Got this in my inbox...
HAPPY JAMHURI DAY!
I woke up this morning and wished a good friend of mine a 'Happy Jamhuri Day'. His retort? 'Who cares?'.
That saddened me and got me thinking. When we think of such an occasion, especially a day such as this that is so enmeshed in our national fabric, what comes to mind?
Personally when I think of this year's Jamhuri Day I do not think of it, or perceive of it as a Jubilee (TNA/URP)
holiday.
I may be entrenched in the opposition but I know for a fact that had my preferred Candidate won the election the same glitz, glamour and brouhaha (most if it misplaced) that we are seeing would in all probability have been the order of the day.
I choose to look at it differently. My Dad always kept us educated on current and past affairs. He is a fountain of knowledge in matters historical and I grew up with a never ending stream of information ranging from pre independence to post
independence landmarks.Of course with such a background history became my best subject in school. And despite if and inspite of everything I remain a proud Kenyan.
I therefore will put aside narrow, political based prejudices and teach my sons the importance of this day. I will share with them the knowledge that my father so freely imparted.I will tell them of the long walk to freedom. Of the sung and unsung
heroes. The first liberators: Ronald Ngala, James Gichuru,Uhuru Kenyatta,Fred Kubai,
Wekesha Mengu, Dedan Kimathi,Otenyo Nyamaterere, John Kebaso,W.W.W. Awori, Arap Koilagen, Paul Ngei, Okako Rabala, John Paul Olola,Elijah Masinde, Arap Towett, Makan Singh, Pio Gama Pinto, Thomas Joseph Mboya, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga...the list is endless,
I will also tell them of the dark days after the 1982 attempted coup and the men and women who fought so hard to unshackle the cords of totalitarianism that kept us in bondage thereafter.
I will tell them of the second liberators. Some of whom I was privileged to see and some who are still with us;
George Anyona, Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia, Paul Muite,Koigi Wamwere, Abuya Abuya, Chibule wa Tsuma, Reverend Doctor Timothy Njoya, Chelagat Mutai, Martin Shikuku, Raila Odinga, James Orengo and many many more.
This are the true heroes. Men and women who sacrificed life and limb to give us the freedom and democratic space we enjoy. I chose to look at this day as a commemoration of their sacrifices.
Today, tomorrow and to the end of
time I choose to be Kenyan.
Happy Jamhuri Day
possunt quia posse videntur