This archive report was first published on 10 December 2019.
On October 12, 2019, I watched in awe as Eliud Kipchoge became the first human to run a marathon in less than two hours. This moment of pride was reminiscent of the feelings I experience every time the National Anthem is played during the Olympics.
As I reflected on this moment, I was reminded of the Constitution promulgation in 2010 and the launch of the Building Bridges Initiative report at Bomas of Kenya on November 27. These events highlighted the significance of national symbols, such as the National Anthem, in defining our national ethos.
The National Anthem is a three-stanza prayer-poem that offers a beginning point for defining a new Kenya in the spirit of the BBI recommendations. The first stanza invokes God to bless the land and its people, while the second stanza calls on Kenyans to build the nation through concerted efforts.
One of the notable aspects of the National Anthem is its emphasis on unity, peace, and liberty. The use of collective pronouns such as 'our' and 'we' underscores the responsibility of every Kenyan to foster these values. The anthem also prays for Kenya to prosper materially, but only on the basis of justice, unity, peace, and liberty.
As a nation, we should strive to reinforce justice, peace, and reconciliation through social institutions. The National Anthem should be performed and discussed in various social contexts, including homes, schools, and religious institutions. It should also be studied as poetry in schools and performed in worship centres as part of prayers for the nation.
By embracing the National Anthem as a collective prayer, we can work towards a more cohesive nation. As the author notes, 'This article was premised on the argument that the National Anthem is a collective prayer. This alone makes the anthem relevant to the deeply religious efforts towards a more cohesive nation.'
