Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2012-06-01 11:07:00 Read 1567 Times

As Kenya celebrates Madaraka Day 49 years down the line, there are different reactions from Kenyans, among them those who appreciate it while to others the freedom from colonial rule has not been given in equal quantity to all Kenyans.

“Not all Kenyans enjoy freedom from colonial rule but just the ruling class and a few who belong to middle economic level who have the power to influence things to run their way,” said Mr. Johnstone Khaoma, a Bungoma resident.

To some Kenyan’s freedom has been felt more by those in power than the common man who is enslaved in his own country and by its own laws.

The reason for freedom by Kenya’s founding fathers was good but implementing the attained freedom changed from being a national issue to being a centralized issue.

“From history, those who had the initial idea for fighting for freedom had good intentions but after attaining it, they ceased from what was to be done to what they wanted to do with it,” said Mr.Khaoma.

After independence they say, there were two accesses of ideologies from the leaders; others protecting what they had while others felt like they were being left out as if things were turning from what they had expected.

However, what does Madaraka Day mean to common mwananchi? The common man has had no role to play then and now, to them nothing matters, they feel they have no control and hence are apathetic.

Freedom and independence is for those with power and in power, but a common citizen with no power is there to be manipulated and doesn’t feel the freedom Kenya attained.

A common Kenyan is available to do activities that the person in power; employer, leader, boss would want them to do.

The middle class are also not free, they are enslaved to their jobs for 30 days so that they can get a pay, they always worry of impressing the employer so that they can keep their jobs instead of working freely and also being allowed to carry out other economy promoting businesses.

However, all said and done Kenyans appreciate the freedom of expression that has been inculcated with President Kibaki’s regime all through to the coalition government. They can now enjoy free speech without fear of being misquoted or victimized as it was in the previous regimes.

Freedom to seek their rights through go slows and strike as well as freedom to participate in most crucial decisions in the country such as budget formation.

Access to information through the local media and social media is something many would appreciate as it has taken Kenya miles ahead; Kenyans can now know what goes on in the parliamentary proceedings and many other salient proceedings that were kept from the public.

The changes in judiciary something to appreciate as many who had lost hope over getting their rights would finally see hope, this goes along with implementation of the new constitution to the latter.

All Kenyans will feel part of the freedom, if Kenya can get to a place where all the citizens become free and feel the freedom and when Kenya will be independent from donor states to enjoy its own sovereignty.

Until then, freedom is still for a few that have but for many that have not, it’s a dream far fetched.

Switch to Our Mobile Site