Doing Right

Doing the right thing in this country, Kenya
Has become the most difficult thing to do.
I just wonder
Who can bear the pain of doing things right
Who can afford the cost of doing the right thing?

The one who choses not to bribe a police officer
For offences he has not committed
Suffers more than he who extends his hands
And buys himself freedom
“Kijana, ongea vizuri shida ikuondokee”
His charges will be altered
His days will be wasted
He will be required to admit an error he didn’t commit
And if he remains truthful he suffers some much more

An SME lady seeking to get her business licensed
Will meet a list of unamountable demands for her food joint
“Hauna running water na drainage hapa ni mbaya”
It would have been cheaper to compromise the officer
Than to take the highway of doing things right
And consume most of her meager capital

A child following her dream will easily be criticized
By her teaching parents than he who follows money
“Dad I wanna be a poet”
“Ushawahi ona poet billionaire?”
It would be easier for her to go do Med for her dad
Then later pay a bigger cost to keep her dream alive

A young man will meet a girl and honor her proper
Instead of taking the matters in his own hands
He chooses to honor the parents and the community
But the harassment and the scorn he will meet
I wonder if he can bear it all
All he wants is parental blessings
“Leta two million, tank ya maji na debe ya asali”
The one who took a girl, made her pregnant and
Then appears to the community with some children
Will be celebrated for being a hero

The minister of the gospel who speaks the truth
Will be persecuted by the same congregation
He is trying to serve.
It would be easier to lie, exaggerate and manipulate
“Mungu amesema mwaka huu utakuwa millionaire”
And a throng of humanity will flock his church
The truth hurts and hurting people is not welcome
Not in this country

A leader who is genuinely following his call
To make a difference in his community
Will be ignored and dismissed
“Kama hanunui leso simchagui”
It would be easier to rain some fifties
And hundreds to the wasted populace
And when he gets into power
Make their lives even worse

I just wonder
Who can bear the pain of doing things right
Who can afford the cost of doing the right thing?

-Munuhe