For the Fall edition of the Amherst Magazine, I was profiled in the cover story. Attached is the full article, which can also be found online:
https://cms.amherst.edu/news/magazine/issues/2007_fall.
Entitled “The Dirtiest Game” by Elizabeth Shelburne, the story gives a well rounded view of the period leading up to the election as well as set the broader context of why I chose to run for MP.Â
As quick background for those not familiar with it, Amherst College http://www.amherst.edu/) is the top ranked college in the US. Founded in 1821, I was priviledged to be the 5th Kenyan to ever attend the school. I am, therefore, incredibly honored to be the subject of the magazine’s main feature, given Amherst has a very distinguished alumni body of over 20,000 individuals which includes nobel prize winners, presidents, leading scientists, economists, teachers, global and local leaders.Â
Enjoy the story and in the words of the Amherst motto “Terras Irradient” (“Let them give light to the world”), may we all give our individual light to the world.
Regards,
Edwin
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:58:20
Subject: The Unity We Unknowingly Share.
Mr Macahria, I must sya that I was truly delighted by your story. I’m surprised that I have never heard of you before.
Anyway I just would like to commend you on your immense personal efforts and wish you luck in your future endevors.
Furthermore, I was impressed by the breath of fresh air that was your story. It’s difficult to come by young men who are patriotic to this level and who know what they want for their people.
Your story has brought to my attention how similar your people and mine are.How we all struggle against politicians whose aims for their country are skewed at best and how we can still win against all odds.
You know people keep talking about how developed Central Province is and how certain parts of the country arent. I think this is a misconception that you may have unknowingly brought to light. The conditions were discribed in the Amherst Magazine wre quite similar to those in say Nyanza where i hail from.
It’s quite clear that the ordinary Mwananchi in Central goes through pretty much the same problems. It’s therfore quite clear to any discerning individual that the main problem in Kenya is not Tribalism but corruption and in turn poverty. Those wjo are rich in Central( though not all) are usually from certain families and may not have come to that wealth legally.
Some people may disagree but lets ask those who actually live in the province and listen to what they have to say. I was shocked to find out that many Kenyans from Central live in the RV because the ladn was taken up by certain families who wre either politically correct or wealthy enough, leaving a lot of their own people without land to live on.
Where were they to go? No matter how they came by that land they ha to live somewhere. Allocation of that land may not have been their doing anyway.
Earlir this week, it was announced on the news that there may bee a drought in Central province. Of all places I didnt think Central could have a drought. I mean how many rivers emanate from Mount Kenya?
On fruther research I found out that Several large farms owned by a few wealthy individuals, and politicians, diverted large quantities of water from the main rivers leaving ordinary citizens to suffer.
I view of the few problems mentioned above, I do not see why Kenyans continue to fight against each other when their true enemy is right in front of them?Why cant we remove our corrupt officials from office? Why do we continue to accept sugar today when we face certain death tomorrow? These are the questions that Kenyans must ponder.
Nick
Posted on behalf of Nick by Jaluo Press.
That is why those from Central Kenya who r poor r very upset by current chaos meted against them in the RV, You cannot repossess anybody’s land unless we revoke all title deeds including those of our leaders who own properties in Nairobi’s posh estates, will Raila and/ or Kibaki be willing to leave his? neither Ruto will.
Ken.
You really need to print more stories like this one so that people can understand the plight of the ordinary and average Kikuyu.
Non-Kikuyus: Please do not let hate blind you to the realities of what the average Kikuyu life is all about. They struggle to bring food to the table. Some intelligent and promising students drop out because they can not afford school fees. Many college educated are without jobs. In Central, talk of big lands is only like a fantasy for some. They live on small plots stacked up on each other. To some, a loaf of bread is a luxury. They labor and toli just to survive! That is the bare truth!
Many RV Kikuyus are descedants of peasants who were displaced by the colonialist to reserves, and then to RV by Kenyatta and the political elite. Many others have been further displaced multiple times by the Moi clashes of the ’90s (which didn’t spare the Luos and other non-Kalenjins!) How can they be such benefactors of the grand corruption and ill schemes of the political elite? They are so remote from this grand living, it’s a fantasy to most! They need you to view them as Kenyans who are trying to survive the best way they can. The efforts to consistently dehumanize and destroy their spirits has been long going. Please stop supporting such inhumane destruction of fellow Kenyans. Redirect the battle where it should have been fought all along: the political bourgie playgrounds, not the peasant villages.
Many people have completely misrepresented or twisted the situation. I think when Kenyans go thru Truth commission, only then will they understand that the injustice levelled against the Kikuyus in the Rift Valley started pre-colonial, continued to postcolonial and flourishes to this modern day times. The peasant and average Kikuyu continues to pay for the sins of the very few political elite who benefited from the land goodie bag. A 70 yr old Kikuyu woman displaced in a Nyeri camp can only communicate in Kalenjin? She knows no other life. All wwe have done is create insurmountableand unjust human suffering? Where do we begin and end with the historical injustice issue? Maybe when you finally realize that yours was more of a perception than reality, only then will you understand how you have participated in a great historical injustice against innocent, average Kenyans who are only trying to make ends meet and survive from day to day. They have taken nothing from you. They were never your enemy.
Please fight the tribe called class inequality and embrace the diversity that comprises Kenya. Please, Kenyans, focus on the real problems so that we can stop the self-destruction. Elections come and go, our country is there to stay along with all it’s 42 tribes. The puzzle will never be complete without all it’s unique and diverse tribes. Embrace don’t hate!
Friends Without Borders