Let us write our own eulogies with positive acts when alive

This past week or so, so much has been said about the second President of Kenya, one Daniel Toroitich arap Moi passed on the morning of Monday February 4.

Curiously, as a colleague observed, in a long time our media- the newspapers, the TV stations and radio stations seemed to agree and preach the gospel that the former head of state was almost an angel.

My colleague, however, noted that there was an exception to this near unanimity on our mediascape about the fallen leader: A few “independent” vernacular radio stations broadcasting in a particular local language chose to go with the alternative truth and picked specific commentators from that particular ethnic background to push through that narrative. The narrative being that Mr Moi was the epitome of bad leadership, dictatorship, brutality and ethnic hatred.

I have a very limited capacity of verifying my colleague’s “accusation” against the vernacular stations because I don’t have plausible command of the said language and my many other friends from that language community hardly listen to the stations. Over time, they say, they have acquired a nationalistic approach to life and with it nationalistic tastes. They prefer national media to vernacular.

That said, however, I believe my colleague. There are very many people in this country who have no kind words, not to mention kind feelings, for the former head of state. But as many speakers said during the State Funeral Service for the departed leader at Nyayo National Stadium on Tuesday, who served this country for more half a century in different top national positions, the man from Sacho was only human.

He was bound to step on a few feet and toes here and there as he delivered service for the common good. The feet and toes thus stepped on must itch and pain its owners over time. And the owners have every right to speak their pain loudly and clearly.

The vernacular stations should be commended for giving the sufferers a platform to be heard, never mind the fact that as they go about that, as my colleague informs me, the complainers are hardly put to task to say what they did to attract the wrath of their tormentor; neither do they volunteer that information. The national media failed spectacularly in getting this story of those beaten by Moi’s human flaws!

But for those who may never hear the vernacular stations’ narrative, a lesson in humility and goodness has been inculcated by the media this past week. For all Kenyans and, especially, people who hold public office, a challenge has been thrown our way.

We all have a chance to right our own eulogy while we live.

Listening to President Uhuru’s speeches from the time the second president passed on, for instance, one can see a man keen to not only follow in the steps of his twice removed predecessor and father figure but also write his own positive eulogy in the eyes of his compatriots and the world at large. A few examples suffice here.

From the time when Uhuru objectified and crystalized his second stab for the presidency of this country, his main word and deed has been pegged on, wait a minute, Moi’s peace, love and unity philosophy.

Unlike Moi though, Uhuru’s has been more on deed than word. In the period preceding the 2013 general election, Uhuru the aspirant went out of his way and reached out to William Samoei Ruto, the defacto leader of the Kalenjin community for a unity deal, and eventually a joint ticket for the presidency.

At that point in time, the Kalenjin and the Kikuyu could not see eye to eye political because of a mangled election a term earlier. In fact, the two leaders were facing war crimes accusations at the International Criminal Court for standing on opposing sides during the 2007/8 post-election violence in the country.

Ordinarily, the two and their fellow co-accused on both sides would have testified against each other in a self-exoneration effort. But they chose to work to bring their communities together and heal the nation instead. In the process, they won the impending election and Uhuru became the fourth President of Kenya!

Fast forward five years later and another election comes. It turns out to be more divisive than the one ten years earlier to an extent that two “presidents” are sworn in after two presidential votes in a month and there is real fear that the country is headed to the dogs. Uhuru, once again, swallows his pride despite being the legitimate winner and president, reaches out to his competitor and obvious sore loser in a world shaking handshake and peace is restored.

He and his hitherto bitter rival Raila Odinga have now embarked on a building bridges journey that promises to handle the historic tensions in the country and bring real unity to the country.

Notably, all these leaders and more were at Moi’s funeral extolling his virtues. They can be all wrong. Let the whole nation emulate President Uhuru in writing our own positive eulogy that will not be contested by any media, international, national or vernacular when our day of exit finally comes.