I went to visit Walubende again; the man my mother insisted is bad influence. But this guy greeted the president in 1998! just to be clear, Walubende has been angry since 1998, he wishes he would have slapped His Excellency instead.
Walubende is angry with politics and he is inciting me.
"The son of a poor man, subject of the digital government, how are you!" he greets me jovially as I enter his stuffy hut for the second time this year. He spits on the fire and disturbs the burning embers with his walking stick.
"What subject do you take at the college my son?" he falls in a coughing fit.
"Media Science..." I answer when he's done coughing. Walubende is getting old. He laughs at my broken voice.
"that is why I thought about you when my son was reading the newspaper to me" I am impressed. the old lad has a good memory still. "I am told KANU is at it again... the funny business of firing and harrasing journalists..." I correct him. KANU is not in power now. not anymore. But Walubende is a proud man who does not appreciate correction. he tries to hit me with his walking stick. I know this move, thats why I made sure that the distance between him and me is longer than his walking stick.
"Do not be smart with me young boy, the old men of KANU are still drinking milk in state house!" Walubende coughs again. I excuse his old age and try to reason...
"They are not old men, the president is in TNA and his deputy in URP. Multi-party!"
"Multi party nonsense! Those who fought for multi-party have no power. those in power are the ones who fought against it! Take your president for instance..."
"Uhuru?"
"No! Not the loud one, the quiet one."
"But Walubende, Kibaki left the big house in April this year..." Walubende should really buy more newspapers!
"Whatever!" he spits on the dying fire again and pokes the firewood with his stick. "I watch news at Peneteta's hotel. I have seen your president and his gang, young man I know the jogoo party when I see one!" Well, I might have underestimated the old man afterall, he seems conversant with current affairs.
"So the son of Jomo has the power to fine and fire you once you start working on TV, radio and newspapers?" He asks. It hits me, Walubende has heard the rumours about a bad media bill.
"Its not him doing the fining and firing but some people he appoints..." I correct. He swings his stick at me and misses.
"Stupid boy! when I hire a househelp, does he do what he is supposed to do or does he do what I tell him to do?" Good question Walubende has.
"But he has not yet signed it..."
"Dont be a fool, all bills are written by him and his jogoo party!"
"You mean TNA?"
"I mean KANU!"
We are both confused. he sighs loudly and spits on the fire then pokes it. Why on earth does he keep doing that? He stretches his old bones. From behind the stool he is sitting on, he puls out a bundle of newspapers.
"Take this to bwana Muigai down at the butchery. Buy some mandazi with the fifty shillings he gives you." I thank Walubende's generosity... But I have this feeling he has just incited me!
Walubende is angry with politics and he is inciting me.
"The son of a poor man, subject of the digital government, how are you!" he greets me jovially as I enter his stuffy hut for the second time this year. He spits on the fire and disturbs the burning embers with his walking stick.
"What subject do you take at the college my son?" he falls in a coughing fit.
"Media Science..." I answer when he's done coughing. Walubende is getting old. He laughs at my broken voice.
"that is why I thought about you when my son was reading the newspaper to me" I am impressed. the old lad has a good memory still. "I am told KANU is at it again... the funny business of firing and harrasing journalists..." I correct him. KANU is not in power now. not anymore. But Walubende is a proud man who does not appreciate correction. he tries to hit me with his walking stick. I know this move, thats why I made sure that the distance between him and me is longer than his walking stick.
"Do not be smart with me young boy, the old men of KANU are still drinking milk in state house!" Walubende coughs again. I excuse his old age and try to reason...
"They are not old men, the president is in TNA and his deputy in URP. Multi-party!"
"Multi party nonsense! Those who fought for multi-party have no power. those in power are the ones who fought against it! Take your president for instance..."
"Uhuru?"
"No! Not the loud one, the quiet one."
"But Walubende, Kibaki left the big house in April this year..." Walubende should really buy more newspapers!
"Whatever!" he spits on the dying fire again and pokes the firewood with his stick. "I watch news at Peneteta's hotel. I have seen your president and his gang, young man I know the jogoo party when I see one!" Well, I might have underestimated the old man afterall, he seems conversant with current affairs.
"So the son of Jomo has the power to fine and fire you once you start working on TV, radio and newspapers?" He asks. It hits me, Walubende has heard the rumours about a bad media bill.
"Its not him doing the fining and firing but some people he appoints..." I correct. He swings his stick at me and misses.
"Stupid boy! when I hire a househelp, does he do what he is supposed to do or does he do what I tell him to do?" Good question Walubende has.
"But he has not yet signed it..."
"Dont be a fool, all bills are written by him and his jogoo party!"
"You mean TNA?"
"I mean KANU!"
We are both confused. he sighs loudly and spits on the fire then pokes it. Why on earth does he keep doing that? He stretches his old bones. From behind the stool he is sitting on, he puls out a bundle of newspapers.
"Take this to bwana Muigai down at the butchery. Buy some mandazi with the fifty shillings he gives you." I thank Walubende's generosity... But I have this feeling he has just incited me!
