ITS TIME There was a time, once upon our youth, when we would take to the podium at students kamukunji and have a go at public speaking. We learnt a lot at these gatherings. Comportment, elocution, voice projection, cadence, timing, suspense, clarity and good reasoning, persuasion, pronunciation, even. Most of us could never hope to be good at all these things at once. Some were too excitable and immediately became febrile and incoherent. Others were afflicted by acute stage fright. Many lost their train of thought, while others got carried away by the attention of the crowd. Laughter, jeers, cheers, silence: any reaction from the crowd could intimidate or confuse the steeliest orators among us. There were students who, in the throes of adapting Cicero and Mark Anthony lost themselves in metaphor and abandoned the audience, indulging in the absurdest flights of fancy. One gut, who ran for Students Union Chair under the moniker doyen once accused the varsity administration of cultivating obscure scenarios. He never could substantiate what he meant, but this inarticulate charge painted the Establishment in a most sinister light, and somehow, the man managed to have his way. Others, who had richly accented diction, owing to their counties of origin, contrived to extract humour, dramatic effect and even flair into a situation that would ordinarily comprise severe handicap. Many guys sounded like sonorous professors, and the restive, adrenaline-addicted, bored crowd viciously booed them off the podium.Others were intolerable moralists and bigots. No traction. I saw many of these characters, as Abdul Lorot, Jowi James Otieno, Katama Edward Ngeywa, Dennis Kizito Magare, John Rono, Jacqueline Manani , Anna Konuche, Linda Opati and many others can attest. One gentleman stood out above and ahead of every punter, though. He was as close to the finished product as one could ever hope to find in a sophomore. Listening to him was an immense pleasure. Confidence. Cogency. Humour. Intelligence. Charisma. He spoke in neat, concise, paragraphs which fluently progressed from premise to conclusion in an enchantingly graceful narration. He was a class behind me, I think. I remember that after hearing his first delivery in a kamukunji, I sought him out and told him he had tremendous potential as a visionary and compelling leader. Thereafter we struck an easy friendship which has lasted to this day. I always encouraged him to seek student leadership positions, with the Union Chair being the ultimate prize. I am very proud to be associated with this gentleman. Moses Otieno Kajwang, Homa Bays finest; congratulations for stepping up to the cusp of leadership. I know that in Senate, you will be formidable as ever, and will certainly give Jubilee a hard time. I daresay it will be worth it. Extremely proud to be associated with you, old boy. I know that the people of Homa Bay will certainly get to confirm your incredible leadership potential for themselves and dispatch you to Senate without delay. To my fellow alumni: this is THE Moses Kajwang we knew as capricious and articulate youngster in Uni. He has come of age. Its time. Ladies and gentlemen, kindly step aside, and prepare to applaud the Senator, by the grace of God, for Homa Bay county.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 07:06:47 +0000
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