The knowledge man, or epis, thirsts for knowledge as a liberating tool. Epis is always conscious of the surrounding and his desire is in the betterment of all. The economical man, or econ, is concerned in the least with the welfare of others. Thus, he is constantly devising means to self-profit. In the process, he regards no one and uses aggrandizement as a tool to self gratification. As a result, a politician donates 8 bags of cement in the hope of being voted in. Voters are given a promissory note with children being referred to as future leaders. However, investment is rarely driven towards their shaping.
Ken Walibora’s oeuvre transcend the confines of time. It’s in that respect that it be excused if this prose falls short of one’s philanthropic contribution to literary engagements.
Ndoto ya Almasi presents Almasi wondering about the state of the classroom with broken furniture and leaking roof. The character recalls a time in his past when schools were appropriately equipped and learners kept dreaming big. He, however, fails to connect this rhapsody with the unfolding.
In his recollection, a truck used to ferry milk from the farmers although it is no more; the trees which peopled Cheranganyi Hills are all felled. Probably, milk ferrying became unprofitable forcing the driver to terminate his services. Alternatively, it might be the case that dairy farmers terminated their milk supply contract due to low prices it fetched, milk buyers found high quality milk elsewhere or the processing plant closed shop.
Almasi’s brother-in-law worked as a casual laborer in the outskirts of the city while he, Almasi, served as a domestic guard later on. It was this labor that was exchanged for a wage. The wage was, however, only enough to feed his family and ensure that he turned up for job the following day. Sadly, this labor wasn’t their true source of wealth; they wallowed in poverty all along. Interestingly, the father later on gifts him with a pot of gold!
At some point in time, Almasi turned down an offer to play for his team. Consequently, the team lost with the aftermath pitying him against the team. To the players, it was his fault. Even then, their wanting him to play the match was not out of love; rather, it was motivated purely by their desire to win. The price of such victory was pride while a loss implied humiliation.
Almasi narrates the grueling circumstances that led to his arrest and subsequent termination of schooling. His classmates burnt the school down and killed the principal. If they knew beforehand that a criminal charge would be leveled against them, the school and the principal would have survived. Unfortunately, they all believed that such a burden would be shouldered by someone else; presumably, Almasi.
But then, they were irrational as a mob.
A more rational scenario occurs when Almasi needed to mobilize 50 students to have his club recognized by the school. He thought it sensible enough to have members- to- be pay KSH 1 as opposed to them not paying a dime. By the end of the registration window, no student had registered. Therefore, the club couldn’t be recognized. In practice, individuals are willing to pay just as much as the value they expect to get from a given undertaking.
In the end, Almasi marries Chebosio, his childhood friend. The marriage had been fastened by Chebosio’s pregnancy which she accused him of responsibility although it was his father’s, Mzee Masasi.
By Kefa Simiyu
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Disclaimer: The views are of the author’s, and may not necessarily reflect the position of the Panel. The Panel celebrates the works of the literary icon Ken Walibora.
Economics Scholar Panel 