Christian philosophy is the light for Kenya

Christianity in Kenya is a daily reality, as seen through this
street art. 

'Re-situating reason as the foundation of our society and engine of its aspirations must now be an urgent task of our activism' the author emphatically sums up this opprobrium against the church. Yet the author (and the paper) have colluded to ignorantly launch barbs at Christianity.
In summary, this piece tries to explain why religion (yet the author has the church specifically in his mind) and its growing role in Kenyan politics is a retrogressive idea. His idea is that reason and religion (church) can never co-exist. He goes further on a historical fishing (mis)adventure in shallow historical waters. His intention is to prove his personal notions by trying to get history to align with his fantastic ideas. Let me quote a few of his blunt sayings.
'Human beings need spiritual fulfilment. But when religion becomes a substitute for strategic action to solve our problems, then our society is in danger of regressing to a situation akin to that of the Middle Ages.' This does not make sense. From the beginning (I am Christian), ancient societies never knew a dichotomy between religion and the 'secular' world. This is a product of the 17th-18th century age of enlightenment. Philosophers, thinkers and men of reason began questioning the rationale of religion. Though it resulted in greater knowledge and refinement of religion, it also caused extremists to conjure up fantasies just for the sake of cramping up religious space. This is where the author has situated his argument, in a land called phantasmagoria, where people all their time talking endlessly about the latest ideas without coming to any meaningful conclusion.
Indeed, religion was (and is) an all-powerful balm in everyone's life, to the point that it was abused by men. This is really a problem of man and his self-serving desire to control fellow man for his own benefit. This is false (or contaminated) religion. Even the bible discerns between false and true (pure and undefiled) religion. James 1:27 declares that true religion is 'to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.' (ESV) Essentially, true religion is an issue of a beneficial relationship between one and his fellow man as well as rightness with God. Without knowing it, the writer's argument gets theological. He has just swum into the open sea. The article becomes theologically turbulent without hope of rescue. The author has no grasp of the Church and its nature. Let us throw him (and the newspaper) a lifejacket and lifeline.
He says industrial revolution and democracy are proof of human reason. Democracy itself is a confused idea. Even early philosophers saw it as more autocratic than absolute monarchies. (My opinion: Kenya and Zimbabwe in 2017 are proof that democracy is really a horror movie with an awesome trailer.) History shows us that the 14th century Church Reformation was the precursor to the Industrial Revolution. The church was able to recover and rebuild its true foundations. This allowed for critical thinking which led to innovations and discoveries that changed the world (and are still changing the world). Christian philosophy was behind this revolution. It is based on The Man Jesus Christ's innovative and true teachings that had been distorted by years of contaminated religion.
This author brings home his argument of reason over Christianity's dalliance with Kenyan politics by arguing subtly for separation of Church and state. Indeed he lampoons 'conniving clergy', exercising 'retrogressive influence on our politics and society' and an 'epidemic of preachers laying hands on politicians from both the opposition and government'. He singles out the national prayer breakfast as a hypocritical show of Church's influence. He also scoffs at the recent spate of cleansing prayers at accident blackspots arguing that reason should prove these misfortunes are a result of corruption and bad roads. As is now common, 'faith-based' miracles are labelled as conmanship. Bad leadership is also singled out as the cause of poverty and underdevelopment. He has very valid points, (of course except for the often repeated stereotypical lie about most preachers.) The general tone of the article paints the church and its beliefs as hocus pocus and spiritual twaddle. Reason then, to this author, is Kenya's salvation.
By reasoning then, I must ask Tee Ngugi, who owns The East African and what is his agenda!

http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/oped/comment/The-thieving-leaders-and-a-conniving-clergy/434750-4248996-n096gr/index.html

Kenya coming to birth.

I woke up this morning to the whole street freshly plastered with a candidates campaign posters. Most are red and the road looks like a sea. (Was this the parable spoken before by the fathers?) These guys were obviously illegally busy last night. Dirty tricks! Anyway, today is the beginning of the next four weeks.
My wife Gakii Njeru made me a sumptuous breakfast of 2 sausages, bacon, bread and 2 cups of tea - 6 pieces. 😋
I battled the chill and was surprisingly welcomed to seemingly empty school. In 2013, the male and female lines spilled over in different directions into the estate for several kilometers. Not this time. I checked my voting details and as usual, station 1. This can be really slow. 
There will never lack drama especially when you are in the same line for four hours. The usual mumbling about the slow movement. (Someone will not get my vote. I cannot ng'ang'ana for four hours then vote for just some uncouth fellow who feels it his/her right to be voted for).
Some shouts at the head of the line. A bunch of women, various stages of pregnancy, others with startled babies strapped on their backs pleading maternal considerations. Wait! One baby goes to nursery school with my son! (Is it possible rigging begins in the womb?) Some sleepy, freezing, 'non-conjugated' fellows stammer weak protests. Well, the women vote but along with the electoral manicure, the babies also get a 'Hindu' mark. Common sense it seems. 
Finally, after 3 hours, I get to put my right foot on the stair to the room. Huge relief, but there are some 7 people ahead. Each takes about 5 - 7 minutes. Two or three other mothers implead maternal considerations. 
She sits there, all black and sleek. Her eye blinking a romantic red to me. 
'Come on,' She says.
I finally present my precious right index finger to KIEMS for scanning. KIEMS tells me 'you have a beautiful print.' 
'Wait until you scan the other nine.'
I tell her, 'let's make another date Tuesday, 9th Aug 2022'
'Chao amore' KIEMS logs out of my account.
Ballots. A real anti climax. Why should we spend some KSh 50 billion for this ordinary paper than can be printed in Kirinyaga Road? Becuase there is a shortage of trust. In fact, it is so ordinary, one of the MCA aspirants is missing a tooth. In fact, if you count the cost per voter, this election is costing almost Ksh 2,600 per voter.
Let's vote. MP, mmh...MCA...yup...senator...S3..governor...Sonko...President...obvious! 
Now the county woman rep. This is a cliff hanger. 1st question. The Constitution is clear about the spirit of this seat. But as a man with a vote which adds no value to me, shouldn't the constitution be willing to listen to my request of fairer representation? It feels like I am being punished for being a man. Second question. Must the county women rep be a woman? (I know what the Constitution says, but the law can be dumb too. There are men who represent women's rights effectively on a daily basis.) So I decide to make a clear statement...I won't vote!
Phew! Four years of politics resolved in five minutes. I head for the legal manicure. I take my ID and that's that. 
It is 12:54 pm. Half the day is gone.

How To Alight From A Matatu

If you live in Nairobi, then you know that matatus are the most important mode of transport. However, they are not the best form since matatus are unregulated and undisciplined. Matatus are always in a rush, breaking traffic laws and increasing fares whenever it rains. Therefore, it takes courage to travel in matatus and especially if you are a lady. Many times, getting into or alighting from matatus requires extensive acrobatic skills so as to avoid injury. Precise calculation is required for this simple feat. Since most matatus are still in motion although passengers are disembarking, it is important for ladies to know how to alight from moving matatus.

Firstly, early in the morning after getting dressed, take stock of your life. A simple fall could cost you your life. Matatus are notorious for going beyond your stage; they may suffer from an undiagnosed form of recurring temporary deafness. In order to stop them, your skills must include the ability to shout at the top of your voice, whistle like village herder and cause a commotion in matatus. Practice vocal exercise to enlarge your lung capacity in order to shout above 3,000 watt sound systems in matatus. Additionally, shouting the right words is critical. We recommend words like “driver, stop!”, “stop this matatu!” and a continuous “wewee, weweee!” (Secret research shows that when you shout “bed bugs!”, it will cause instant commotion and empty a packed matatu.) Feel free to create your own original phrases. Banging on the door with your open palm is a technique borrowed from matatu conductors, and it is an additional technique to employ. However, this technique can cause hardened palms. Therefore, dermatologists recommend oiling your palms with Vaseline twice a day to maintain petal softness.

Secondly, try to leave home early to avoid competing matatus. In case you leave during the rush hour, check your shoes by jumping up and down to test whether they are genuine or cheap Chinese knock offs. A broken heel will cause you to walk like you have one foot in the gutter. When you get to the matatu stage, frantically wave your hands, jumping up and down at an oncoming matatu. (The rush hour is not the time to stretch out your beautifully manicured hand). Matatus are rough beasts! A word of caution; do not assume that there is a red carpet laid out for you to catwalk into the beast. Instead dig your left heel into the ground, then stretch your left hand out (imagine the matatu as a flying sausage), lean slightly to your left and lift right leg slowly timing the matatus arrival. Grab the hand rail at the door and jump into the matatu with your right leg first. Once safely inside, take a deep breath and thank God for His mercy. Please take a seat and remember, always smile.

Thirdly, after enduring the rough ride to your destination, it is important to begin planning the disembarking process. While the matatu is one kilometer to your destination, get up and calmly walk to the door of the matatu. Remember the vocal exercises, choice words and banging the door? Keep them circulating in your forehead. At any time, the conductor – depending on how low his trousers are sagging - may announce that Pangani, Ngara and Moi Avenue stages ‘ni moja’. Also, ladies, please ignore the flirty remarks from the conductor.  Do not smile. As the matatu begins to slow down, make sure you are the first at the door. Hold the door with your right hand. Dig your right heel into the matatu floor, lean slightly to your left and lift your left leg slowly. If in your judgement the matatu has slowed down to a safe speed, jump out with your left leg first and start jogging as soon as it hits the ground. While jogging, check both your left and right sides to make sure that you are not running in the middle of the road. Once on the pavement, straighten your clothes and prim your hair – this whole process has been proven to rotate weaves. Remember, please smile. (At least you did not have to somersault today.)

The ordinary Nairobian lady has been refined by matatu transport to be a gladiator. She needs combat skills to get to work, school and church. Vocal abilities, whistling skills and gymnastic abilities help in ensuring a good start to a great day. These skills also enhance her attractiveness. By now, you already know the golden rule; please smile. (You still have to go back home in the evening.)