The video of the tuktuk guy hurling rocks at police officers is hilarious. Truly, it is.
Then I gave it a bit of thought, and it became a lot darker.
Last week, I talked to my mutura guy. He's generally a very jovial soul. But he was slightly frustrated that day.
Then I gave it a bit of thought, and it became a lot darker.
Last week, I talked to my mutura guy. He's generally a very jovial soul. But he was slightly frustrated that day.
"Kanjo walikuwa wanashika bike zote. Hata hawakuwa wanataka kusikia. Kuna mama fulani alijaribu kuwaomba at least achukue stock yake kabla waende na bike. Imagine walienda na stock yake ya hiyo siku. Na hata haikuwa boda."
And yes, he too had his share of trouble with the county askaris on that day.
"Sijui hawa watu wanataka tufanye kazi aje."
Not too long ago, a video went viral on Facebook, a guy who had his car clamped by county askaris, in an act seemingly designed to extort money from him.
"Sijui hawa watu wanataka tufanye kazi aje."
Not too long ago, a video went viral on Facebook, a guy who had his car clamped by county askaris, in an act seemingly designed to extort money from him.
Instead, he justifiably lashed out at them, with a crowd of people slowly gathering in support of his case. Only then did the askaris relent - the people showed a glimpse of their power, and they made the wise decision to unclamp the car.
Then barely a day passes without news of stolen money, or money that's unaccounted for. OUR money. OUR taxes. Billions routinely lost, with zero shame, zero justice.
If anything, I wish someone would calculate how much public money we've lost to corrupt practices and people in the last 10 years alone.
It's easy to point fingers at the tuktuk guy, at the Westlands guy, at anyone really, and say it's a 'lack of respect' for authority.
It's easy to point fingers at the tuktuk guy, at the Westlands guy, at anyone really, and say it's a 'lack of respect' for authority.
But that would be ignoring the fact that authority comes from us, the people. From us, the people who these symbols of authority are meant to serve. From us, the people who are continuously bullied, humiliated by, harassed by these very symbols of the people's authority.
The police force is meant to serve, to protect. Not to harass, and collect bribes.
The county askaris are meant to serve, to maintain order. Not to beat up, blackmail, and shake down.
The county askaris are meant to serve, to maintain order. Not to beat up, blackmail, and shake down.
Parliament is meant to serve, to represent. Not to push for increased allowances because 'living in Nairobi is expensive'. (Living in Kenya is expensive for us all, so respectfully, fuck you for your utter lack of shame, and your disregard for your constituents.)
These little pockets of what you're referring to as 'disrespecting authority' is hardly that. That's looking at it purely at surface level.
Frustration, my friends. It's frustration that's building.
Frustration, my friends. It's frustration that's building.
And the frustration is starting to bubble up. The frustration is starting to show. And with people seeing a system that's enriching a few and encouraging the shameless looting of their hard-earned money, the "Bora Uhai" line will only work for so long.
It's a silent anger.
Which, I think, is the worst kind of anger.
The video of the tuktuk guy hurling rocks at police officers is hilarious. Truly, it is.
But it's not about disrespect.
That's too simple a narrative.
It's bigger and darker than that.
Much, much darker.
Which, I think, is the worst kind of anger.
The video of the tuktuk guy hurling rocks at police officers is hilarious. Truly, it is.
But it's not about disrespect.
That's too simple a narrative.
It's bigger and darker than that.
Much, much darker.
