THE STORIES UNTOLD

Osoch Ogun, who doubles up as my writing mentor opines that disquietude, injustice, darkness and suffering lie behind the most prolific pieces of literature. Wasn't Ngugi wa Thiongo's Devil on the Cross informed by the rampant corruption in this country of mine Kenya? And wasn't it racial discrimination that prompted Mandela to author his masterpiece, Long Walk to Freedom? As such, I am in no position to contest Osoch Ogun's opinion. This piece you're about to read was as well informed by disquietude. And I realised my heart would not be at rest till I put the words that were churning in my mind to paper. Writing relieves. Ooh, and by the way, that guy you see in the picture is my brother, now late. His name is, or rather was, Ronald. At home we were however used to 'Misiani'. From where I come no one is called by his formal English name. I know you are wondering the reason for this, but to your chagrin, I also dont happen know why. Mayb...

For quite a long time, actually since independence, Kenya has perennially been he ld hostage by a few predominant personalities majorly in the political arena. Our lives, futures and even more profoundly, our destinies, have been dangled maliciously on the palms of a bunch of self  acclaimed leaders. I actually, for a moment, tend to surmise that 'leaders' would be too much an appraisal to mount to such fellows. These are a pack of power hungry hounds who along the years have considered the vast majority of Kenyans not as fellow countrymen and compatriots but rather as mere voting machines who are due to be used and later dumped upon achieving their unpalatable Nirvanas. Our interests as due citizens of this republic have always been bulleted first in the politicians' to-do lists (manifestos) only to be trashed by the very same drafters upon ascension to power. We are taken for a ride every five constitutional years but we don't seem to be privy to that. And quite in...

                                                                               3-10-2018 They who say, have for times not few, alluded to the truism of the old adage that the waters are never missed till the well runs dry. It was not until just recently that a majority of the Kenyan citizenry acknowledged the paramountcy of a long standing and credibly viable opposition in the country. I was far beyond profound shock and amazement when last week I saw the very same people who presumablypresumably- per the status quo of course- vehemently shunned the idea of an Odinga presidency crying foul at his dec...

                                  21-10-2018 It is 12 noon EAT, the 21st day of October 2018. A day after the Mashujaa day celebrations. The sun is burning hot and the students, save for me, as well as the teachers are standing beneath receiving its first hand impact. I am penning this article from the comfort of my desk in one of the 25 classes of Kapsabet High School-one of the few to be appraised as a national school. And today, this very day of October, they are in anxious anticipation of a visitor whom they have acclaimed as 'very important'. I have been just meticulous enough not to use 'we' in place of 'they' for the simple reason that unlike those I am referring to, I'm not so desperate to receive this visitor. This very important visitor has been called upon to launch a just completed project vthat has been named after him in an evident showcase of obsequiousness. I don't know why but I am...