This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
On June 6, 2020, Kenya celebrated its 57th Madaraka Day, marking the country's journey to self-governance. President Uhuru Kenyatta's speech provided historical context, but also raised questions about the Kenyan dream and the nation's anger.
Our founding fathers aimed to eradicate disease, ignorance, and poverty, but these vices persist to this day. The president's words echoed the slogans of peace, love, and unity, yet these values are often forgotten during election years.
President Kenyatta emphasized that an angry nation cannot prosper, but what fuels this anger? The coronavirus pandemic has made things even more difficult, and the public is demanding more from the administration. Is this a bad thing?
The president's speech also touched on colonialism, but the enemy has changed. It is no longer the colonizers, but the enemy within – those who speak like us, look like us, and are us. They do not have horns, speak another language, or have a different skin tone, making it easier to condemn brutality thousands of kilometers away, but not when it's a stone's throw away.
As the nation demands more from its leaders, it is essential to address the enemy within. The president's call for a responsive constitution is a step in the right direction, but it is also a reminder that the colonial talk is back up again. Is this a convenient excuse for the political elite to whip up emotions whenever needed?
Nerima Wako-Ojiwa, executive director of Siasa Place, reflects on the president's speech and the nation's anger.
