In the face of ethnic polarisation, a highly politicised atmosphere and the daily search for daily bread, it is sometimes easy for all of us to forget what binds us together, that we are Kenyan and that we are strongest when united.
In this perspective, a group of Kenyans, of diverse interests, political affiliations, tribes, religions and economic backgrounds have agreed to come together on February 28th 2011 and take a few minutes at exactly 1pm (East African Time) to sing the three verses of the National Anthem.
On February 28th Kenyans will come together and unite in the prayer that is the Kenya National Anthem, to celebrate their unity as a people, and to remind themselves that together, they can achieve much more. On this occassion, Kenyans come together, not to protest against anything but to stand for unity.
The idea is simple: Wherever we are, whatever we are doing at exactly 1pm on February 28th, Kenyans from all walks of life, will pause and sing the national anthem, led by participating media houses, church choirs, community choirs, school children, and musicians. Once they have sung all the three verses, they will disperse and continue with what they were doing – only energised by the strong spirit of kinship.
This is an initiative that belongs to Kenyans: aimed at uniting us under the banner of our National Anthem.
For it to succeed, it needs you and me to stand together, side by side and sing for a united Kenya.
1 nation, 1pm, 1anthem, 1 people.
(Share this as widely as you can)
Very good. Let me pass this to our student body. On a lighter note, this wouldn't work in, say, Britain – the last, now 'unofficial' verse of the de facto National Anthem there is virtually a prayer that the English forces will kill all the Scottish Jacobins in battle, which isn't good for national unity. At least our Kenyan Anthem SAYS the right things.
'Lord, grant that Marshal Wade,
May by thy mighty aid,
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
and like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush,
God save the King.'
The evolution of the UK's appalling anthem, is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Save_the_Queen
You might want to use the kenyan media (radio, television, newspaper, sms services, facebook, etc etc)to widely popullarize this idea to all kenyans in all corners in Kenya. I think it is a strong, solid idea that needs to come to reality in a big way. To organise that the event (singing at IPM on 28th feb) is trully a success we will have to sing this song in mass.
I know i will be singing it in a remote corner of Northern Uganda on 28th feb.
Kenya is a great country.I LOVE KENYA