Ambassador Muhindi’s Exit; What I Said Then.

For Unity And Solidarity.

Posted on November 18, 2008.

Its hope giving to see some Kenyans have finally realised the need for our re-unity and are calling for it. That the wedges driven so deep in our community may finally be seeing their last days and could by communal-will be uprooted for good. Kenyans back home made their peace and ushered in a new year, shouldn’t we too?

In Sweden, “friends” have not seen each other for almost one year now because they no longer attend the same parties, functions or discussion forums.

Are we content?

Are we content with the unfolding reality that we might never see the united front we once held so high ever again? Are we satisfied as an African community, eating and drinking as tribes? Isn’t it funny that we that are supposed to be examples of unity, peace and love actually can not exercise them? That we may as well be doomed to remain on our knees as a community because as tribes we are too arrogant?

I have had the desire to be the new foundation stone (Peter the rock) for a new united Kenyan community in Sweden for quite some time. But then am too passionate. Am too serious, I have realised, probably overly ambitious and waste too much time dreaming about my ‘I have a dream moment’, that it gets in the way where am expected to simply do. Or maybe its just that. That I just don’t settle for things to remain simple when I see a way to bigger things. These I think have made me vulnerable and very easily discouraged. It makes me give up on my people. My beloved rainbow coloured ‘away-from-home-nation’ in Sweden.

The last time I gave it a try, I met with my like minded friend Ole’ngais, and as warriors, we blazingly discussed how we could at least try and bring back the society into a new year. We then started this venture by inviting two persons considered to be elders in our community and had an intense and lengthy debate about the second redemption of The Kenyan Community In Stockholm plus giving the organisation this simple title. A whole night, only to be later discouraged by the words, “nee that cant work” and “am tired of Kenyan organisations”, and “eeh we can’t work with some people”. Obviously some people prefer the status quo.

The first time I seriously thought of being the ‘yes we can’ senator of Stockholm, I went as far as meeting Ambassador Muhindi with a nicely concealed dream of being the bridge between the mission and the Kenyan mob in Sweden. I remember meeting a former highly placed official, George Kinyua, on the way up who was just as concerned about the issue as I was and how glad he was and supportive of a new beginning for both fronts, a cease fire. He genuinely cared.

It all went well, the Ambassador was respectful and clear. She was not in hate with Kenyans; there is protocol and other ways of doing things. Like Obama’s favourite, dialogue. But there was and still is one problem.

She emphasized that the government of Kenya willingly deals with organised parties or groups. In Sweden such group at the time was the now dormant KESOFO (Kenya Social Forum). This was the one organisation that had a chance to bring the government to the people and the people to their government. But the organisation did not take bait, instead it napped.

After the meeting I was able to put two and one together to get a three. The vice chairperson of KESOFO is the most known Osewe, Okoth Osewe, the secretary is the self made full time foot soldier Munala of (wa) Munala. The rest of the organisation’s Committee is (if it still exists) made up of a not very willing lot which will willingly follow where others lead. The only person that stands out is the soft-spoken apolitical chairlady Miss Susan Mukami.

Both Osewe and Munala have declared a never ending jihad on the ambassador that they say will only end if she packs and clears. So, how can these two members of the same injured community play ball in two fields? Can they lead Kenyans on an onslaught towards the Mission and on the other side lead Kenyans in a unity mission with the Embassy? Obviously they had the best shot as KESOFO chiefs and as bloggers-courageous-enough, to get a job done. So what went wrong coz it now looks more like personal jihad than a fight for the best for Kenyans?

Who bleeds?

It is said that “when two bulls fight, the grass suffers” (bad Swahili translation?). The after effect of the raging war has seen the ambassador shift her dancing floor to Denmark, Kenyans miss a national holiday celebration and many crucial meetings with their parliamentary representatives who visit Sweden. Much more is probably in store and by the end of it all, Kenya house, the Embassy of Kenya and the embattled staff might all make tent in Denmark, Oslo, Reykjavik or Helsinki. After all the mission does represent the whole of Scandinavia donnit? Who bleeds then, the embassy, we (that lose the close contact) or the mighty government of the republic of Kenya?

See, what we assume is that Muhindi totally operates on her own. That she does not answer to a PS, the president nor the government of Kenya. We assume that when Kenyan politicians visit Stockholm, they are not briefed before leaving Kenya, about Stockholm. That the axis, PS, Government, Ambassador does not exist to discus or just brush through what goes down over here. Above all, we comfortably assume that it has nothing to do with us, and there is nothing we can do about it.

Look, isn’t it time we left Purity alone and deal with the more burning issues first? Reuniting Kenyans into one force to reckon with then face Purity or who ever will be ambassador then with all the might we can amass. When will we start fighting for our rights, e.g dual citizenship, voting abroad or direct help from our government in time of need if we waste so much time hitting on an unmoving wall? We don’t really expect Purity to get the sack just coz a few individuals are discontent with her do we? At least not when her bosses back home are satisfied with her performance. How long has this war been going on while she still docks?

“Ask me why am angry? Its all the hypocrisy that every man sees and yet they are blind” to quote my newly found reggae guru, Dwayne Stephenson.

We have more important wars to fight and everyone capable is needed, each in their own capacity. We can achieve a lot by investing in a united front than personal crusades. We need to re-find the Kenya Stockholm Community that was once famous for it’s solidarity and activism. Though Obama has opened the way for us as individuals to go as far as we (Kenyans) can, namely presidents of United States, we can still do more together! How about those words right about now…? YES WE CAN!!

We could sit and say our Lord’s Prayer together and stress on the part “forgive us our transgressions as we forgive those who have trespassed against us” yes we can!

If Kenyans forgave Kibaki for stealing a presidency, Raila for stealing power through the back door, Kalonzo for stealing…eh…something by taking advantage of the situation, we can forgive each other for whatever stealings we have done. Even Purity. Then we can all, including Purity and the grand coalition of stealers (GK), come together and steal together! Yes we can!

“Let There Be Calm”

P Bryan Njoroge.