ni Ngai wakĩmena; tondũ wa ũrĩa tuonire atĩ mũndũ mũkĩgu ndangĩhota
kũigua ũndũ ũngĩ tiga o ũrĩa ũkonainie na mabataro make.
Kwoguo kaũndũ gatarĩ bata, kũrĩwe akona ke bata mũno, na kawĩra
kanini akona arĩ wĩra mũnene mũno tondũ worĩa akunderetie meciria.
Tondũ mũndũ ndangihota kuona mbere ya haria woni wa maitho
make wakinya. Gĩthĩ ndũgũkĩona atĩ mũndũ mũkĩgu ndarĩ bata ona
kũrĩ Ngai?
Mawĩra marĩa manene, ona manyũmba marĩa manene me mabũrũri-
inĩ, kĩambĩrĩria marĩ meciria, na magicoka gũtwĩka ciĩko tondũ
wakũrutwo na moko ma andũ. Githĩ ndũgũkĩona atĩ Ngai onekaga
wega makĩria tondũ wa ciĩko cia andũ.
Angĩkorũo nĩ wendete Ngai-ri ruta wĩra waku na hinya na ũkindĩirie.
Tiga kwĩgana tondũ nĩ hinya waku ũraitanga ũkĩaria ũrĩa wĩ mwega
na ũrĩa wĩtĩkitie kana ũrĩa ũrutĩte wĩra waku ũkagĩra. Reke andũ angĩ
moigage ũguo nowe ũthiĩ na mbere na wira waku. Na ciĩko ciaku nĩ
ikwaria wega, na ina ũira mwega gũkĩra kanua gaku.
what should we do, our people?
149
We can distinguish a stupid person from a wise one38 in this way: A
wise person always takes a good picture in his thoughts, of that person
or place, and is very pleased with your news, since he understands
clearly what you tell him.
A stupid person, however, takes a bad picture in his mind and fails
to understand what you tell him. He is therefore not pleased with what
you say, since he doesn’t see how it relates to his own needs or [because
you would not] praise him by saying he is good and clever. It’s only
when you say you will give him something to eat that a stupid person is
pleased. Following this line of argument, if we wish to know someone’s
belief, or how they think about God, we can say this: when a clever
person is told about God, he takes a good picture in his mind, and sees
how good, wonderful, and mighty God is. He clearly understands the
purpose of this matter.
A stupid person takes a small and rotten picture in his mind and
fails to understand how great God is or how marvellous He is. He
sees God as belonging to him alone and not to others. When he wants
something, he thinks God wants it too, and when he hates something,
he thinks God hates it as well. A stupid person cannot see beyond his
own concerns.
Because of his defi cient mind, an unimportant matter is important
to him and a small task is huge. He cannot see beyond what his eyes
see. Can you understand now that a stupid person sees no good, even
in God?
Th
e big jobs and big buildings in the country were initially ideas, and
they later became actions because people’s hands implemented them.
God is best revealed through people’s actions.
If you love God, put in eff ort and be patient in what you do. Do not
boast,39 as this is just misusing your strength, boasting how good you
are and what you believe in, or how you have done your work perfectly.
Let other people say these things for you, but get on with your work.
Your actions are better proof than your mouth.
When you say how good you are and how well you have done your
work, you show your heart is fi lled with impatience, wishing for good
things but lacking knowledge. You will develop a poor reputation,
become demoralised, and fail to work hard, since by boasting to other
people you will achieve nothing.
150
chapter four
Tondũ rĩrĩ, kwaria kworĩa we wĩ mwega, na kwa ũria ũrutite wira
waku wega, gũkuonanĩa ati ngoro yaku nyũritwo nĩ githethũko, na
kwĩrirĩria wĩtwo mwega, na ũmenywo wega. Na ũngĩrĩkia kũmenywo
na njĩra ĩo no ũthae; ũremwo nĩ kũruta wĩra waku na hinya; tondũ
kĩndũ kĩrĩa ũtarĩ nakĩo na ma, nĩ ũkũgĩa nakĩo na ũhoro wa kwaria na
kwĩra andũ arĩa angĩ. Tondũ rĩrĩa ũkĩmenyirũo na wetwo mwega-rĩ,
nĩkĩ kĩngĩ ũgũgĩcaria? Tũgũkiuga o rĩngĩ atĩ, reke ciĩko ihunjie wega
waku gũkĩra warie na kanua gaku.
7. Ciana na mũrerere wacio
Tene mwana aciaragũo, akarerũo, aigana wa kũmenya ũndũ, akarekio
rũru, na aneneha akagũranĩrũo ũhoro wake ũgathira, akorũo nĩ mwana
wa kairĩtu, arerũo na aneneha nake akagũrũo akahikio ũhoro wake
naguo ũgathira.
No matukũ maya-rĩ, ti ũguo, twĩgatagati-inĩ ka mũtigithũkano wa
maũndũ ma tene na ma rĩu, ciana imwe irarerũo na gĩtene na ingĩ na
kirĩu.
Warekia mwana waku oro ũguo, egũthiĩ thiritũ na andũ oru, agĩe
na meciria moru, ona mũtugo mũru, wa kũiya na wa kũgera ngero iria
ingi ciothe thũku, eyagĩre bata, ona age bata harĩ andũ arĩa angĩ, andũ
moigage kaba atangĩaciarirũo tondũ worĩa amaheire thĩna, na kũmaiya
na kũgero ngero iria ingĩ ciothe thũku.
8. Gwĩciria kwega kwa mwana matukũ maya
Ũrĩa mũndũ angĩciria wega ũndũ wa mwana wake matukũ maya no
ũrĩa angĩ mũthomithia. Tondũ arĩkia gũthoma mũno, nĩegũtwĩka wa
thiritũ njega. Tondũ mabuku mekuo maingĩ mũno, mena meciria
mega na ũguni mũingĩ wakũmũteithia muoyo-inĩ wake wothe. Ona
rĩngĩ angĩkorũo nĩ wa kĩhumo kiega, nĩahota kũguna bũrũri tondũ wa
ũgĩ ũcio wake.
Tondũ andũ arĩa magunaga andũ thĩinĩ wa mabũrũri mangĩ, ona
andũ arĩa marĩtũguna bũrũri-inĩ ũyũ witũ nĩ andũ arĩa moĩ gĩthomo
mũno, kana mena ũgi mũingĩ.
Tondũ ũcio-rĩ, ũkĩenda mwana waku athome mũno, no ũgĩire na
mbeca cia kũigana, tondũ hatirĩ gĩthomo gĩa tũhũ. Tũgũkĩona atĩ, waga
kũruta wĩra na hinya na kĩo kĩnene, ndũrĩ kĩndũ ũkona tiga o gũthĩna.
Tondũ ũthayo na ũthĩni itwaranaga njĩra ĩmwe.
what should we do, our people?
151
For when you are known to be good, what else can you look
for? Instead of boasting about yourself, let your action preach your
goodness.40
7. Children and their upbringing
In past times, aft er a child was born and had grown up he was left on
his own. Aft er he became mature, his marriage was arranged. Th
at was
all that was done for him. If a girl, she would be raised and on attaining
maturity, would be married.41
Th
is is no longer the case today. We are in the middle of a transition
between past and modern life.42 Some children are raised in past ways,
others in modern ways.
If you neglect your child, he will fall into bad company, acquire bad
thoughts, bad behaviour like stealing, and commit every kind of crime.
People will lose faith in him and say it were better had he never been
born, because of the trouble he causes them.
8. Th
inking well about children these days
Th
e most important thing to consider about your child these days is
his education.43 If he is well educated, he will be in good company.
Th
ere are many good books with good and helpful ideas to help him
throughout his life. With a good foundat
ion,44 he might also help the
country with his knowledge.
Educated people will help people even in other countries. Th
e well
educated are those who will help this country develop.
If, therefore, you want your child to be well educated, you must have
enough money, since there is no free education. If you fail to work
hard and diligently, you will fi nd nothing but misery, and ignorance
and poverty will walk by your side.
152
chapter four
Nacio nĩ thũ cia andũ kana rũrĩrĩ rũrĩa rũngĩnyitwo nĩ ũthayo, tondũ
no rũthĩne na rũage bata. Tũgũkiuga atĩa? Atĩ tũrute wĩra na hinya, na
kwenda kũnene, nĩguo twone ınbeca cia gũthomithia ciana citũ, nĩguo
itwıke cia thiritũ ya andũ ega, nĩguo ciagĩre ikaguna bũrũri witũ.
9. Gwĩciria kwega kwa mwana kwa matuku marĩa magoka
Nĩ tuge atĩ nĩwetungumania, kinya wahota gũthomithia mwana waku,
ohĩga o wega, na oima cukuru. Wĩra waku we ũrĩ ithe tũgũkiuga nĩ
wagĩthira. Tondũ-rĩ, wakĩhota atĩa kũmũhe wĩra?
Githĩ andũ arĩa maheyanaga wĩra ti Th
irikari na makambũni marĩa
manene mena mbeca nyingĩ? Ĩni, no rĩrĩ, makambũni macio-rĩ, ti ma
andũ airũ. Ningĩ thirikari-rĩ, tiga hihi hĩndĩ ĩngĩ ĩrĩũka-rĩ ti ya andũ airũ.
Th
irikari na makambũni macio manene nĩ cia andũ. Na kũngĩkorũo
nĩcia andũ-rĩ, nĩ kuuga onao mena ciana ciao. Nao nĩ maraithomithia
ũgĩthomithia waku. Nĩ ũgũgiciria atĩ kwahoteka mwana waku onerũo
wira hĩndĩ ĩrĩa mwana wa mwene kĩndũ kĩu atarĩ na wĩra?
Aca, gũtingĩhoteka, ũndũ ũrĩa wĩkagũo mabũrũri-ini mothe, ona ũrĩa
ũrĩkagũo thĩinĩ wa mabũrũri-inĩ maya maitũ. Nĩ atĩ mwana wa mwene
kĩndũ akaheo wĩra mbere, na wĩra ũrĩa ũngĩ ũtangĩmwagĩrĩra ũkaheo
mwana waku kana wa mũndũ ũrĩa ũngi ũtarĩ mwene kĩndũ kĩu.
No rĩrĩ, andũ acio monire kĩndũ kĩu atĩa? Tũtikuga Th
irikari, tondũ
thirikari nĩ athani, na gũtingĩhoteka andũ othe matwĩka athani. Andũ
arĩa tũkwaria ũhoro wao nĩ makambuni macio manene mena mbeca
nyingĩ.
Tũngĩrora wega-rĩ, no tuone atĩ hatirĩ Kambuni ona imwe yonaga
mbeca ũguo tũhũ. No nĩ wĩra marutaga kana makendia indo na
mbeca ikoneka. Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa mekũruta wĩra ta wagwakĩra andũ arĩa angĩ
manyũmba, nĩ ũndũ megwĩka nacio mbeca ikoneka. Ningĩ hĩndĩ ĩrĩa
mekwendia kĩndũ ta irio cia mũgũnda kana nguo, nĩ indo mendagia
nacio mbeca ikoneka.
Kwoguo makambuni mothe handũ marũma, monaga mbeca na
njĩra ya kũruta wĩra mũna, makarĩhwo tondũ wa wĩra ũcio, kana ningĩ
magathondeka indo na makendia kana makagũra indo kuma kũrĩ
athondeki, nao makendia.
Magakĩhota kwandĩka andũ angĩ wĩra, na menda kũruta andũ acio
wĩra makamaruta ningĩ makamahe mũcara o ũrĩa mangĩendera, mũnene
kana mũnyinyĩ. Naguo ũguo noguo gũtariĩ, na noguo kũrihanaga
matukũ mothe.
what should we do, our people?
153
Th
ese are enemies to people, who [then] become ignorant, poor
and useless. What can we do? We must work hard, with much love, to
fi nd the resources to educate our children. Th
ey will then be in good
company, become good, and benefi t our country.
9. Good thinking of children in the days to come
Let us say you have worked hard and managed to educate your child,
who gets knowledge and leaves school. Your role as his father is then
over, for can you give him a job?
Are not jobs off ered by the government and big companies? Yes, but
these companies do not belong to black people. Nor do black people
run the government.
Nonetheless, the government and big companies do belong to people.
And if the owners are people they also have children. Th
ey educate
them as you educate yours. Do you think your child will fi nd a job if
the owner’s child is unemployed?
No. It’s impossible. It is the practice in other countries, and will be
in ours, that the company owner’s child will fi rst be considered for a
job, and another less important job will be given to your child.
How did these people get these companies? We won’t consider the
government since it governs, and not everybody can rule. We will talk
about the big companies with a lot of money.
If we look closely, we will fi nd that no company simply discovers
that it has money. Th
ey do business to earn money. When they do
something like building houses for people, they are working to generate
money. And when they sell commodities like food, crops or clothes,
they are trading to generate money.
So all companies, wherever they are, generate money by working and
getting paid for it. Or they make things to sell, or sell what they have
bought from manufacturers.
Th
ey are able to employ people, and when they want to dismiss them,
they do so. Th
ey pay the salaries they wish, large or small. Th
is is what
happens now and will happen in future.
154
chapter four
Norĩrĩ, ithuĩ tũrĩ andũ airũ-rĩ, harĩ ũndũ hihi tũngĩka tũgĩe na ũndũ
mwega ũguo wakũrehe mbeca nyingĩ, na wagũtũra kinya tũhote kũhe
Ciana citũ wĩra?
Maũndũ mekuo maingĩ mũno marĩa andũ mangĩka mone mbeca,
no kĩrĩa gũtarĩ nĩ aruti a mawĩra mau, tondũ andũ aingĩ arĩa mekuo
rĩu, maiyũırũo nĩ ũiru, ũtunyani, ũici na kwaga kwĩhokana ona
kwaga kwĩhokeka. Andũ ta acio-rĩ, nĩũgũgĩciria marĩ wĩra mangĩhota
kwĩhĩtũkĩria? No mambire manine ũiru, na ũtunyani, ũici, mahorere
na mambĩrĩrie kwenda maũndũ mega.
Mehokane na mendane, na hatirĩ wĩra ona ũmwe marĩerekagĩra
na ndũthiĩ na mbere. Rĩu-rĩ, we mũthomi wa maũndũ maya-ri nĩ
wĩthagathagĩte ũnine ũiru ngoro-inĩ yaku, kana ũkwenda andũ angĩ
mambe manine wao mbere? Ningĩ nĩ wĩthagathagĩte kwenda andũ arĩa
angĩ ũtige kũmamena oro ũguo tũhũ atĩ nĩ ũndũ amwe nĩ athĩni na
angĩ ni atongu gũgũkĩra?
Kĩhumo kĩa ũũru wothe nĩ rĩrĩ; akorũo mũthomi o wothe wa ũhoro
ũyũ nĩekũmenya na ngoro yake atĩ we nĩamenaga andũ oro ũguo tũhũ,
kana hihi akaigua ngoro yake ĩgĩkena hĩndĩ ĩrĩa mũndũ ũngĩ arĩ ũgwati
inĩ kana thĩna-inĩ o wothe, nĩagĩrĩirũo nĩkũmenya atĩ kĩu nĩkĩo kĩhumo
kĩa maũndũ moru, tondũ ngoro ya mũndũ ũrĩa ũngikorũo ĩkĩenda
noguo mũndũ ũcio arĩkaga, na noguo arĩciragia, na noguo arĩaragia,
kũringana na kwenda kwa ngoro yake.
Mũndũ ta ũcio ahota kũgeria kũhitha ũũru ũcio wake na njĩra ya
kwaria na mĩromo atĩ nĩ araigua kĩeha mũno tondũ wa mũndũ ũcio,
no ũhoro wa maheni kana wa ũhinga ndũtũraga, no kinya ũkeyumbũra
kahinda gatarĩ kanene gatanathira.
Wendani ũrĩa ũrĩ thĩ-inĩ witũ, ũngĩkorũo nĩ wa-ma na ndũrĩ na
ũhinga na maheni kana ũiru, nĩguo gĩthĩmi gĩa ciĩko citũ. Tondũ ũcio
hĩndĩ ĩria tũngĩona andũ gĩkundi, mekĩte ũndũ mwega, no tũmenye
onarua ati kĩrĩa kĩagĩire ngoro ciao mbere ya gwika ũndũ ũcio mwega
nĩ wendani, na nĩguo ũiguano. Na ũndũ ũcio wao mwega ni ũgũikara
ũrĩ mũgima ihinda rĩrĩa rĩothe andũ acio marĩkoragwo marĩ na wendani,
na ũiguano. No rĩrĩa wendani ũcio ũngĩambĩrĩria gũthira, naguo ũndũ
ũcio wao no wambĩrĩrie gũthira.
Tondũ ũcio-rĩ maũndũ macio moru marĩ thĩinĩ wa andũ nĩmo
kĩgiria kĩrĩa kĩgĩrĩtie bũrũri ũyũ witũ ũthiĩ na mbere, ona gĩtũmĩte
wage gĩkeno.
what should we do, our people?
155
But is there something sustainable we black people could do, to
generate enough money and employment for our own children?
Th
ere are many things people can do to get money. What is lacking
are the workers to do them. Many people today are full of jealousy,
corruption, a tendency toward thievery, and dishonesty. Do you think
such people can ever generate any work? Th
ey fi rst need to end cor-
ruption and theft ; they must be patient and cultivate the love of doing
good things. Th
ey must be honest and love each other. [Only] then will
they succeed in whatever work they attempt.45
Now, you who read these ideas, are you prepared to end the jealousy
in your heart, or do you fi rst want others to end theirs? Are you ready
to love other people, and to stop hating them because some are poorer
or richer than you?
Th
e genesis of all evil is this: if in his heart the reader knows he
hates people without good cause, or is happy when someone else is in
danger, he should know that this is the beginning of evil. [For] what
his heart desires he will do, think, and speak.
Such a person may try to hide his bad side by saying that he feels
for the one in trouble, but lies and hypocrisy do not last. Th
ey reveal
themselves soon enough.
If the love in us is real, without hypocrisy and lies, it should be the
measure of our actions. When we see a group of people who have
achieved something good, we know immediately that what fi rst entered
their heart was love and unity. Th
e good thing will last for as long as
they remain in love and unity.46 But when the love starts to fade, their
achievement will also start to end.
Writing for Kenya Page 23
