Kalonzo vs. Mureithi: What’s in a name?

Kalonzo vs. Mureithi: What’s in a name?

“To Mureithi, I say sorry comrade for the occupational hazard. To Kalonzo and my Meru lecturer I ask as Shakespeare: What’s in a name?

BY MUSYOKA NGUI

                   This week at a CORD press conference Kalonzo Musyoka dodged a question from a journalist in an exchange that may as well define accountability of leaders and the journalistic independence as we know it today.

                   As it were, the journalist sought to know how the Opposition wanted State insecurity to be tackled differently.

                   They say criticism in itself is not always the best reaction to an issue. Constructive critics go ahead and prescribe a solution to the problem at hand. But Kalonzo claimed that the journalist asked a personal question and deserved a personal answer.

                   Truth is, in Kenya we still define identities on ethnic basis. The journalist went by the surname Mureithi. Clearly, this name implies probably he is from somewhere around or near Mt. Kenya. Instructively, this is a Jubilee stronghold that did not vote for CORD in the last elections.

The verbatim

 Kennedy Mureithi: What you have been saying is what is wrong with the security…..

Kalonzo Musyoka:I didn’t get your name… what is your name..

Kennedy Mureithi:Kennnedy mureithi

Kalonzo Musyoka: Thank you Kennedy, your name betrays it all

-laughs-

Twitter hashtag #SomeonetellKalonzoMusyoka

                   Kenyans in the social media interpreted Kalonzo’s response as tribal. He said the name of Mureithi betrayed it all.

                   To say the least, this verbal exchange was very unfortunate for the Wiper Principal. He had to apologise to claw back lost political ground. Predictably, I can tell you for free Jubilee attack dogs will dash at this opportunity and brand Musyoka as a tribal chief with tribal hatred against the Kikuyus.

                   I don’t know Mureithi personally neither do I know whether he is a Kikuyu but I guess he hails from the mountain. None of us chooses where to be born. It is a fate. Irreversible and non-negotiable. Tell me someone who told God, I want to be born into a large community in power-the one with numbers.

                   On my part, I have had to explain to people that my surname does not mean dog. In Kikuyu, the word ngui means a dog. Because Kikuyu is a popular tongue, the name is infamous. When you want to learn a new language the first thing they do is teach you obscene words to get you going. In Kikamba, the name Ngui means he who that sings or leads in a band. A Meru lecturer was at it again embarrassing me to explain to the class what my name means.

                   Then the most noticeable name in my names is Musyoka. It is used so frequently to announce my descent as it is a popular name just as Mureithi’s. To Mureithi, I say sorry comrade. To Kalonzo and my Meru lecturer I ask as Shakespeare: what’s in a name?

The writer is a student of Bachelors of Arts Degree in Communication and Media at Chuka University. He blogs at musyokangui.blogspot.com

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