“Harambee” is the motto of post-Independence Kenya. The country was ceded from the British Empire in 1963 after a period of social unrest, which included the Mau-Mau Rebellion. A leader in that uprising was Jomo Kenyatta, who became the new nation’s founding president. His son Uhuru is the outgoing incumbent president, defeated by William Ruto in the election, just concluded last August.

Harambee – We Are One. E Pluribus Unum – One from Many.

May it be ever so!

He went as a passive observer. He stayed when they showed him how to live.

When I read some more of the Ong’wen book, I discovered a delicious (if troubling) irony. In the early years of Independence, harambee came to mean voluntary labor or donations for grass-roots projects. Then it became dues for electing local politicians. Now it’s a synonym for all manner of mandatory political bribes, extending to the highest levels.

Yes, that’s a side of Harry, too.