Not all celebrated new year

Kenya has traditions and one of the most important is associated with “jumping the year” or “making the year jump.” This is a social ritual that signifies an end and starting afresh and it might take a few days, before December 31 and after January 1, of activities. Some activities, relative to one’s position, may reflect joy while others are linked to misery. It is not too late in the year to look back because even next year we will still witness the same ritual.

In “jumping the year” or “making the year jump”, the year is presumed to be a static object to be “jumped”, or made to “jump”, by those engaging in various social activities. It is generally a time for exuberant celebration that afflicts the youth and adults, the high ranking and the low, top clergy, and the not so religious.

Some celebrations have an air of officialdom, like the annual ritual at the Mombasa State House where Kenya’s presidents go to “jump the year.” The party, beamed on national televisions, is an official adult thing for the well connected who tend to be restrained in their exuberance.

Unless there are hiccups and assuming all is well, the president makes a speech and then shows dancing dexterity. He is then joined by national bigwigs, all repeating the same phrase, “Happy New Year.” It was the case in December 2009 at State House where, except for the absence of Prime Minister Raila Odinga who was relaxing in London, the national grandees were in attendance. President Kibaki made an upbeat speech about his aspirations for the country, took the floor with Mama Lucy, and was then joined by ministers to form a “Happy New Year” circle. They did not violate Michuki’s noise rule.

Outside the State House, violating Michuki’s noise rule was part of jumping the year. In gathering places, people were unrestrained. Some youth jumped “juu juu” to Jimmy Gait’s “Huratiti” in which he outdid his “Muhathara”, exhilarated in Jemimah Thiongo’s “Mwenye Baraka Zote”, and danced to Rose Muhando’s “Nibebe”. Evangelicals were led by Bishop Margaret Wanjiru whose Jesus is Alive increased liveliness with rising decibels. A “bishop” invited Michuki to become a member of his church. Another bishop, a former jail bird, declared his willingness to return to jail because of the loud preaching ban.

There were many others, however, who stayed home. Some watched entertainment on television or enjoyed drinks and food in the company of friends and relatives. Many middle class parents worried about their teenagers who went to jump the year in mass gatherings.

Yet away from the enjoyment at State House, entertainment joints, churches, and homes with television, there were many people who did not happily jump the year. More serious than parents worried about an education system that needs an overhaul, were the concerns of the misplaced and displaced. These are people who had been evicted from homes and live in leaking makeshift tents on roadsides or temporary camps. These had problems being “happy” in the “new” year since they were still in misery.

Their “New Year” misery was compounded by environmental as well as man-made complications. Weather “experts” often mislead people with warnings on El-Ninos and droughts whose timing is usually wrong.

This time, heavy rains pounded not only the displaced in their tents but also went on to flood other people from their homes in poorly managed villages and towns. The subsequent flood destruction exposed Kenya’s perennial un-preparedness despite having assortments of official disaster management teams.

Perceptions of failures in policy enforcement affected the ritual of jumping the year. The “eaten” school money and discussions to compensate rich forest grabbers, seemed callous to the displaced who were shivering in the cold. Matatu operators, complaining of police extortions, paralysed the transport industry and resumed only after Mr Odinga promised to look into their grievances.

Ushering the year was chanting “Happy New Year” to some or trying to swim in floods for others.

Munene is Professor of history and international relations, USIU Nairobi. gmmunene@usiu.ac.ke

-Business Daily