The Sunday Nation today, January 16, 2011, has a full page advertisement titled 'A Heartfelt Appreciation by the Council of Elders' thanking all who assisted with the funeral of the late Hon. Gerishon Kirima.
I must confess that my first reaction to this advertisement by the so called 'eminent personalities' was disgust. Who appointed this 'council of elders'? Why are they copying the titles of the other elders led by former Archbishop Tutu? It does not help that this was the week that 100 people claiming to be elders led by Brother Paul aka Kamlesh Patni traveled to Libya to crown Gadaffi the 'king of kings'.
Upon further reflection it struck me that this 'Council of Elders' had prevailed upon the Kirima family and ensured his funeral was conducted in an honorable way. The drama that has been the norm in the Kirima family in the past year was quashed.
Perhaps we should celebrate and encourage the creation of more councils of elders in Kenya. This will create an honorable role for former leaders and politicians in their sunset years. It can create a much needed dispute resolution forum. Kenya needs an alternative forum to operate in tandem with the political and judicial processes that are being reborn. Perhaps this could ensure that in the future we would not require the ICC and other outsiders to solve our domestic problems.
I salute and thank the 'eminent personalities'; Wanjigi, Rubia, Kamotho, Munga, Mbaru, Kaguthi and Bishop Michuki.
I must confess that my first reaction to this advertisement by the so called 'eminent personalities' was disgust. Who appointed this 'council of elders'? Why are they copying the titles of the other elders led by former Archbishop Tutu? It does not help that this was the week that 100 people claiming to be elders led by Brother Paul aka Kamlesh Patni traveled to Libya to crown Gadaffi the 'king of kings'.
Upon further reflection it struck me that this 'Council of Elders' had prevailed upon the Kirima family and ensured his funeral was conducted in an honorable way. The drama that has been the norm in the Kirima family in the past year was quashed.
Perhaps we should celebrate and encourage the creation of more councils of elders in Kenya. This will create an honorable role for former leaders and politicians in their sunset years. It can create a much needed dispute resolution forum. Kenya needs an alternative forum to operate in tandem with the political and judicial processes that are being reborn. Perhaps this could ensure that in the future we would not require the ICC and other outsiders to solve our domestic problems.
I salute and thank the 'eminent personalities'; Wanjigi, Rubia, Kamotho, Munga, Mbaru, Kaguthi and Bishop Michuki.
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