Our parents worked with any immediate neighbor who shared their hopes and dreams for their beloved country. People who were sick and tired of colonialism and were determined to end it, even if it meant dying fighting to free their country. They canvassed their neighborhoods recruiting people of like mind to join the cause. They crossed district and provincial lines to form a strong alliance because they understood there is strength in numbers. That is how the MauMau movement spread to Meru, Embu and eventually to the entire country. They did not care which tribe their fellow fighters came from, as long as they were fighting for the same cause. They were glad that the nation was united to fight a common enemy, and because of that they succeeded. It was the people of Kenya coming together regardless of their tribe to fight a common enemy. And because of that, they succeeded.
Whenever a well intentioned person or persons organizes themselves to do good for their community and the country, other people of goodwill will join them without a doubt while their detractors suffer crashing defeat. Our parents taught us that, not by word alone, but by their actions. We attained independence, didn’t we? Lets find a way to honor our hero parents by passing down their worrier spirit, their sacrifice and their values of steel to this next generation. It might be the only anchor that stops our children from drifting into the shallow life that seems to be the norm these days.
The above account is a glimpse into my parents experiences that shaped their lives and ours forever. Majority of Pioneer Parents had come from similar circumstances and I know their accounts are similar or close to what my parents endured. That explains their grit and tenacity in moving to OlKalou, a strange land, but they made it anyway, against all odds. Everything they did and accomplished was shaped by the events of their past.
Now that we know the stock from which we are descended, lets honor our Pioneer Parents by carrying forward their values, grit, tenacity, fearlessness and love of their country, now our country that we will hand over to our children and future generations.
