Why I am a national figure…
February 16, 2008
When I joined Maseno University in the year 2005, I had little picture about what my life at the University would be like. I did not think of myself in terms of the wider students’ population. I simply was…Jamie Muturi, noboby else but a humble boy of 19 years struggling to cut a niche in the world of the relevant.
I must admit to a strange feeling of nervousness, a characteristic fear that grips everyone in a strange environment. I had been to places, places where great ideas exchanged position, great men saluted each other on the streets, but being in a public University was rather exciting. I had always anticipated it and despite having landed a full scholarship at Strathmore university, I had sworn to myself that I had to be where I belonged…where brainys met brainys.
The first day at the University was rather characteristic in its own way…The admission and clearance seemed to take ages to come to an end.
From all corners of the admission hall, populary known as Tuition block 2, echoed chants of multilingual distinction. I was simply elated, from a background where I knew nothing but my native Kikuyu, to a metropolitan city where everyone chanted Sheng and clumsy swahili to this multi-lingual world.
Ever since, I have known that Kenya is not the Kikuyu, the Luo, the Swahili or any particular people…but a whole mixture of people garlanded by the beauty of varied ethnic affiliations.
The same idea, I swore to myself, would have to be passed along.
Two years later, as if by an ironic twist, I was standing on the platform of I Belong To No Tribe solliciting votes from students in my bid for the highest office in the Students leadership.
Let me articulate a point I have always wanted to put across…to my detractors and supporters alike. Many have asked me about my all time popular political slogan during my students’ elections campaigns.
UNITY IN DIVERSITY, as i may have articulated at the beginning of my article, came as a realisation that this great nation is not complete without all stakeholders being brought on board. These stakeholders are the source of diversity…because again, we have different classifications, some people are Christians, others are Hindu, Islam, Etheists name them. We have people in all walks of life, in all schools of thoughts and name them. We have people allied to 42 different ethnic affiliations in Kenya…This is the Diversity and in its unity Kenya will thrive.
To be Kenyan, one has to first believe in this diversity and appreciate the fact that not a single unit of this diversity ever became by mistake…
This is my belief…forever I will defend it.
One great kenya, with so many units, diversity, but without this diversity being in harmony it may just implode.
Think of the University in the light of this and infer the relationship…
One great Kenya…one great people.
God Bless Kenya and all its great sons and daughters
