By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
  • Home
  • International
    InternationalShow More
    United Nations
    4th International Conference On Financing For Development Delivers Renewed Hope And Action For Sustainable Development
    4 months ago
    The African Development Bank and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) scale up drive for sustainable urbanization in Africa
    AfDB, UN-Habitat Scale Up Drive For Sustainable Urbanisation In Africa
    4 months ago
    UN
    North Africa: Green Climate Fund Approves Record $300m For FAO-designed Projects In Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, The Sahel
    4 months ago
    UNICEF
    How Wars Across Middle East, North Africa Affecting Children – UNICEF
    4 months ago
    UNDP
    UN Development Programme Welcomes Historic Deal On Sustainable Development Even Amidst Global Turmoil
    4 months ago
  • Africa
    Africa
    Show More
    Top News
    Africa Leaders Summit: US To Strengthening Partnerships To Meet Shared Priorities
    3 years ago
    President Ruto Rallies Kenyans To Move Nation Forward
    3 years ago
    Tanzania: United Nations Steps Up Efforts To Build Climate Resilience
    2 years ago
    Latest News
     South Africa’s Think 20: Experts Address How Africa Can Bridge Digital Divide And Achieving Financial Inclusion
    1 month ago
    U.S. Africa Command Commander Visits West Africa, Underscores Partnership In Addressing Evolving Terrorism Threat
    1 month ago
    West Africa Regional Preparatory Workshop For COP30 On Climate Change Opens In Dakar
    1 month ago
    Systemic Racism Against Africans And People Of African Descent In Criminal Justice Systems Is Pervasive
    1 month ago
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
    Politics
    Show More
    Top News
    Nobody Can Hijack Our Mandate, Vows Osun Gov, Adeleke
    3 years ago
    PDP To Osun People: Oyetola Is A ‘Political Leprosy’, Run For Cover
    3 years ago
    UI Alumni Association Hails Okowa’s Giant Strides In Delta State
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Ex-Pres. Jonathan’s Senior Special Assistant, Dr. Dudafa Dumps PDP For APC
    2 weeks ago
    Senate President Akpabio Engages Young Progressives in Mentorship Conversation at the Youth House
    3 weeks ago
    Minister of Women Affairs Visits APC Youth House To Mark International Day Of Girl Child
    3 weeks ago
    EU, ADC Parley: Calls for Electoral Reforms To Guarantee Free, Fair, Credible Polls In Nigeria
    4 weeks ago
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
    News
    Show More
    Top News
    Ondo Governor, Akeredolu Begins Construction Of First Flyover In Akure
    2 years ago
    Celebration Of Life: Reverend Adewumi Jegede Of Later House Of God Assembly Buried Amid Pomp
    1 year ago
    Pa Abdulfatah Amoo Ayanwale
    Pa Ayanwale Dies At 76, Fidau Prayers Holds 8 August
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    All Eyes On Nigeria, As Lagos Set To Host Groundbreaking Giving Tuesday Festival On 2 December
    5 days ago
    Alleged N532m Debt: Court Orders Bank To Takes Over Abudu Family’s Firm
    7 days ago
    Popoola-Taiwo Legal Practitioners, Shipper’s Council Resolve 3-years Dispute Between Logistics Firms Via ADR
    1 week ago
    Final Journey of Ezinne Juliana Anyanwu To Begin January 2026 In Nguru
    1 week ago
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
    Entertainment
    Show More
    Top News
    GOtv
    Yuletide: GOtv Improves Signal Quality In Abuja, Rivers State
    3 years ago
    It’s Easter Holidays with Top Entertaining Programs Showing from this Week on GOtv
    3 years ago
    Hi-Life Fest: Show Progresses With Six Contestants, Features Frederick Leonard As Guest Judge
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    GOtv Stream vs. Traditional TV: Why Viewers Are Loving the Flexibility
    1 month ago
    Securing Africa’s Digital Future: Entertainment in Safe Hands
    1 month ago
    BBNaija S10: Joanna, Mide, and Isabella Clash as Denari and Tracy Exit the House
    2 months ago
    Akamai Adaptive Media Player 2: Bitmovin And Akamai Set New Streaming Standard
    2 months ago
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
    Lifestyle
    Show More
    Top News
    NCC, NICO To Leverage Telecom Channels To Promote Nigerian Cultural Heritage
    1 year ago
    LENT 2023: Nigerians Knocking On Heaven’s Door By Bishop Emmanuel Badejo
    3 years ago
    Happiness
    Eight Ways To Stay Happier In 2025, According To Science
    10 months ago
    Latest News
    Faith On The Move: Legion of Mary Lights Up Owerri With Inspiring October Devotion Procession
    5 days ago
    The Day Mourners Rebelled in Church By Babafemi Ojudu
    3 weeks ago
    Ambassador Raffy Bello Greets Imperial Majesty, Ooni Enitan-Ogunwusi, As Olojo Festival Begins In Ile-Ife
    1 month ago
    Preserving African Culture: Polaris Bank , Chivita, And Danone Support CIKDAS’ Youth Literary Initiative
    2 months ago
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
    BusinessShow More
    Financial Action Task Force Removes Nigeria From Grey List
    7 days ago
    Unity Bank Shareholders Approve Merger With Providus Bank
    1 month ago
    Yomi Joseph Digital Pr Launches 360° Marketing Solutions To Transform Brands Into Industry Leaders
    1 month ago
    Gov Abiodun Showcases Ogun Investment Opportunities At AfCFTA In Algeria
    2 months ago
    Intra-African Trade Fair
    Nigeria To Host Intra-African Trade Fair In 2027
    2 months ago
  • Health
    Health
    Show More
    Top News
    WHO
    WHO Gives Nigerian Laboratory Full Accreditation To Fight Measles And Rubella
    3 years ago
    European Union Allocates N75m To Prevent Spread Of Diphtheria In Nigeria
    3 years ago
    US Govt Must Heed Lessons Of PEPFAR – AIDS Society Warns
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Nigerian Academy Of Pharmacy Inducts 14 New Fellows
    2 weeks ago
    2025 World Pharmacist Day: Lagos Takes Healthcare To Ikorodu Communities
    1 month ago
    World Heart Day: Adopt Healthy Food Policies, CAPPA Tasks FG, States
    1 month ago
    Lagos Takes Fight Against HIV To Communities
    1 month ago
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Reading: Echoes Of Uhuru In Kenya Far From Nigeria
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
Aa
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
  • Politics
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Health
  • More
Search
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
  • Health
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Independent News Express > Blog > Opinion > Echoes Of Uhuru In Kenya Far From Nigeria
Opinion

Echoes Of Uhuru In Kenya Far From Nigeria

Last updated: 2024/07/08 at 6:46 AM
1 year ago
Share
President William Ruto of Kenya
SHARE

Minute by minute they live:
The stone’s in the midst of all.
Too long a sacrifice
Can make a stone of the heart.
“Easter 1916” by W.B. Yeats

BY TONY EKE
In penning the above excerpt of poetic memorial for the Irish martyrs in the Easter Rebellion of 1916, W.B. Yeats, one of the greatest poets in the English language, identifies extreme frustration rooted in injustice as a trigger of social upheavals that drive mankind to resist oppression of one group of people by another. A complete reading of the poem provides an insight into the causative background of Irish nationalism which fired the uprising against British imperialism, resulting in the death of a number of his compatriots that later attained martyrdom status.

While the Irish tragedies are numbered among the dark chapters of human history, much of those resemblances still manifest in many parts of the world. Yes, the African continent has long attained political independence, but it’s debatable if freedom has propelled the development of the various countries vis-a-vis the optimistic fervour of yesteryears. Even with the advent of liberal democracy as dictated by Western forces not much had been attained in terms of giving greater expression to the people’s quest for better conditions in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Lately, Kenya was gripped by social convulsions instigated by the youths. Not only was the underbelly of societal rot exposed; the tragic manifestation inevitably captured the volcanic reactions which a prolonged misgovernment of a polity could generate over time. That it took just an ill-conceived Finance Bill seeking an increase of taxes in a country wracked by poverty to ignite a week-long protests, demonstrations, civil disobedience, resistance and online activism activated by GEN Z youths is a food for thought. Was the country not steeped in relative stability the virtual breakdown of law and order was enough to take the country down the road of military incursion.

Kenya is full of contradictions despite the respect it had earned for sustaining democracy since independence, unlike its neighbours in the East African subregion. A succession of bad leaderships luxuriating in obscene opulence is one of the country’s biggest problems. As noticeable in other African countries like Nigeria, Kenya has a small number of haves in the midst of have-nots and the latter group comprises the youthful population which accounts for a large figure of the unemployment rate of 10 per cent in the country.

A symbolic perspective to the youths’ aggression with its disruptive consequences reflects the interjection between the heroic quest at the present time and the historic valour of their forebears in the pre-independence era. For one thing, Kenyans did not only fight for their freedom from colonialists but have also fought on different occasions to preserve their freedom as exemplified by the turbulent transitional presidential elections between 2007 and 2017. Quite remarkably, the romanticisation of the Mau Mau Rebellion as a precursor to the country’s independence continues to enrich the younger generation with ways they could safeguard their hard-won freedom.

Really emblematic of freedom, Uhuru is a worthy pursuit beyond the denotative boundary which flag independence merely gave to Black Africa. Since the true test of freedom is measured by the prosperity of a country, efforts must be directed towards reordering the unenviable circumstances of Kenya and many African countries. It entails finding solutions to the endemic problems posed by poverty, inequality and lack of inclusivity, climate change, weak private sector investment, youth unemployment and the susceptibility of the economy to internal and external shocks.

On our part, we need to rouse ourselves from slumber induced by a dormant culture of not holding the leadership to account. Kenya shares similarities with Nigeria in some respects, but the social outlook of both countries as gleaned from the indifference of our citizens to embrace the path of civil protests differs significantly. Nigeria is not Kenya hence the echoes of Uhuru are far away from us. Why? The present generation of Nigerians, especially the youths whom the future is entrusted to, are enfeebled by numerous factors which include ethnic sentiments, sheer cowardice, and undue religiosity obsessed with an expectation of divine intervention in situations contrived by man.

Notwithstanding the long-suffering disposition of our countrymen and women, the Kenya uprising should serve as a guide to the Nigerian leadership to address the economic hardship in the country as quickly as possible. Just as Kenya President William Ruto quickly withdrew the Finance Bill, it would be sensitive for President Bola Tinubu to review, as a matter of necessity, the twin policies of subsidy removal and naira floatation to stem further impoverishment of the masses before he ends his term in 2027. Trudging through the path of privation and misery in the past year had been sickening.

*Tony Eke, a journalist and public affairs commentator, is based in Asaba, Delta State capital.

You Might Also Like

Why Fortifying Ultra-Processed Foods Won’t Solve Nigeria’s Nutrition Crisis By Bukola Olukemi-Odele

INEC: An Institution In Need Of Rebirth By Babafemi Ojudu

The Day Mourners Rebelled in Church By Babafemi Ojudu

Nigeria’s Health Financing: Lessons From Canada’s $32.5bn Tobacco Settlement

Nepal Bloodshed: Of Nigeria’s Big Masquerades And Gọntọ By Festus Adedayo

INadminNG July 8, 2024 July 8, 2024
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Telegram Email Print
Previous Article Badagry League: My intention Was To Beat Joint FC, Says JP Young Stars Coach
Next Article HEPHZIBAH News: The Truth About Deeper Life Exposes
about us

Independent News Express (iNews Express), a publication of 4Ds Nigeria Limited, is birthed out of the desires of the founding fathers to report News as it is.

We value Professionalism, Excellence, Service, Creativity and Integrity.

The Company

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy

Quick Links

  • Advertise with us
  • Newsletters
  • Deal

Categories

Find Us on Socials

© Independent News Express. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?