NYEKUNDU NI YA DAMU

Today marks yet another tragic, tragic day in our beautiful nation's history albeit that indescribable, inexplicable feeling we collectively bear is all too familiar-after every single maandamano day like clockwork, we arrive right where we are at the moment.

That feeling that is stronger than anything you have ever felt, yet it's a feeling you can't quite put into words: anger, rage, pain, heartbreak,all tightly jumbled up.

Just like every other maandamano day, security agencies who frankly are no better than militia groups show us new levels of brutality and callousness.

I have seen so many heart wrenching videos today from officers harassing a child, to a young lady clutching her infant screaming while scouring to safety just yards away from those unholy water cannons as bullets ring out reminiscent of a proper taliban - military exchange, only this time peaceful protesters are the enemy.

One that I can't quite shake off is the man screaming 'nifungulie' as the wolves surround him before defeaning gunshots. I fail to understand how those who are supposed to protect us kill us like sheep at a slaughterhouse.

I lack the words to describe what cops lobbying teargas into people's houses and shooting in residential areas makes me feel.

Imagine not being safe in your own home or having to explain to your children why they are inhaling tear gas or why right outside where they play sounds like Afghanistan. 

Make me understand why children who should be interacting with balls, barbies and crayons are interacting with bullets and tear gas canisters.

All these atrocities sound like a Hollywood filmmaker cooked up the nastiest,most cavalier villain but that's our oppressors masquerading as our protectors for you.

Please enlighten me how a flag and a smartphone terrifies them enough to unleash such unwarranted violence unless phones nowadays are now considered deadly weapons and we did not get the memo.

Peaceful, taxpaying citizens whose only mistake is demanding good governance and accountability are met by rogue officers in plain clothes, fully masked to the brow zooming around in vehicles with covered plates shooting live rounds aimlessly.

Our systems as a nation are fundamentally broken but we will fix them, we must and justice will prevail. Nonetheless, dunia ni mviringo and you know what they say about karma.

Sun Tzu who knew a thing or two said that an evil man will burn his nation to the ground to rule over the ashes and if I didn't know any better, I'd swear on my life Sun Tzu lives amongst us because we are witnessing said burning unfold right in front of our eyes in 4K.

What infuriates me most is how terrified the political class is of the revelation that we really don't need them. 

In the past few weeks we as a people have come together and created functioning systems motivated purely by love and unity. We had a functioning legal system, functioning medical system, something the shitty NHIF can only dream of and that terrifies them truly.

It is infinitely amazing what we can achieve when we come together and I have never felt more patriotic in my life.

There's a hole in my heart, one which is filled with rage for what we are witnessing but I know none of it will be for nothing.

May all the Shujaas we have lost rest well and find peace eternal. WE SPEAK THEIR NAMES, WE WILL NEVER FORGET THEM AND WE WILL DO RIGHT BY THEM.

A day is coming when the sun will shine upon us again and all the heroes we have lost will smile with us from the other side and with a collective sigh, we will watch the sun rise again on our beautiful nation.

_storyteller.