As a kinder 2018 ends, here are my bouquets to year's unsung heroes

It is yet another end of year. Having mourned many friends, colleagues and relatives over the years, I have learnt not to take the end of the year for-granted. In 2017 I “jumped” the year in Vihiga County, burying one of my closest friends and mentor Andrew Anami. Without spending too much ink on the subject, let me say that I am yet to meet a more generous, openhearted, loving human being as Andrew was. A couple of weeks earlier I had been in Siaya burying my good friend Owino Magana, the champion chess player whose many accomplishments went uncelebrated, save by his family.

On that front, this year has been kinder. While there were tough moments, there is also a lot to celebrate as we say goodbye to 2018. As I have traditionally done, I want to end the year with a couple of bouquets to people who, in my limited view, stood out in 2018 but were largely uncelebrated. Because it is the season of goodwill, there will be no barbs issued for those that were a disappointment though they could fill a whole column!

Violence and harassment

My first bouquet goes to Kenya’s rural woman. In the course of the year, as my columns will have disclosed, I managed to travel to diverse parts of this country and interact closely with the residents there. I was left with a fresh respect for the rural woman. Across the country, these long-suffering Kenyans hold the strands that keep society going. They toil and moil in tough environments, child bearing and child rearing largely alone, appreciated solely by their offspring. Many undergo all manner of violence and harassment which is taken as the norm by society. A surprisingly large number undergo harmful cultural practices which risk their health and are intended merely for subjugation. In their youth many were either denied the chance to go to school or once there, performed poorly due to structural discrimination that generally gave boys a better chance to do well including never having to miss a week of school every month. Many endure drunken and irresponsible husbands and have to run homes singlehandedly. My respect for you has been heightened.

My second bouquet goes to two groups of public servants. Policemen and public school teachers. I know we love to hate the police and generally associate them with their more nefarious misconducts; the demanding and taking of bribes. But I have associated with enough of these men and women to know firstly, that a majority of policemen do not engage in this habit and secondly that many are pushed by you and I into bribe collection. Not to condone any form of bribery, but I know that many cops collect a few shillings just to survive in view of their poor circumstances. But generally, the majority of policemen are hardworking, honest but poorly paid civil servants. They interact and deal with the dregs of society daily. They risk their lives every day as they seek to make us enjoy peace and make merry especially in this season. They stand in the rain directing us through our crazy driving habits. They earn peanuts and live in deplorable hovels. May this small acknowledgment of your sacrifice encourage you to keep up the good work.

As for public school teachers, these lot deserve our thanks and encouragement. They work in challenging environments, encouraging students who have little interest in education. They work with limited resources and still manage to produce the thousands who run this country in the public and private sectors. If you compare them to their colleagues in private schools, you get to appreciate their sacrifice. My special appreciation is for teachers in those public schools that performed so well in this year’s KCSE. May your kind increase.

My final bouquet is for you my reader. I want to especially thank the many who took a moment to write to me even if it to express a contrary opinion. Without you, this would be worthless and joyless exercise. May you have a truly blessed and joy-filled end of 2018.

The writer is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya.