It is a sunny Sunday evening in a far land they call a land of opportunities. They also call it a land of the free and a home of the brave. It is the United States of America. Today there’s no rain, no snow, no wind; no problem. Last week wasn’t pretty. Snow storm and rain pounded heavily. Most roads were literally impassable. But this particular Sunday is nice outside. It is not cold, not warm-just a perfect weather. The outside aura is inviting. I have decided to take an evening walk along South Atherton Street heading towards Penn State University-one of the most prestigious universities in United States. Surrounding atmosphere oozes out a picture perfect of civilization.
As I walk through the neighborhoods I see flags swirling interchangeably in four directions as if to obey the command of the wind. You don’t need to be told America is patriotic to herself. The flag is sure evidence-an epitome of American patriotism. It hangs on highly erected flagpoles along the roads, by malls, on the yards, by government institutions, by private institutions and on front porches of people’s homes. Some folks hang it on their vehicles as well. Without doubt, the flag brings America together as “one nation under God.” It is believed the terrorist attack that happened on 9/11 inspired American patriotism to a whole new level. The flag became America’s enduring symbol of national unity.
Yet, as I continue with my walk, eye-catching American patriotism reminds me of my home country of Kenya. My history and civics teachers at Es’sumba primary school in Bunyore western Kenya and Shieywe secondary school at Kakamega taught me that Kenyan flag is a symbol of our national unity. As a Boy Scout, I remember feeling a deep sense of patriotism to my country of Kenya as I raised and lowered the flag to the tune of our national anthem. Students assembled around the flag to listen to the announcements. However, although it was introduced by western countries, the flag has since become our enduring Kenyan culture-a culture upon which our nationhood is founded.
Sadly, the Kenyan attorney general Prof. Githu Muigai ordered Kenyan citizens including governors to desist from flying the Kenyan flag. In my opinion, flying the Kenyan flag is in essence a public declaration of the love of the country. That to me is an act that should be encouraged not condemned. It is a public witness of Kenyan patriotism. Unfortunately, “the AG said only six categories of persons under the law are allowed to fly the national flag, namely the President, Vice-President, Chief Justice, Speaker of the National Assembly, ministers, and the Attorney General.” Most bizarre in my judgment, is the fact that the Kenyan law prohibits Kenyan people from flying the Kenyan flag. That is ridiculous.
Which begs a rhetorical question: What could be the most proudly thing to do than for a Kenyan to fly q Kenyan flag on a Kenyan soil? Luckily, our newly elected governors led by Mr. William Kabogo of Kiambu and Mr. Isaac Ruto of Bomet have vowed to resist any move that will disenfranchise Kenyans and their flag. Further, Eldas MP Mr. Adan Keynan has presented a bill before the parliament seeking a constitutional amendment to National flag, emblems and names Act cap 99 which puts a caveat on freedom to fly the Kenyan flag. As a matter of fact, we shouldn’t be fighting to secure a right to fly our flag. We should be fighting to end poverty, reform our health-care system, implement our constitution, transform our infrastructure, revamp our education system, restore investor confidence and create employment opportunities.
For the love of country, let us fly our flag. No Kenyan should be prosecuted for flying a Kenyan flag. Otherwise it will be neo-colonialism of the highest order. Good news is that colonialism is gone in favor of a new dispensation. Let every Kenyan fly the flag in our new dispensation. The flag is our national heritage. It is our symbol of national unity. Let the flag fly high-in prisons and in schools, by government institutions and by private institutions, by churches and by mosques, by people’s homes and on people’s vehicles-let the flag fly. Our flag is one of the few reasons to why we call ourselves Kenyans. Without the flag we are merely tribal lots whose primary loyalty is pledged to our tribal kings.
Moreover, to deny Kenyans their flag is to deny them their nationhood. In a country where ethnic identity remains bane to our nationhood, giving Kenyans their flag will reinvigorate their patriotism. After all what really unites us? Taking our flag from us only emboldens tribalism and kills nationhood. If there’s any law that prohibits flying of the Kenyan flag by the Kenyan citizen, that law is unjust and must be resisted. St. Augustine-a very influential bishop of the early church opined “An Unjust law is not law at all.” The law that makes Kenyans vulnerable to prosecution for flying their Kenyan flag is unjust law. That’s why I believe attorney general Prof. Githu Muigai should rescind his order immediately and permit every Kenyan to fly the flag. If indeed the law prohibits flying of the flag, then that law must be amended without further due. The flag is ours. Give it back to us.
By Jacktone S. Ambuka, a Kenyan citizen residing at State College Pennsylvania USA. You can reach me at js******@ya***.com.
