Being proudly Kenyan

THINGS I AM GRATEFUL FOR IN 2023

Being proudly Kenyan

I am on the opinion that most Kenyans will never really ever appreciate their nation and heritage, until they are forced to go and live in Somalia for a year. There is never a dull moment in this nation; be it from our circus politricks, to our complex churchmantics, or our satiric radio and television shows. Every moment in this country is guaranteed to make you laugh or cry in the same breath. Granted that we have had dark years in the past but we have come a long way, thanks to our vibrant democracy and a budding economy.

If ever there was a country in Africa that maximises its use of free speech, then Kenya takes the cake. Everybody and their mother knows that they have freedom to voice out their opinions, whether foolish or sanctimonious. In Kenya these days, it is all about the liberty to express oneself without fear or failure. It is afterall embedded in our constitution. Kenyans are particularly outspoken, especially so on social media, airing their ten cents on every available platform, whether viciously or comically. Either way, it is culturally-embedded in us to be outspoken.

But who can blame us? Kenyans are overly educated people and it comes with the territory. I mean Kenyans are well read! Find people in the remote parts of this nation conversing about our political landscape in formal and punctuated grammar and you will be amazed at their mastery of the English language. Education is our pride. Many Kenyan parents will sell their souls, in order to see their children inherit a formal education. This was Nyayo’s dream that has become a reality for us all.

Beside education, the Church is vital part of our heritage. Kenya is pre-dominantly a Christian nation, such that even our Hindu and Muslim brothers are part-time Christians. Our faith influences our daily living. Attending church services on Sunday is a common practice engrained in our psyche. Foregoing church on Sunday is a sin. Even our very own politicians go to church on Sunday, so there is no valid excuse for one not to go. The most unique thing I have observed is that our pastors are just as colourful as our politicians that sometimes, it becomes a challenge to tell them apart.

Moreover, we have more churches in Kenya than we have hospitals and schools combined, signifying that no one gets to excuse themselves before God, by claiming that they never got to hear the good news gospel preached to them, for if there is anything that sells more in Kenya than Safaricom products, is the gospel, that is all in your face all the time.

How about our heros? Our athletes are recognized worldwide for their footwork. Everyone knows that Kenyans can run marathons. The white folks know too that we are undisputed champions when it comes to showing our running track record. When it comes to marathons, we run the distance, pun intended. It may be a one-tribe show but what foreigners do not know, will not hurt us.

Tourism is also big for Kenya. Our lash beaches, posh hotels, mystic sceneries and wild game reserves are our major goldmines. I mean, where else in Africa do you get to see a lion, a giraffe, a zebra, an elephant, and a rhinoceros all in the same spot? Moreover, we all know that the Maasai Mara is the tenth wonder of the world, with the seasonal migration of wildebeests, crossing crocodile-infested Mara river. Even white folks travel from their homes, to camp at the Mara just for the adventure of it all. If this phenomenon does not make you proud, then I do not know what will.

In Kenya, transportation is a breeze. The Kibaki government laid foundation for a solid infrastructure and the Uhuroto government hired the Chinese to polish it to a tee. Now, we get to live, work and commute across the nation in style. These days, parts of Nairobi look like downtown Beijing. Our government has heavily invested on transportation. Our railway system is top notch that I at times feel like I am in foreign land, while boarding a train in Nairobi. Nevertheless, what ticks me the most is the bodaboda boom. Everywhere you go in Kenya, the motorbikes are ever present. If you have not been accidentally knocked down by one before, brace yourself for the inevitable experience.

Who has not been to Mombasa before? Mombasa is the ultimate holiday destination in Kenya. If there is a long weekend or holiday, you will find Kenyans headed toward the island of Mombasa, craving its hot weather and sandy beaches. If you are looking to eat good food, bask under the hot sun, ingest exotic drinks, go for boat rides, swim in the deep blue ocean, visit old archaeological sites, go clubbing, network with foreigners, or even learn a little about the arab-swahili culture of the coastal people, then Mombasa is your destination.

Our politics is our staple food, drawn heavily upon tribal lines. If one is not supporting one side of the divide, then s/he most likely defending the other. Our politics is too tribal, too divisive, too volatile, and too money-based. Because of that, Kenyans fear the election year, for they know just how the atmosphere is always charged up with the devil energy. Yet somehow, at the end of it all, it always leads to a peaceful handshake. I mean, make that make sense please. Only in Kenya do we get political rivals signing memorandums, aligning themselves in coalitions and exchanging pleasantries after bouts of fights for the political seats of power.

Speaking of politics, no man is more popular and decorated in the art of politicking like our very own The Right Honourable Raila Amollo Odinga! A man we all love to hate and hate to love. This man is a statesman, an aristocrat, a visionary, a leader, a pan-Africanist, a legend, an enigma, a man of the people, the poster child for all things unbeatable, and a national treasure.

Have you ever met someone with an ‘It’ factor? Agwambo Tinga has two of them. This man Raila needs his own planet, the way he is built for stature and posterity. He has nine lives like a cat, a chameleon and a bull, having the ability to shape-shift, transform himself into whoever he wants to be, and charge head on at his opponents. Even children under the age of ten sing this man praises. This man is a true treasure. They do not make them like this man anymore in Africa. He must therefore be preserved in his own special grove at the Louvre Museum in Paris, when he finally joins his ancestors in the after-life.

Finally, incase you feel like escaping to another country of your choosing, you now have a chance, thanks to dual citizenship. This gives you the right to find another country of your choice to relocate to. But remember dear Kenyans that East and West, home is best!