This archive report was first published on 29 July 2019.
Ken Okoth's passing due to cancer has left a void in Kenyan politics, but his legacy lives on through the use of oxymorons in our language.
On July 29, 2019, The Standard published an article highlighting the use of oxymorons in Kenyan politics, particularly in the context of corruption and leadership.
As the article notes, oxymorons are figures of speech that use contradictory words to convey a message. In the context of Kenyan politics, oxymorons are often used to describe situations that are both contradictory and complex.
For example, the article cites the phrase 'minor crisis' to describe the situation at the Treasury following the arrest of Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich on charges of corruption. The use of 'minor' to describe a crisis is an oxymoron, as a crisis by definition is a time of extreme difficulty.
Similarly, the article notes that the phrase 'broke down' is used to describe the situation in South Sudan, where brothers are fighting each other over what they know not. The use of 'broke down' to describe a situation of extreme violence is an oxymoron, as 'broke down' typically implies a collapse or failure.
These oxymorons are used to convey the complexity and nuance of Kenyan politics, where contradictions and paradoxes are often used to describe the situation.
As the article notes, the use of oxymorons in Kenyan politics is a reflection of the country's complex and often contradictory nature. It is a reminder that language is a powerful tool that can be used to convey complex ideas and emotions.
