Thank God none of our politicians will ever stand in front of the world and be declared a hero/heroine.
Kenyans should be grateful for that. They ought to be, forever, until the day when the world’s standards drop to the level that one of them will be able to buy it. Don’t worry. They will not buy it soon.
Evans Wadongo, our NEW HERO, did Kenya a great deal of pride by deservedly appearing among the top ten CNN heroes of 2010. Though he did not win, he sent a strong message to the whole world that Africa, and indeed Africans, is capable to come up with breathtaking innovations.
Wangari Maathai tasted fame for her environment-related activism but descended into obscurity after picking politics on her way to activism retirement. It was not only a wrong choice but an unattractive pick which also made her heroism (can we use heroinesm here?) fade quickly from Kenyan’s minds.
The politician Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize? Someone may ask. Yea, she did, and she deserves a standing ovation for pocketing sh80millon or so. But before the bits of saliva pass the esophagus in agreement, Maathai, with due respect for her beneficial activism, was awarded the prize for her, I guess solely, out-of-political-scene endeavours. You know, nobody is ever rewarded for politicking, maybe President Obama for instilling hope in hopeless souls, but never to common mortals.
You’re lying, whispers a Burmese from Aung San Suu Kyi party. Not really. She won. But after that? She has been incarcerated and guillotined by politicians like nobody’s business. This year’s Chinese Prize Winner, Liu Xiaobo, is swallowing half-fried beans in some jail after trying to oppose politicians.
Ooh, sorry for drifting away from the real thing. Don’t worry though the examples are kind of related. Back on point though. And Mike Sonko, Kamlesh Patni, former President Moi, Nicholas Biwott, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Raila Odinga, William Ruto, Martha Karua, Charity Ngilu plus…name them in alphabetical order and you realise they are all heroism-rejects- Fact. Unless the word Hero is redefined, heroism and Kenyan politicians will forever be enemies.
Don’t ask me why some more than angelic faces mentioned above should not qualify for heroism. Kalonzo you may argue and Raila, another may quip, yet someone may point out Ruto or Moi. Good. But do they qualify. Not they don’t, at all. Indecisiveness ought to be one of the parameters which plays a big part in choosing heroes and Kalonzo is out. You know it, Yes or No? Raila is a bad king of some community based in the western parts of Kenya. Anyone in Kisumu? Ruto has another home at The Hague. Karua qualifies 45%. Why? 2007 post-election heart-hardness takes the other percentage points.
Nobody among our politicians qualify here. Only simple Kenyans like Evans Wadongo, who mind about other Kenyans, are real heroes.
Just by the way...
*A standing ovation and a salute for Evans Wadongo is in order and a thumps down for those bickering politicians who cannot agree on anything, shame on them.
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