Saturday the 16th saw me seated among kenya’s
most pronounced voices of protest. Those people who have nothing to do but
raise their voice whenever our sons in politics do something that does not
reward them in a way. The guys who have been known to move from one court to
the other for matters mundane as causing havoc where the vultures should be
feasting in peace. I mean I was attending a Poets and Writers forum (POWO) at……
I don’t need to tell you where?
The theme was basically arts and protest and who else could
feature if not, Okiya Omtatah Okoiti, Boniface Mwangi, Maddo, Roomthinker and Muki
Garang. The debate was passionate and electric at times very emotional. What
amazed me was the passion that was showing in the panelists as they slowly
expressed their harrowing experiences with the law.
The image of Omtatah wiping a tear when he recounted the
shooting of innocents during the 2008 elections will forever remain in my mind.
Omtatah known for his eloquence and boldness in speech, turned his face away
from the audience, faced the wall and poured all that was in his heart.
Boniface Mwangi, he of the Picha Mtaani was all too
passionate in his talk that inundated the selfishness of our leaders. His talk
was ached on the kingdoms we worship and vote in oblivious of the fact that these
kingdoms are just but buying time to safeguard their looted wealth. He spoke in
a voice full of anger and emotion and love for a people who have become adamant
to change.
As the meeting wore on, I realized that. Kenya had its
owners, who play their theatrics and in the evening, after feeding in the
overdose of soap operas, we flip in the channels to watch the plays that have
been perfectly acted. With such movies, played during news time, who needs to buy
a DVD player?
The workshop made us realize that, if we really want the
best then we got to demand for it. We got to wake up from our seats and
proclaim what we need. We got not to wait for Omtatah or Mwangi do the work for
us. It is that time Kenyan learned to be Kenya.
It is that time when, “we stopped fighting against something
and fought for something instead.” as put forward by Omtatah.
One thing that remains imminent in Kenya is, “ hata angekuwa
wewe ungekula tu vile wao wanakula.” (Even if it were you would just have been
like them)
As the dawn fades into the evening, so does the clock tick
into the darkness we plunge ourselves into. Kenya does not need reforms and
reformers, she needs you. She needs your love and your care. Your needs your
broader vision of her and your unity.
We should now start tearing down individualism and tribalism
and be a sea of common humanity united by common interests and not divided by
that anger to revenge.
For detailed coverage click here: http://powo.co.ke/archives/116
Cool stuff brah. Captures the essence of POWOJune2012 to a T
ReplyDeleteThanks Freddy the event was an eye opener to me and of my kind!
ReplyDelete