NOT YET UHURU.

Hush! What was that I heard? Certainly it was not the Kanjo's bicycle, was it? Oh! here he comes, and I have not a penny left " Jambo, Bwana Afande," I say with a feigned smile "Mwananchi, no time for pleasantries, give Caesar his due " "Sir, I have not a shilling to my name, business is bad" "Everyone says that, now pay up or spend the night with the rats at the station " "Afande, you may search me, search my merchandise if you please" "Mwananchi, I have no time for your jests, I know many of your type" "Upon the blood shed by our fathers in the quest for Uhuru, I have not a shilling with me," I say "Why do you choose to dig your own grave? Why plot your own downfall? Askari, take this one away, maybe the court fine will seem cheaper for him" As I am dragged away, I think, "Is this Uhuru? Is this what the Maumau fought for?" Surely they must be disgusted at what has become of us From on high they must be looking at us in disdain That their sacrifice we have despised And although we are physically unshackled We still are prisoners of mentality As the cell shuts, I am left like a songbird in a cage Like Jaramogi I say, "Not yet Uhuru".