Kofi Annan still is one of the most mentioned names in the Kenyan newspapers, together with president Mwai Kibaki and prime minister designate Raila Odinga. Remarkably, Kibaki is mostly referred to by his last name, whereas Raila is mentioned by his first name. But leaving this aside, Annan is just Annan, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Ghanaian who almost on his own (or so it seems) found a way out of the Kenyan crisis.
In the euphoric aftermath of the peace deal achieved by him, Annan continued to play an important role in Kenya, even long after he had left for his hometown Geneva. Being the new Best Friend to all the Kenyans, the media liked to mention him often. Sometimes even following the most peculiar approaches.
As it happened, in one of the Saturday editions of the Daily Nation an article was published under the significant title “Suave and sexy at 50”. It contained numerous tips for the Kenyan man over-50 years of age, how to exploit his matured status to catch a young lady. Because, as it was put: “Kenyans have a lot to thank Kofi Annan for. Not only did he deliver the much sought-after peace deal for Kenyans; he also managed to make men over 50 suddenly appear to be in vogue.” Every woman wants to have an Annan, every man wants to be an Annan.
The worshipping of the hero seems to have no boundaries. Even on the streets it is not to be missed. Many matatus* decorate their rear windows with portraits of their idols. Nowadays the image of the Ghanaian can often be seen rushing by. Tupac had to give way to Annan.
No wonder that, when Kibaki and Raila were disagreeing about the coalition government last week, all Kenyans were looking northward, towards Geneva. At first Annan remained adamant, it was the Kenyan leaders’ move now. But when the news leaked that the Kibaki-camp in particular clenched to an uneven division of the ministers’ posts (both in number and in weight), a statement was released in Switzerland. The designer of the peace pact used only one formulation to summarize the essence of this pact: equal sharing of power.
Annan has spoken and once again he has made it to all the front pages. And his magic is still working. Within a day, Kibaki and Raila declare that they have reached agreement. All ministers’ posts will be announced on Sunday 6 April, the new government will be installed on Saturday 12 April.
This is a development not totally to the satisfaction of the media and the wananchi (citizens). Their main frustration is the lack of achievement of their own leaders, on their own. This makes one of the readers of the Daily Nation suggest: “Why not appoint Kofi Annan the expatriate president of Kenya if it is, indeed, the case that it is he who has all the answers to the country’s political problems?”
Whether or not he is providing all the answers to the political problems, Kofi Annan will continue to play an important role in Kenya. This brings me to discuss the seemingly endless worshipping of Annan the hero with one of my colleagues.
He answers me with a question: “What do you call someone more than a hero?”
“A saint? Maybe God?” I suggest.
“That is what Annan is to the Kenyans.”
* Matatus = shared taxis, private minivans that constitute the alternative public transport, servicing fixed routes, often driving like mad
In the euphoric aftermath of the peace deal achieved by him, Annan continued to play an important role in Kenya, even long after he had left for his hometown Geneva. Being the new Best Friend to all the Kenyans, the media liked to mention him often. Sometimes even following the most peculiar approaches.
As it happened, in one of the Saturday editions of the Daily Nation an article was published under the significant title “Suave and sexy at 50”. It contained numerous tips for the Kenyan man over-50 years of age, how to exploit his matured status to catch a young lady. Because, as it was put: “Kenyans have a lot to thank Kofi Annan for. Not only did he deliver the much sought-after peace deal for Kenyans; he also managed to make men over 50 suddenly appear to be in vogue.” Every woman wants to have an Annan, every man wants to be an Annan.
The worshipping of the hero seems to have no boundaries. Even on the streets it is not to be missed. Many matatus* decorate their rear windows with portraits of their idols. Nowadays the image of the Ghanaian can often be seen rushing by. Tupac had to give way to Annan.
No wonder that, when Kibaki and Raila were disagreeing about the coalition government last week, all Kenyans were looking northward, towards Geneva. At first Annan remained adamant, it was the Kenyan leaders’ move now. But when the news leaked that the Kibaki-camp in particular clenched to an uneven division of the ministers’ posts (both in number and in weight), a statement was released in Switzerland. The designer of the peace pact used only one formulation to summarize the essence of this pact: equal sharing of power.
Annan has spoken and once again he has made it to all the front pages. And his magic is still working. Within a day, Kibaki and Raila declare that they have reached agreement. All ministers’ posts will be announced on Sunday 6 April, the new government will be installed on Saturday 12 April.
This is a development not totally to the satisfaction of the media and the wananchi (citizens). Their main frustration is the lack of achievement of their own leaders, on their own. This makes one of the readers of the Daily Nation suggest: “Why not appoint Kofi Annan the expatriate president of Kenya if it is, indeed, the case that it is he who has all the answers to the country’s political problems?”
Whether or not he is providing all the answers to the political problems, Kofi Annan will continue to play an important role in Kenya. This brings me to discuss the seemingly endless worshipping of Annan the hero with one of my colleagues.
He answers me with a question: “What do you call someone more than a hero?”
“A saint? Maybe God?” I suggest.
“That is what Annan is to the Kenyans.”
* Matatus = shared taxis, private minivans that constitute the alternative public transport, servicing fixed routes, often driving like mad
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