Oh No, Not Another One

Saitoti is dead. The others too. Bite me if you think I am ignoring other equally if not more important names. We have theories as to why the chopper was rigged, compromised, fishy, bewitched even.

We explain everything, even when there is no reason. We need a reason for everything-call it purpose. I get when we say there is need for a purpose in life, to give direction and meaning. I guess even that sense of identity comes from purpose e.g. how if your purpose was to save life by becoming a doctor, fulfillment of that gives you the identity of a caregiver/provider.

But then what about when you hit your head on the window or it starts to rain when you are indoors?

Once, my dad goes,

‘You see it was good that the cow started jumping in excitement because we Africans believe life and energy from man to animal to inanimate matter is interlinked. We are one; hence the jumping was a good sign.” (Story created due to writer’s memory lapse on what he said at the time. Put in small size fonts to hopefully escape your attention, which evidently did not work).

Now, expecting Mathe to refute that theory and replace the African with a more God-directed explanation, she goes “Now that’s an African speaking. The days when I used to do fieldwork, while working in public health in the 90s, you find a child is malnourished and is almost dying. Since the mother is also pregnant with another baby, she (this was the mzee’s opinion which was definitely hers) rationalizes it as the way it was meant to be.’ Mind you, this is not because she is necessarily superstitious, it’s just that for lack of a way to handle the situation, people turn to anything.

From that example we can conclude that human beings explain everything to find a way to handle situations. Fullstop. I tend to think if you are going to use the word ‘fullstop’ or ‘period’ at the end of a sentence then it doesn’t make sense putting the mark. It is redundant…and foolish i.e. does not make sense. However, we can explain that too. A paper titled, ‘the explanation of why humans see need to repeat themselves in symbol and word’ would make a good read.

African philosophy explains rain, sunshine, a dying blade of grass, an almost dying one and a broken one too.

Enehu, why not just leave some things as they are? I mean we have mistakes in everyday life-coincidences that do not add up-but when they don’t lead to a national disaster we assume them. Saitoti is dead, am sure wherever he is he would prefer if we looked into the crash to avoid future ones but not to stoke the human spirit.

Now, explain why the writer felt the urge to post this. 20 marks.

40 marks if you can explain why you need illustrations to elaborate your point.