A few days ago along a street in Nakuru, two South Sudanese young men approached me. They sought to know whether I was a Dinka or a Nuer. I was shocked. I will not go beyond there. Thats a story for another day. I wish them peace. Now, back in our younger days, while doing goat keeping and herding cows, we had what be your present day commercial breaks. When the cows were calm under shades in the heat of the afternoon sun, we started inter village wrestling competitions. Sometimes we won sometimes we lost. Then we played another dangerous game. Of shooting arrows using our feet. Upwards. Papendicular!!! But we enjoyed every bit of it. Then we had inter village dog fights. We cried when our dog was hurt. That was then. But all this happened with great caution. We left no evidence of play. Once in a while we left one of us to be in charge of external affairs. My grandfather. He was always a constant threat to fun. He would have non of it. Even when fought, we were very careful not to sustain any injury. He would need a lengthy explanation. So we learned to play safe. And in case you sustained a serious injury, you would never win his sympathy. A friend once shot me on the knee as we took aim of a dik dik. I cried out loud. They carried me home. Grandfather was furious. Not because I was hurt, but because I was hurt doing what he didnt send me to do. He had sent me to look after. Not to hunt. He mocked me. Called me idiot. One who only followed others blindly and forgot his duty only to come crying. I was embarrassed. But that lesson from him has seen me through school safe and sound. And every time I hear people say we have lost yet another university student from Kalenjin land, under questionable circumstances, my mind goes to that day of the erroneous shooting, and what grandfather had said, ketopeni ano? where were you looking? Who sent you there? he would rant. What were you doing with strangers was the next question. A terrible whipping would follow. That did not stop us from playing. But we played safe. We had the consequences at the back of our minds. How many more lives will we loose in campus, while doing what grandfather didnt send us to do? Good night. May God console the bereaved family of the KU student. Cc Birgen Kipchumba.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 19:54:09 +0000
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