Thoughts As We Celebrate Our Uhuru
Reflections on Kenya’s 42nd Birthday

By Kaburi Kariuki in San Francisco, CA
Filed at 4:30p.m. CT

ML File Photo

December 12, 2005 -- Uhuru, "freedom" what a beautiful thing, I even like the sound of it so I will say it again, Uhuru, Uhuru, our birthright and yet ours did not come on a silver platter. What exactly is it though, to have freedom?

If it is what I think; inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness then you will agree with me that for the most part, we Kenyans have been shortchanged.

Shortchanging folks on their inalienable rights is what gave rise to the American Revolution, the French Revolution and the Mau Mau Revolution. At independence, the elite who grabbed power mortgaged our country back to our former masters and their friends in the West.

To the ordinary Kenyan, the only manifestation of freedom is that the chauffeured flag bearing limousine that blows the street dust into his eyes, now carries a black man who hails from his village and not the white man of yesteryears.

To this day our country is still held hostage by stringent requirements and guidelines from agents of the West such as the IMF and the World Bank, which continue to curtail our freedom.

So as I celebrated our independence this weekend, I was asking myself and those around me, what on earth is going on that after 42 years we as a country cannot properly manage our own affairs and achieve true liberation for the ordinary mwananchi? Why do we, after 42 years, have to dance to the tune of the West?

However not all is gloomy, there is reason to celebrate. Kenyans still have the freedom to vote and recently during the national referendum they exercised that right sending a clear message to the government.

It demonstrated to all including the wishful thinkers in government that Kenyans have matured to another level. They demonstrated a new freedom from orthodox dogma.

The right of others to think differently from one's self despite the bondage of ethnicity. With the exception of Central Province that overwhelmingly voted along ethnic lines, enlightened Kenyans everywhere crossed ethnic lines to vote their conscience.

Whether you were for the winners or the losers of the referendum you should be proud of this new Kenyan-centric way of thought. As much as progressives would wish tribalism a speedy death, it will be here for a bit longer than we would like.

However, I believe the recent vote demonstrates the birth of a new dispensation, a time when our people will put country first and ethnicity second. When we get to that level of political maturity, we will cease to expect the government to patronize our ethnic group by naming one of our own to the Cabinet.

If Cabinet positions were awarded on merit given the usual considerations of education and work experience, essentially progressive Kenyans will not give a flip if they are all Kikuyu's or if they are all Kalenjin's because that is not remotely possible in this day and age, but if it were so, so let it be.

If the best qualified man or woman gets the job then we can rest assured that the job will get done no matter their ethnic background. The effective and efficient distribution of government services should be the primary concern, not which ethnic group the office holder belongs. Ethnic patronage has contributed significantly to our government’s ineffectiveness.

Why would you think that we must have a Minister from Central Province?

It is not rocket science. How can that incompetent fellow from your village become a genius overnight and effectively discharge the duties of a Minister if his appointment is solely based on ethnic patronage?

The fellow knows he is incapable and his position is a result of ethnic patronage. He therefore spends his day patronizing others with hopes of keeping his Ministerial job and thus abdicating his ministerial duties.

His juniors in the ministry who are usually more qualified than him have no respect for him, which makes it even harder for him to govern. In this new dispensation, Kenyans should shun ethnic patronage and let qualifications count where they were meant to count.

If Kenyans continue to exercise this freedom of the ballot, crossing ethnic boundaries to vote their conscience, we will soon rid our government of this minority that has stagnated our development for decades.

As we celebrate our Uhuru, may we be reminded that freedom is a journey, a bumpy road it is, and we are all in this together. The Maasai, Giriama, Luo etc. We will have greater freedom as a people, when we shed the bondage of our ethnicities. So together in the words of our national anthem let us summon;

"O God of all creation,
Bless this our land and nation,
Justice be our shield and defender,
May we dwell in unity,
Peace and Liberty,
Plenty be found within our borders.

Let one and all arise,
With hearts both strong and true,
Service be our earnest endeavor,
And our homeland of Kenya,
Heritage of splendor,
Firm may we stand to defend.

Let all with one accord,
In common bond united,
Build this our nation together,
And the glory of Kenya,
The fruit of our labor,
Fill every heart with thanksgiving."

Happy Jamhuri Day!

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