THE FLAG THAT NEVER RESTED – A KENYAN INDEPENDENCE DAY LAMENT
By Mesharch Mutua
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THE FLAG THAT NEVER RESTED
A KENYAN INDEPENDENCE DAY LAMENT
The Kenyan flag, raised over sixty years ago, still flies.
Yeah, never got to rest.
Though the hills be too high and the winds too strong, the flag still swings.
The poles bearing it stand unanimously straight, yet the bearer—the nation herself—bends under the weight of unfulfilled promises.
Independence was meant to be anchored on a liberal, dignified, and just state.
A nation built on firm, well-structured policies, beamed by integrity, and safeguarded by true democracy.
But here we stand — still struggling with basic laws, basic rights, and the most basic democratic needs.
The flag never flew straight beyond noon.
Every political season, Kenyans walk into polling stations with drums of hope beating in their chests.
Hope watered by raindrop promises — promises that never touch the ground, yet somehow become the soil for the next cycle of deception.
No wonder by midday, that hope vanishes, swallowed whole by the silence of unmet expectations.
When will the roots of a free constitutional nation sink deep into Kenyan soil?
When will they anchor into the mature rocks of our authentic society — forming the true heartbeat of Kenya?
An image shows a Kenyan trying to ferry water for their domestic use, a reflection of absence of clean piped water.
“Fellow Kenyans” has never been an honest address.
We all know.
But why is the warthog head paralysis — this national numbness — a common denominator?
Empty speeches, half-day promises, echoes that die at the microphone.
Empty coffers that never accumulate anything.
National anthems sung with hollow voices.
And the coffers continue to run empty, the masses never tracking the route to recovery.
Till When?
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an image shows Kenyans gathered in Nairobi to Remember those who were killed by law enforcers during demonstrations.
Yet a friend of the mountain?
He never misses dew on his feet.
In fact, the dew is more — it is a blizzard now, heavy and unbearable.
Their protected circles, their armored schemes, their machines of privilege
They have breached airports protocols, financial institutions, borders of morality no longer hold. The noon time still remains a mystery to demystify.
Black bags loaded with looted dreams. Triggers pulled on heavy laden citizen to finance state.
loaded into broken coffers secured with firm armored bags bellow it.
Meanwhile, the poor "citizen" circles the earth looking for daily bread. Never to accumulate anything either!
Blood in the streets - They said we would forget.
Stashed cash abroad - They said we would forget.
Heavy taxes - They know we will still pay.
Housing levies - Yet looters inhabit the houses.
Hot air and gaslit projects - They tell us five years is short.
All while the mountain and its friends build barns whose beams now crack under the weight of stolen wealth.
So tell me—what independence have we lived?
Economic independence? No.
Justice independence? No.
Leadership independence? No.
Freedom of voice? Barely.
Freedom of dignity? Eroding.
Freedom to dream? Endangered.
We struggle with unemployment, inequality, insecurity, food shortages, broken health systems, poor infrastructure, environmental neglect, debt slavery, political intimidation, and the steady erosion of democratic values.
These are the heavy chains that tie the bearer, even as the flag tries to dance freely in the wind.
But today, I cry out for independence again.
A true one.
Not the ceremony—the substance.
Awake, Kenya.
Gen Z, do not be foolish.
Refuse the coin and the bribe.
Defend the vote—even at great cost.
Refuse intimidation.
Refuse manipulation.
Refuse inherited fear.
Stand firm.
One Kenya.
One destiny.
One fight for a freedom that truly belongs to the people.
This is our cry.
This is our declaration.
This is our second struggle for independence.
By Mesharch Mutua.
EDUCATOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS & DIPLOMACY
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