Yesterday as I was watching a daily morning talk show, I heard of a new trend,”Mateargas Monday”. This is apparently a thing nowadays since members of the opposition parties have decided to go to the streets to demonstrate against the current electoral body, while the government insists it has enough tear gas for everyone. As I was sipping my tea slowly following what was going on, a picture of a school girl scampering for safety, with a rather heavy looking school bag, during a tear gas vs stones match between the police and rioters, a discussion ensued between me and a friend. We remembered the good olden days when we were in primary school. Back in 2008 January on a very cold morning, I was awoken by the sound of a thunderous bang on my bedroom door. My father had come to wake both me and my brother up, to go school. This was just after the country’s general election and all of us can remember what had happened right after that. I remember not all schools had resumed learning but our principal and deputy principal, who happened to be my mother, had decided that all of us need some books in our life. I prepared and left for school at around seven. During these days we could go to school at this time because there was no math teacher waiting for you at the school gate with a cane demanding his homework, which if not handed mmhh, I will just use a saying from the good book, he would not spare the rod to spoil a child.
On my way to school I would look at burnt up shops and houses with rusty old burnt cars or what used to be cars and remember how the estate used to look like before all the chaos. On my arrival to school I was not surprised to see only a handful of people had turned up. We exchanged stories on how our December hols had been. It was around 8.00 am when our class teacher walked in to make a new rollcall for the new year. Names were called in alphabetical order starting with the last name. I never knew why she liked addressing us with our native names rather than the first name like every other teacher would. Anyway being an Omulo, that’s my inheritance name(without it I cannot claim my potion of land with my name in shags), I knew it would be a while before I was called, so I decided to go ask for permission to go to the toilets. Before I could even reach the door, gunshots filled the air. Apparently people had not had enough running battles with the police. The riots were just near our school and the police had blocked the only road leading out of the school. Before long tear gas canisters were being hurled everywhere even in our school compound. This was the first time I had ever been in a tear gas filled environment and man it wasn’t pretty. Stinging gas entering a young child’s lungs and eyes is so traumatizing. After close to an hour of tear gas inhalation, we were released to go home as the police had already dispersed the rioting youths. I can never forget that day since a huge stone almost hit my younger brother as we ran home.
This is an ordeal I would not wish on any child and so to our leaders and elders please stop all these senseless violence and riots. Amicable solutions can be made from meetings and meaningful discussions. Yesterday six were killed and scores injured. This doesn’t have to happen. Kenya is greater than you and me and we cannot afford to go back to a situation like 2007. Please do it for the young generation who should not have to cut their daily learning short just because the police have enough teargas for everyone. Do it for the families who have lost their bread winners. I hope our pleas won’t fall on deaf ears. Emmanuel out.
PS:- today I have started a new thing. I don’t know if it will be a success or go horribly wrong but as they say u can’t know if u don’t try. This blogging thing is very new. Kwanza I will tell you what made me do it, heee a good story for another day. Anyway more will be coming your way as I explore this new found hobby of mine.
iampapz 