We elevate thieves and crooks while the real heroes are seldom honoured

We recently celebrated Mashujaa Day, a day meant to commemorate people who have made a difference.

Sadly, this day generally rewards politicians, senior civil servants and judges. Oh, sometimes we remember our sports heroes if they have won gold medals or broken records.

Yet there are many people in this country, outside public life, who quietly contribute massively and positively to Kenya and Kenyans just by being themselves. No heroic or amazing feats and no titles such as Honourable, Minister or Judge (who get honours for their positions, notwithstanding how awful they may be at their work). But, by their character and life, they inspire those who are privileged to know them.

TONY GITHUKU

Three months ago, one of Kenya’s unsung heroes, Tony Githuku, died from cancer. He was a genuine hero in many ways, not least because he was one of three Kenyans I know who represented Kenya in two different sports: Swimming and rugby. The other two are J.J. Masiga in football and rugby and Betty Wamalwa, aka Sitawa Namwalie the poet, in tennis and hockey.

But beyond sports and his pioneering work in ICT, Tony Githuku was an amazing, humble and incredible person. He was kind, with never a harsh word for anyone, and an optimist who always saw the glass as half full. Hardworking, driven and competitive even, it was the integrity that Tony exhibited, and the willingness to go beyond that was inspiring.

I did not know Tony very well, but together with his wife, Susan Wakhungu Githuku — who was Kenya’s top women’s tennis player for a long time — they tried to bring the best out in everyone they knew and met. I was frankly in awe of Tony.

Tony came from a family that can only be described as “touched by the Hand of God.” I was in high school with his younger brother David and, like Tony, David always has a kind word for everyone who crosses his path.

Kind, gentle and positive, David made friends with people whose backgrounds could hardly be more different than his, going out of his way to be helpful. Like Tony again, David has integrity pouring out of his ears. It is impossible not to have profound respect for the Githukus.

Their parents are like few I have come across, and they treated David’s school friends like their own kids with no regard for tribe or origin.

LIVING TESTIMONY

Daniel Obam, one of Kenya’s top engineers and whose family had a difficult time raising his school fees at the time, is living testimony of the goodness of the Githukus. Sent home from school for lack of fees, the Githukus would take him in and eventually pay off his fees so he could get back to his studies. At Tony’s father’s 70th birthday, Daniel made an emotional speech about this, declaring he is who he is today because of the Githukus.

Such are the people we should endeavour to emulate, to guide us. Sadly, Kenya has a huge deficit in public figures who are simply just good people.

Instead we elevate thugs, criminals and thieves to hallowed status, whose only reason for being is power and ill-gotten wealth.

We have lost our value systems, with bullying, intolerance, greed, cowardice and duplicity the common currency today, bred into us by the horrendous Moi era, traits, which the Jubilee regime is intent on bringing back.

For instance, in his speech to the security gurus last month, Uhuru Kenyatta emphasised that the lack of “elite consensus” on security was a threat to Kenya.

But nowhere did he suggest what he would do to reach that consensus, instead insinuating that the only consensus is his way, even though we are in a more serious predicament with his way than we have ever been before. This approach is a page from the Moi era playbook where singing like parrots after him was his clarion call.

We can do better and a good place would be to recognise and learn from people like the Githukus. May Tony’s soul rest in peace.

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