Kenyans find amusing uses for elections-related words

The election period has been so long that its talk has become common in every homestead. Terms used for election-related talk has gotten into our heads and changed how we interact in our daily activities.

Kenyans been creative have decided to use the various vocabularies with different meanings as to the ones in the dictionary. These are some of the vocabularies Kenyans use and how they use them.

Server

As everybody knows the meaning of server in a technical and on IT point of views, Kenyans changed its meaning after frequent pressure by the opposition on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to open its server for everyone to see.

The phrase “I will make sure I date her and open her server” now means that “ I will make sure I date her and have intercourse with her’.

While the phrase, “I know how to convince my dad to open his server every time I want to buy something” means that “I know how to convince my dad to give me his money every time I want to buy something”.

Maraga

As we all know, this is the name of Kenyan Chief Justice who annulled the 8th August election. So Kenyans use it to refer to someone clever or someone who stands with his or her principles.

This “My dad thinks he is Maraga” stands for ‘My dad has outsmarted me”.

When one says, “He will know that I am also Maraga” it means “he will know that I am a man of my word”.

Read the constitution

Reading a constitution isn’t just about reading the 2010 constitution of Kenya but getting to know something more than others.

If one says, “I have read the constitution of that lady” they mean that they have more information about that lady.

Form 34 As, Bs

When a Kenyan talks of form 34A, he or she means he has hard evidence to show that he is right and when he talks or form 34B then it means he has evidence that might not be hard evidence.

When one says, “If he thinks I am lying then I will show him form 34A which does not lie” this means they are ready to prove every allegation.

If they say, “you only have form 34B and you are still a suspect to every allegation” means that what you are saying isn’t enough to prove you are right.

Sham

When you are talking sham to ordinary Kenyan means you are saying has no value.

When I say, “ I want my money and I won’t entertain sham excuses” means that every excuse you make has no value and it’s a fake.

When I say, “You are a sham to the society” it can mean that the society can’t recognize who you truly are.