's inner circle. The senior Obama lost his job at the Ministry of Economic Planning as a result of this. The senior Obama secured a job at the Kenya Tourist Development Corporation (KTDC), after this, but did not also last long at KTDC. While reeling from his second job loss, the senior Obama had the good fortune of bumping into an old acquaintance, Mwai Kibaki, at Nairobi's Hotel Intercontinental. Kibaki, independent Kenya's third President, was then the Kenyan Minister of Finance. The senior Obama did not mince his words, and told Kibaki he was looking for work. Kibaki asked the senior Obama to see him the following week, which the senior Obama promptly did. Kibaki arranged for the senior Obama to be hired at the Ministry of Finance, and the senior Obama was back. The junior Obama appears to have never forgiven the senior Kenyatta for his father's dismissal from the Kenya's Ministry of Economic Planning. When the junior Obama visited Kenya as Senator Obama in 2006, the junior Obama paid glowing tribute to then President Kibaki, referring to Kibaki as a "good man, for giving his father a job at the Ministry of Finance". Senator Obama made no mention at all of Jomo Kenyatta, and omitted laying a wreath at the mausoleum of Jomo Kenyatta, as is customary with visiting dignitaries to Kenya
13. Both men value their roots and heritage. Uhuru speaks excellent Kikuyu and very good Kiswahili, while the junior Obama visited his ancestral Nyang’oma-Kogelo village in Kenya’s Nyanza Province as a "nobody" at least twice i.e. 1987 and 1991. The junior Obama even visited in the company of Michelle in 1991
14. Both men have a great admiration and regard for their fathers and both men listen to alternative opinion. Uhuru used to keep long hair like his father Jomo, brushed backwards like Jomo used to. Uhuru's year 2002 campaign team advised against this and Uhuru complied. Uhuru has not kept long hair like his father Jomo since 2002. Barack on the other hand, was influenced by his wife Michelle, to drop his chain-smoking habit
15. Uhuru reputedly drank heavily in his youth, while Barack reputedly smoked marijuana in his youth
16. Both men appear not to have time for each other. Uhuru's hero is Fidel Castro, while Barack's is Abraham Lincoln. Uhuru is a fan of Bob Marley, while Barack is a fan of hip-hop and soul music
17. Both have an excellent command of the English language and both are excellent orators in English
18. Both men are humble and down to earth, men of the people
19. Both men's fathers had four wives each. Jomo Kenyatta's four wives were Grace Wahu, Grace Wanjiku, Edna Grace Clarke and Ngina, while Barack Senior's four wives were Kezia, Ann, Ruth and Jael
20. Uhuru's wife Margaret grew up on the affluent west side of Nairobi, while Barack's wife Michelle grew up on the less affluent south side of Chicago. Both Margaret and Michelle are however humble and down to earth, indeed, like both their Kenyan husbands
Will both men meet...? It seems likely...
Eh man, dont try to create similarities between saints and devils. Dont think about it to the slightest.
ReplyDelete* Quite fascinating observations that would not have crossed my mind in a million years.
ReplyDelete* Those are the similarities, but what about the differences? Obama used a matatu when he first visited Kenya in 1985, Uhuru has never seen the inside of a Ma3 in his entire life!
Point of correction:- Luos are NOT the second largest tribe in Kenya, I believe they are 4th or 5th!
ReplyDeleteHow sure is M. Pesa that the son of Kenyatta has never seen the inside of a matatu, let alone take a simple joy ride in one of those Juja matatus?
ReplyDeleteHis peers have never forgotten the adventuruous days when he would break from his strict travel routine and take joy rides - with some of his fellow rugby players - on KBS no 46, the one that used to ply through Rhapta Road.
And then alight at the old members only county club that used to be located at the junction of Rhapta Road and Mvuli Road, one of his favourite hive - spot - to unwind after they had defeated their old nemesis back in the days.
Any way, back to the son of Obama, first of all, he must be commended for taking the initiative and the adventurous trip to the hinterlands of "Africa" in search of his paternal ancestral roots.
'Cause very very few of the so called children of "African fathers" born during the 60s and 70s have ever bothered with trying to figure out or seek the otherside of their undisclosed identity, let alone finding out what become of their real "African fathers" who once lived in the United States of America.
However, all things taken into account, the son of Obama was lost and soul searching at the time he finally found his way to the land of his father's people.
A place he has always referred to in his great speeches and memoirs as the "land of my father" and at times as "my father's country".
As for taking a simple joy ride in an urban matatu like many adventurous North American and European tourists usually do while touring "Africa" - it doesn't matter to them whether Kenya is in "Africa" or "Africa" is in Kenya -, the son of Obama had a choice of an alternative means of transport but decided to ride in a matatu because it was on his list of things to do while in "Africa".
So how comes the son of Obama never took a joy ride in a matatu during the second time he flew into the country - "the land of his father" - as a senator from the eastern central land that gave the United States of America its 16th president?
What had changed during his second visit to "Africa" where "the land of his father"is located?
Was it because he had a better means of transportation and special security escort, given his personal and financial circumstances were no longer frugal as was the case during the last time he visited while on a soul serching trip to "Africa"?
The African Teacher was wondering, what the hell is the PURPOSE of such a long essay?
ReplyDeleteHowever, towards the end, there were something POSITIVE at least which is:
"Uhuru's hero is Fidel Castro, while Barack's is Abraham Lincoln. Uhuru is a fan of Bob Marley, while Barack is a fan of hip-hop and soul music"
So, if you happen to meet the son of Jomo, mwambie haenjoy this one:
Pass It On:
http://is.gd/mW9wF2
Or:
http://is.gd/Lt05Ye
Nyanza si Kenya
ReplyDeleteOne is a gang leader and a murderer, the other is a social worker in the slums. One is a criminal, a manipulator of elections and friend of death cum dictatorship, the other is a true believer of democracy. One is a pass BA graduate at Boston, the other is a cum laude PhD graduate of Havard. One is a multimillionare with hijacked land as big as Western province, while the other is a civil servant earning 2 million Sh a month with a bit of savings, book writer.
ReplyDeleteThese two people are as different as day and night. I want assure you Mr Kinyanjui that these gentlemen will NEVER NEVER meet. The other wont want to dirtify his hands.
Chris,
ReplyDeleteFirst things first, where are the two pictures where Uhuru and Barack are seen standing next to their parents brimming with fatherly love and pride?
Great to see you doing what you have always done well in the past and in the best possible way, namely, being a good cousin to your other cousins, Uhuru and Barack, twenty-eighty-times removed?
By the way, why bring up a long curve of similarities, only to drive a deep wedge of comparison between your distant cousins, who have managed to survive against insurmountable odds before one of them landed in the White House and the other at the State House?
Will Barack learn how to play polo, cricket, rugby and even become an avid cross country horse jumper like his Kenyan counterpart, once he leaves office?
The other day, he was heard admitting to one David Cameron that he didn't know how to play cricket, although he had forgotten the fact that the game is played professionally in several countries on the African continent.
But at least Obama doesn't have people from Chicago running amok in the country... According to this report of March 28, Beth Mugo resigned her ministerial position before being sworn in as nominated senator (http://bit.ly/YRXU5E). So what is the cousin to the president doing heading a Ministry of Health Delegation to Geneva. besides, the members of delegation reads like the Shackles of Doom: Beth Mugo (head of the delegation), Dr. Anne Wamae (Head of Family Health), Dr Sammy Mahugu (Head of Department, International Health - whatever that is), Dr. Francis M Kimani (Director of Medical Services), Mary Ngari (PS Medical Services). Besides Mugo wans't the former Minister for Medical Services, she was of public health. What is happening? Who decided on the members of the delegation?
ReplyDeleteHow about the dissimilarities?
ReplyDeleteAccording to this report of March 28, Beth Mugo resigned her ministerial position before being sworn in as nominated senator (http://bit.ly/YRXU5E). So what is the cousin to the president doing heading a Ministry of Health Delegation to Geneva. besides, the members of delegation reads like the Shackles of Doom: Beth Mugo (head of the delegation), Dr. Anne Wamae (Head of Family Health), Dr Sammy Mahugu (Head of Department, International Health - whatever that is), Dr. Francis M Kimani (Director of Medical Services), Mary Ngari (PS Medical Services). Besides Mugo wans't the former Minister for Medical Services, she was of public health. What is happening? Who decided on the members of the delegation?
One of the reasons why "Obama doesn't have people from Chicago running amok in the country" is because his relatives and homeboys are based in Hawaii, an island in the North Pacific Ocean, and which is located about 4,830 km from the nearest mainland of the United States of America.
ReplyDeleteWhere would one get the time to run amuck in Nairobi or the country if they were residing on an island, call it Mombasa 'Dogo', Malindi 'Dogo' or Lamu 'Dogo' located 4,830 km from Kenya's nearest mainland?
The other reason Obama doesn't have his siblings and cousins from Kogelo, and people from Kenya for that matter "running amok" in the White House and Washington DC, is due to the fact that travel visas to the USA are very hard to come by at a moments notice.
Last but not least, Obama's other 1000s and 1000s of country men and women living in Canada and the United States of America, can not afford to run amuck in the area around the White House because the Secret Service police does not allow any uninvited guests or relatives to idle around or hang nearby the perimeter fence.
On the other hand, it is common knowledge that the Washington DC police and US Capital police are in charge of the United State's capital, and always in command of their respective jurisdictionons.
While at the same time being on the look out, twenty-four-seven, for any suspecious activities, individuals, groups of people who would be trouble makers, stone throwers or riotous crowds bent disturbing law and order.
In addition they are almost the same height and their mannerisms and body language are very similar!!
ReplyDelete5. Uhuru devoted to his wife,lol. They have issues,public knowledge among his pals. They only made peace when he knew he was going to steal the presidency.
ReplyDelete15. Uhuru still drinks heavily, the red eyes are a dead give away.