My
third trip to Nairobi – the place of cool waters – may not have been so
fascinating, except the excitement to acquire knowledge and skills in
multimedia reporting from the Thomson Media Foundation.
As
matter of fact, the exceptional moments of a Science Safari in Kenya’s South Rift
with my Maasai brethren in 2009 have yet to get its match. http://kadafricana.blogspot.com/2009/10/journey-to-kenyas-south-rift-valley.html
But
I arrived at interesting times in the politics of Kenya – the inauguration of
the fourth and youngest President in the political history of the East African
Nation and significantly the reign of the son to the country’s revered first
President, Jomo Kenyatta.
Uhuru
Kenyatta and his Deputy, William Ruto – the pair tagged as UHURUTO by local
media – took office after the Supreme Court of Kenya swiftly dealt with an
election petition by the main opposition leader, Raila Odinga, who contested
election rigging. The Court asserted that the election was free and fair,
paving way for Uhuru to become the new President of Kenya!
Kenyans
welcomed the new leadership with joy and pride in their new found democracy,
especially after the bloody experience of the country’s 2007 Elections in which
many people perished and power-sharing become the practice of governance.
For
some Kenyans however, their democracy has become ‘a tyranny of numbers’ as was posited
by a colleague journalist and I heard American civil rights activist, Rev. Jesse
Jackson on Kenyan TV emphasizing that “democracy does not guarantee success but
opportunities”. I really had no time to
put these statements to test…
Not
much to expect as I went about town engaging the mood of the people in the President’s
first week in office… the city centre of Nairobi has been its usual self –
hustling and bustling with heavy vehicular traffic. Very good posture for
productivity – no more politics, elections are over, time to get to work!
Amidst
the peace of heart of the everyday Kenyan, I had the thoughts of my beloved
country at heart.
In
2009, when I first arrived in this country, Ghana was a BIG name! The pride of
being a Ghanaian was lived and I was celebrated everywhere I stepped my foot –
all because my country had become a beacon of hope for Africa politics,
especially after the 2008 polls.
But
soon the stables have turned; long before I set forth on my journey, the Kenyan
judicial experience was on the lips of all in Ghana. The question has been….how
were they able to deal with the election petition within two weeks?
“The
greatest criticism about Ghana was the fact that the Supreme Court didn't have
a time limit to make a judgment of the Presidential petition…In as far as we
look up to Ghana as a role model, I think this was one area that people faulted
the Ghanaian system”, a colleague journalist told me as I swallowed the
criticism bitterly.
With
the Ghanaian 2012 Election petition still swimming in the Supreme Court, I can
only watch from afar, thanks to yet another Kenyan example for live telecast of
proceedings.
Now,
as I went about town enjoying the scenery of Nairobi, I was attracted to the giant
statute of Jomo Kenyatta at the Kenya International Conference Centre (KICC)…
just beside this statue sits the Supreme Court of Kenya, where the infamous
election verdict was declared!
I
looked deep into the eyes of Jomo and he seemed to be telling me ‘the judges have
done a good job for my boy Uhuru to taste the throne and I’m happy that the
woman I love has lived to serve as mother and wife to two presidents’. I simply
love Africa, I told him!
The
job of the journalist demands that you continuously broaden your horizon and the
Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KSMS) provided a great atmosphere for
learning and recreation. Thanks to TrustMedia facilitators, Matt and Corinne for
tolerating 12 African journalists in shooting videos, editing and presenting
multimedia reports.
My
last night at the Nairobi Safari Club Hotel was yummy with the experience of
tasting camel and crocodile amidst good drink, music and amazing cultural
performance by the Safari Cats.
Indeed
life can be tasty but risky! But should we fear to take risk, especially in
experimenting with the unknown? My mind wondered as I zoomed back to my
motherland…
Thoughts of Kofi Adu Domfeh
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