MURENONI KANGOGO

There are things that politicians - not only in Kenya alone but in Africa generally – do or say that make you wonder if some people were neither sired nor born nor given birth to but rather descended from other distant worlds, unknown to even to the savviest of scientists. This group of power-hungry individuals can sometimes make any other reasonable mortals to literally lose hope in life and living altogether. In Kenya for instance, I am sure I am not the only one who keeps away from newspapers and any news that they deem valuable. Moreover, I am also certain that out there, there are those who excuse themselves and find something to keep their ears and eyes busy when it’s news time on Radio and Television. You might say that I am exaggerating or making this up but you will agree with me that a sober man cannot withstand the comedy and petty games portrayed by our so called “mheshimiwas”. Whenever these leaders open their mouths in public, one would be forgiven to think that ...

“You cannot plant greatness as you plant yams or maize. Who ever planted an Iroko tree – the greatest in the forest? You may collect all the Iroko seeds in the world, open the soil and put them there. It will be in vain. The great tree chooses where to grow and we find it there…so it is with greatness in men.” “He who will hold another down in the mud must stay in the mud to keep him down.” “If you want to eat a toad you look for a fat and juicy one.” “An only palm fruit does not get lost in the fire.” “Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.”  “A man who lives on the banks of the Niger (river) should not wash his hands in spittle.” “A man does not challenge his Chi to a wrestling match.” “When a new saying gets to the land of empty men, they lose their heads over it.” “The eye is not harmed by sleep.” “We do not want to be like the unfortunate child who grows his first tooth and grows a damaged one.” ...

Thursday the 8 th day of October 2015 and all  literates  eyes and ears were twisted towards Oslo, Norway for the much awaited announcement of the winner of this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature. Evidently many Kenyans and Africans anticipated the renowned author Ngugi wa Thiong’o to be crowned. There was indescribable hype occasioned by this overly exaggerated expectation was however short-lived and subsided immediately the big announcement was made. Majority of those from the literary fraternity admitted to their being disappointed after Svetlana Alexievich from Belarus bagged the accolade. Unlike them, I wasn’t at all surprised that Ngugi didn’t bring the award home. In fact, to my understanding, I think he neither qualifies for nor deserve it. In as much as Ngugi has been tremendously published, I consider him one of the most stagnant authors to ever exist. His themes aren’t dynamic at all. Flipping through Weep not Child, his first book publish...