The Kenya I want by Gertrude Wangari Walmsley
August 11th, 2009 | Published in Features, Reading | 2 Comments
My Kenya
The Kenya I want by Gertrude Wangari Walmsley
It’s not for political grand standing
Or strategic party maneuvering
It’s not to see our nations fortunes
Amassed by those in strapping cocoons
It’s not to fight nor ignite
Battles with my neighbours once tight
It’s not to be reduced to beg
Nor partake of a democratic bootleg
It’s not to hear about the Kenya I want
For the Kenya I get
It’s not to see a land able to feed all
Parched and lean a shameful death knoll
It’s not for infamous rhetoric
Masking the diabolic
It’s not for hustling and bustling
On roads our people and drivers tussling
It’s not for prices in basics escalating
Making ends meet, gap forever widening
It’s not to hear about the Kenya I want
For the Kenya I get
It’s not for the daily nagging, constant upset
Causing nerves frazzle and fret
It’s not for health policies gone awry
Where the stricken are chased away
It’s not for investments gone bunk
For a peoples efforts to fall lank
It’s not to become base and lose values, and find flaws
In what’s held sacred and of worthy applause
It’s not to hear about the Kenya they say I want
For the Kenya I get.
(Based on a conference held at the KICC Feb 2009 titled “The Kenya I Want”)
© Gertrude Wangari Walmsley (Trudy)2009
