MASHUJAA DAY IS WAY OVERRATED!

    In light of the new constitution, several Kenyan public holidays were done away with. That made me sad. Because I remember the times when the first of every month was a public holiday for something/someone I did not quite know well. All I enjoyed were the extended weekends and the general procrastination that would follow.


    Currently there are only three public holidays in a year. Madaraka (June 1th), Jamuhuri (Dec 12nd), Mashujaa (Oct 20st). Damn it! Only three! This new constitution sucks! One of them is today. Mashujaa Day is what they are calling it and it is a day set aside to honour the heroes and heroine that contributed to the struggle of independence/liberation. So what exactly do we celebrate on Madaraka Day and Jamuhuri Day? Isn't it the same thing? Celebrating independence. If we are trying to reduce the number of useless public holidays, then we should also get rid of these three. Then have only one public holiday a year. I suggest we call it Kenya Day. The day where we celebrate everyfuckingthing . Independence, rich MPs, unemployment, insecurity and so and so. Because let us just face it, having a Heroes Day is just an insult to those heroes.
    This is why I think so. In history class, we are always told of these freedom fighters like akina Dedan Kimathi, The Kapenguria Six, Mekatilili, Harry Thuku ... the list goes on. These guys fought physically , politically to ensure our struggle for our freedom. And what have we done for them? Some died in the struggle. What was there family done for them? Some are still alive despite senile? How and where are they living? Is the government 'taking care' of them? Do we even know them?
    Many of the old freedom fighters still live in the same condition they did as they fought because they are forgotten. Or maybe forsaken. Then once a year we have the audacity to  set aside a day where we talk about how they sacrificed themselves for us. Spend a lot of money to make the celebration. Make jets wake me up from my beauty sleep. Then the following day is back to business. Or back to being jobless. And the freedom fighters crawl back to the hole from whence they came. Labda hata hawaishii kwa makeja you would expect a national hero to be living in.
    We are doing this whole hero thing wrong! If someone is your hero, they have saved you, they have contributed to the freedom you have everyday, so you should celebrate them everyday! And not just once a year in an overpriced event.
    Do not get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with having a day set aside for them. We can have the Heroes Day or Week or like the cancer awareness...Month. All I am saying is we do not forget the heroes the following days. Because if we do not appreciate them on normal days we are insulting them by having a day set aside for them. If its the independence heroes, the government should at least make them feel like heroes. The way we make the athletic heroes feel! Maybe even better.
    But from the way I get it, Mashujaa Day is not just to celebrate the independence heroes but just heroes in short. Anyone that you term as a hero. Whether its the company that has made millions and put Kenya on the map, like Safaricom. Or the the govenment that is working tirelessly to make this 254 Republic a better place. Or the education system that is fully equiped for all the education you need....
    These guys are making this day for everyone and everything. Regardless of it being good or bad. And that is why my hero today is ME! Mimi ni shujaa. I am my own hero! I am going to celebrate this day for me. By waiting for water to hit the taps as I revise for a unit that will not help my course by sending a please call me to a friend to tell him to meet me up in the library!
     Who is not your hero today?