A lot has been said about Obama's sudden disgust with Kenyans and their governance. Many people who love to hate themselves have hailed his bitter criticism and 'snub' of the country of his fathers birth and said he is right through and through. Some are hoping that he will provide to us the missing leadership that we ravenously yearn for.
Lets start by saying that Obama was actually right on most counts. its true that corruption, tribalism, nepotism and all the isms or capitalism have trully conspired to bring our great nation to its knees. But really thats not the issue. The real issue as i see it is that Obama just proved what i had secretly feared , that the man is as a politician as Kibaki and Raila. Its not lost to anyone that Obama never mentioned anything negative about his fathers country deep into the campaigns of last year. it was all praise and good will to the fatherland. to me it was a play into the political or cultural psyche of the american people. From the movies and stories and even music that comes from that land of opportunity, its clear that those people are obsessed with human triumph stories. stories of people who beat all the odds to emerge victorious. Obama's tight attachment to Kenya at that time was strategic to make Americans want to be part of his great achievement as an orphan of a poor african goat herder who beat all odds to assume the hieghest office in the land. yet on reading his story, one realises that thats very far from truth. he in fact was of the few silver spoon kids who went to some of the best schools in America and elsewhere. Harvard in fact is not a 2 bob college. very far from goat herding.
So why the change now? I would think that Kenya is no longer strategic. We are now a liability. This change is no different from the change of Raila or Kibaki after they assumed the coveted offices.
and like Gumo used to say, na hiyo yote ni mambo ya siasa!
~From the movies and stories and even music that comes from that land of opportunity, its clear that those people are obsessed with human triumph stories. stories of people who beat all the odds to emerge victorious ~
ReplyDeleteYawa, I couldn't agree more. Truth is, Obama was raised by jungus na hata primo alikuwa private. In the states, what some private primary schools charge for fees would be enough to earn you a master's degree in a private university in the same states. But the truth about that part of his heritage is not as captivating as coming from a goat-herding lineage so let's stick to the latter though all is true he he he....
Lakini OD, at the risk of you putting me in the basket of people who love to hate themselves, why do Kenyans feel so entitled to 'things' from Obama? I don't get it. Other than the sperm that made him, and his name, what, really, have we given the man. I'm as tired of Kenyans wanting, nay, demanding more from the man as I am of Kenyan men whose role in their kids lives end at conception, but will with no shame claim the kids if (and only if) they are doing well later in life. And of people expecting that since you are 'theirs' (wewe ni wetu), then your achievements are theirs as well. We better get over Obama like sasa hivi.
You are right, no one should feel entitled to things Obama, unfortunately he is strategically placed as HOS of the most powerful country in the world and what he says , negative or positive influences how your other trading partners view you. it is therefore (sadly) important to have him on your side or to have him not mention you at all.
ReplyDeleteAnd Moi would say, siasa mbaya maisha mbaya.
ReplyDelete