Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Death is Life's Common Denominator.
Kenya mourns the death of six MPs among them all MPs from two districts, Marsabit and Moyale, and other leaders. The death of the Marsabit leaders among others is tragic given the circumstances. They died on a mission to seek reconcilation and peace for their region.
While death is life's common denominator, the death of some is viewed as more tragic than others due to the variance in their abilities and contributions in the society. Dr Bonaya Godana lies in this category. He was a bright star in the republic and perhaps the brightest from Marsabit. His demeanor and guise was that of a cultured gentleman, shunning public confrontations and being principled in his uttering. Godana was in the class of MPs who gave parliament dignity. He is one MP whose full potential was never fully exploited. Nevertheless, you cannot fault his leadership abilities and the affection his people had for him. Every time we lose such a leader, we are bound to ask ourselves what is the legacy they leave behind. Where is their philosophy recorded? Where are those scholary papers, treatise and expositions that they bequeth our libraries? Where is the experience as MP, Minister, Deputy Speaker, Lecturer, recorded? Why must we allow the cumulative knowledge of our leaders be buried with them?
With all the resources that parliament is allocating to itself, they should pass a law that each MP should write up their achievements at the end of each parliament. These documents should be edited and be availed to public libraries. Our leaders must develop the culture of writing books for posterity. The habit of reciting national achievements and struggles during national days is not enough. The Mau Mau veterans are fast disappearing, who will be left to document all that happened in the forests. Very little is written by actual combatants. Most have a story to tell and we should not let them go to the graves with their stories. Their stories belong to the nation and should be archived for posterity.
Death is cruel and tragic. To day you are present, tomorrow you are the late. May God console the bereaved and rest the souls of the departed peace.
Kenya mourns the death of six MPs among them all MPs from two districts, Marsabit and Moyale, and other leaders. The death of the Marsabit leaders among others is tragic given the circumstances. They died on a mission to seek reconcilation and peace for their region.
While death is life's common denominator, the death of some is viewed as more tragic than others due to the variance in their abilities and contributions in the society. Dr Bonaya Godana lies in this category. He was a bright star in the republic and perhaps the brightest from Marsabit. His demeanor and guise was that of a cultured gentleman, shunning public confrontations and being principled in his uttering. Godana was in the class of MPs who gave parliament dignity. He is one MP whose full potential was never fully exploited. Nevertheless, you cannot fault his leadership abilities and the affection his people had for him. Every time we lose such a leader, we are bound to ask ourselves what is the legacy they leave behind. Where is their philosophy recorded? Where are those scholary papers, treatise and expositions that they bequeth our libraries? Where is the experience as MP, Minister, Deputy Speaker, Lecturer, recorded? Why must we allow the cumulative knowledge of our leaders be buried with them?
With all the resources that parliament is allocating to itself, they should pass a law that each MP should write up their achievements at the end of each parliament. These documents should be edited and be availed to public libraries. Our leaders must develop the culture of writing books for posterity. The habit of reciting national achievements and struggles during national days is not enough. The Mau Mau veterans are fast disappearing, who will be left to document all that happened in the forests. Very little is written by actual combatants. Most have a story to tell and we should not let them go to the graves with their stories. Their stories belong to the nation and should be archived for posterity.
Death is cruel and tragic. To day you are present, tomorrow you are the late. May God console the bereaved and rest the souls of the departed peace.
