She Never Begun………

When others thought that freedom had finally come,
Wanjiru rejected the neo-colonial yard sticks for success
and instead
decided to climb rungs constructed
by independence visionaries symbolized by
mau mau,
Mekatilili wa Menza,
Dini ya Msambwa, Muthoni Nyanjiru
among others………….

When others were dancing to the song of betrayal
uhuru na kazi,
she stuck with the mau mau’s
“uhuru na mashamba”……….

When others sought
Election through sycophancy….
Wanjiru re-inforced Chelagat Mutai,
Bildad Kaggia,
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
Seroney and JM Kariuki
In the struggle for a people’s democracy…

When others struggled to win jobs
As educated intellectuals in
The Neo-colonial hierarchies
Wanjiru opted for the non-paying,
risky job of educating and organizing
Progressive forces for the fight against dictatorship.

When others chose to acquire land and posh homes through unpatriotic
loyalties,
She fought for the release of patriots from prison
She trained fighters for the recognition of slum dwellers
And squatters’ right to the space they occupied.
Do you remember the mothers at the freedom corner?

Because of her firm belief in a beginning for all
By all

And for the benefit of all

A PHD holding economist,
A teacher, a worker, and a political leader.
Dr. Wanjiru Kihoro
NEVER began