FOCUS ON THE DIASPORA
My dreams for a prosperous Kenya

By Rorogu Ngeno in Edmonton, AL (Canada)

In May 2004, Rorogu Ngeno, a Kenyan based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada wrote about his uttermost dreams on Kenya, his motherland and beloved nation. These dreams were in turned published and shared through an online version of the Kenyan Times, a Nairobi-based national newspaper that had been used mostly by the government of former president Daniel arap Moi.

It has been over a year since Ngeno shared his dreams and seemingly Kenyans are headed toward a very scary political phase as they prepare to vote in a referendum to determine whether the nation has a new constitution or not. In light of this moment in Kenya’s history, Mashariki Leo has elected to re-publish Ngeno’s dreams to allow our leaders to ponder over realities and the direction Kenya is bound to take after November 21’s vote. And here are Ngeno’s dreams:

If I were to told what dreams I have for my country Kenya, I would outline them as follows:

1. That God will continue to bless abundantly and protect and show love and mercy to our motherland Kenya during this year and in all years to come.

2. That God will convict our leaders of their tribalistic tendencies, entanglements, and practices so that they may see Kenya as a country of and for all Kenyans, a country where all Kenyans are treated equally before the Law. I am talking about a country where all Kenyans are given equal protection by the State, and where all Kenyans have equal opportunities to pursue their dreams and aspirations.

3. That Mother Kenya may continue to cherish peace and mutual understanding amongst all men, women, and children within and without her borders.

4. That each citizen and resident of Mother Kenya may be vigilant and active in ensuring that Kenya does not become a planning or staging haven for international terrorism.

5. That Kenya will indeed get a new and excellent Constitution by June 2004, a Constitution that will prevent abuse of power by current and future leaders, a Constitution that will ensure that power is not concentrated in the hands of one individual or ethnic group, and a Constitution that will bring to fruition the wish in (2) above.

6. That President Kibaki may regain his full health and discerning mind so that he can discharge his executive duties without allowing them to be hijacked by ambitious, selfish, and destructive tribalists who have arrogated to themselves the imaginary duties of “President Kibaki’s Protectors/Regents/Guards” in order to hide their own selfish designs.

7. That the Government should oversee the completion, enactment, and adoption of the new Constitution in readiness for the 2007 general elections and to also dissipate the unending wrangling that has dogged the Narc Government since its inception.

8. That the Government should always be thinking self-initiative and self-reliance by actively researching for alternative ways of developing Kenya in order to minimize reliance on the IMF and World Bank for loans as this will ensure that Kenyans are not subjected to hardships in the name of reforms.

9. That the Government of President Kibaki may realize the danger and futility of tormenting psychologically, physically, or otherwise our former President and to instead promote him as a symbol of Kenya’s coming of age. Long live Kenya! Long live our Motherland!

Do you think Ngeno’s dreams are still feasible in light of the violence and political rhetoric coming out of Kenya? Write a letter to the editor at info@masharikileo.com and share your views.

This article appeared on May 12, 2004 issue of the Kenya Times Newspaper and has been shared to Masharikileo courtesy of Dr. Matunda Nyanchama.of AfricaOp’ed, an online chat group for Africans in the Diaspora .

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