WE ARE DEMOLISHING WHAT FREEDOM FIGHTERS BUILT

By Kinyua Njeri
 
It’s now fifty years since Kenya reclaimed her independence. Half a century ago, streets were filled with pomp, everyone happy to have been unchained from colonization. Hopes filled the air as cuffs of patronage fell off Kenya’s hands. Our fathers could not help it but shout out their joys – the white oppressors were gone, never to return.
 
At the time, everyone seemed to be fully possessed by the spirit of nationalism. Some politicians were even ready to step down for the sake of the nation. When the founding father vowed to eradicate ignorance, poverty and disease, hopes rode high. Expectations could be felt as an African government took power.
That was then. Today, fifty years down the line, I wonder what freedom fighters would say if they got a chance to behold the sun again. 

When they braved the cold, game, hunger and bullets, the freedom fighters had a very concise array of aims. Theirs was to drive away the robbers of land, peace, sweat, cultural values, freedom, natural resources and independence. Their dream was to see a prosperous Kenya. Their visions were predominated by illusions of their children playing by the lakeside, rolling down the mountains, grazing cattle in the plains and swimming at the coastlines without fear or discrimination. 

To them, life was too short to attack fellow brothers with whom they had suffered together. Peace and unity became the gospel.
When they saw their children, they could not help but admire a Kenya that was to come. To them, the children would build the strong fort that they had architected. Tom Mboya and other fair minded elites of his time came up with projects to help these seedlings of hope achieve this great dream. Unlike today, politicians of the time were creative in their service to the new born nation.
That was a long time ago. Today, things have evolved extensively. Kenyans are now independent in the sense that no white man ever becomes the president over them. We are ‘sovereign’ now that we are not forced to work in what was initially our farm and therefore, unlike Kimathi and Mekatilili, we do not need to struggle for national matters, or do we?
 
Unlike the days when heroism was achieved from tangible service to the nation; where one had to dare the forests in pursuit of freedom for generations to come, these days we exalt oppressors. Jaramogi, that great socialist, would wish to die again if he chanced to resurrect and see how Kenyans became passionate about capitalism. How could he endure a life where he is ruled by ‘charismatic’ drug barons? Did we really deserve our freedom?
J.M. Kariuki would weep profusely after discovering how right he was when he predicted a Kenya with ten million poor people and ten millionaires. Kimathi, Stanley Mathenge, Mekatilili and other enthusiasts would wish to be re-executed if they’d see their fellow freedom fighters who are still alive wallowing in utter poverty, landlessness and ailing wounds of bullets they ‘gained’ from the pursuit of sovereignty. 

They would not stand the sight of Kenyans killing each other at the glare of the world. Televisions would be the hit target as they would be smashed when international channels incite the world to watch the allure of Kenyans killing themselves. They simply wouldn't bear the sarcastic laughter of colonizers at the torn Kenya.
Aren't we demolishing what the freedom fighters built?

The writer is the Deputy Editor-In-Chief of The 3rd Eye.