The owners of V8, The
Papal visit and Our priorities
The Land-Cruiser V8 represents all that is wrong with our Kenyan
society, particularly now with economic challenges and the Papal visit.
First of all, I have a very strong feeling that the owners of the V8
will jostle to meet and request to dine with the Holy Father. Whether he will
agree to it or not, no one knows - after all Jesus preached for sinners first.
Now back to the V8 owners, the same way they push everyone out of the road and frighten us with sirens, they will elbow themselves through to be at the podium,
closer so as to receive the Holy Father’s blessings. They will never be in the
hot sun or wet grounds unlike the poor, the majority and the ones for whom the
Holy Father bears message of hope. On the contrary, these filthy rich will
expect to be prayed for, so that their sins and crime may go unnoticed. After
spewing filth of ethnic hatred, gobbled the public resources and milked the
poor dry they will be dressed up to push for a place next to the humble Holy
Father.
It is the same reason, that after the holy mass on the 26th
they will now drive away with greater confidence with the overzealous police
clearing way for them while the poor crowd slowly snailing their way out of the
park to another uncertain tomorrow in the slums.
The V8 owners have their priorities wrong and they do not care. They
believe, that when he arrives, the Holy Father will be looking out through the
window for newly planted grass along the highway and feeling spoilt celebrating
Holy Mass at the extravagant Papal Alter at the University of Nairobi. Or maybe
am wrong, because they will also accompany the Holy Father to Kangemi where he
will be praying with the poor, and blessing the politicians’ voters. A good
boost to the next general elections!
The owners of the V8 will again jostle for a space at the UN in
Gigiri, where the Pope will give a talk on climate change and conservation for
the environment, unashamedly driving to pollute more and cruising alongside the
humble man of God who will be driven in a tiny Italian FIAT. You bet the owners of V8 will be there to be
seen to be important, barely listening to the important message, because after
that they will continue depleting the resources, hoarding more with no
scruples. The symbol and humility will go back to Rome with the Holy Father
because Kenya has no place for it.
As for the local Church and the state, they will continue to be good
bed-fellows. Affirmative and thumbs- up that Kenya, once again is ahead of
other nations!
Caspar Pedo
