"Loss and liberation. They often appear together. Some say this applies just as strongly for countries as it does for individuals." _ Luka Sollo
I intended to write this book review in May right after the glitzy launch of the new political party affiliated with presidential hopeful Uhuru Kenyatta – The National Alliance – but fate had other plans. By some stroke of bad luck, I lost my copy of the book after a brief visit to a cyber café in Nairobi’s CBD (has ANYONE ever recovered anything misplaced in a Kenyan cyber café?)! In as much as I knew where I could get access to another copy of the book I intended to review, I would never get back the relevant timing of the TNA party launch. However, I am luckily afforded another opportunity now that the country is still abuzz owing to Miguna Miguna’s launch of his memoirs, Peeling Back The Mask, written after his fallout with our PM Raila Odinga.
The book I speak of is Private Solutions: A Tale of Political Awakening and Coming-of-Age in Africa, written and self-published in 1999 by Steven Were Omamo, a Director at the World Food Programme and also a role-player in economics and food policy circles of the AU and UN. It proves very interesting reading given the format and content of the story. This novel takes the form of “memoir fiction” or autofiction – an autobiographical account of moments in the lives of fictional characters. What results from this unique style is a book-within-a-book of sorts. Private Solutions is centred on Luka Sollo, an economics lecturer and the member of a newly formed political party of a fictional African country. In as much as the country is fictional, the discerning Kenyan reader will have a great time lifting the thinly veiled metaphors peppered throughout the entire book – references to towns such as Terodlé, Umusik and Urukan, references to geographical features such as The Valley and The Great Lake, etc.
The genesis of the story is the brutal murder of Luka’s father under mysterious circumstances that lead Luka to believe that all is not well when a poor squatter is arrested and charged. It is this quest for the truth (and subsequent death of one of his colleagues) that thrusts Luka into the murky world of domestic politics where he uncovers a sinister plot by politicians from a regional block to secede from the rest of the country and form a secluded government. It is shocking how the situation being envisaged by these rogue politicians mirror all the political upheavals that have shook this country post independence, that is, the creation of ethnic tensions (1992 clashes), military involvement (1982 coup attempt) and the exploitation of ethnic tensions to change the destiny of the country (2007 post-election violence).
Luka shakes off his middle class apathy (often cited as one of Kenya’s socio-political quagmires) and decides to have a say in shaping the destiny of his country in political terms. His acquaintance with one Dr. Tai Ogundipe, a wise and charismatic Nigerian with the flair of Fela Kuti and the determined resolve seen in the likes of Miguna Miguna, further cements his decision and he begins the process of coming up with a political party that will shake the status quo of the nation and finally bring reprieve to its long-oppressed citizens. It is Ogundipe that provides an accurate description of the status quo, which rings true for most African countries:
The subsequent e-mail correspondences between Luka and Ogundipe as the party is formed and progresses provide what can only be described as an impressive guide to creating a progressive political party for Africa. That segment is so good; it is easy to forget that the book is fictional and treat it like essential strategy notes: The party’s top brass comprises of professionals under 40 years of age from different sectors and of both genders. The party is advised not to have a nationalist agenda based on xenophobia and exclusive notions but nationalism striving towards an open, assimilating nation. Their sourcing of funding is mainly from the domestic population who are viewed as “partners” or “investors”, the rationale being that the more the population invests financially in a political project the more committed they will be, as opposed to other parties that rely on foreign funding or funding from a select few to serve the interests of a few. As regards the fight against corruption, Ogundipe points out to Luka that the best method of attacking the vice is not a high profile campaign asking or compelling people to forgo corrupt activities (which in most cases are just private solutions/resorts to wider public problems). The best methods would be to instead concentrate on the wider public problems that fuel corruption –provide basic amenities, improve infrastructure, make vital goods and services more affordable, promote job creation etc:
As regards washing off tribal prejudices, things take a more personal turn as the party’s top brass (all from different ethnic communities) talk about where their tribal prejudices emerged and it is discovered that the “apathy, paralysis and easily-ignited blind rage” resulting from ethnic-based clashes had been exploited by past and present regimes to keep focused, progressive opposition divided:
The final punch the book drives home is how the country’s loss can eventually be the beginning of its liberation, as with individuals. The loss of Luka’s father eventually leads to his getting a fresh burst of life and hope through the small gains his party makes in the course of the general elections. The same probably rings true in Kenya. The apparent loss of our lives and freedoms since independence right through to the 2007 Post-Elections violence and beyond should propel a desire to change the status quo, to speak out and oppose injustice and to strive towards the sanitization of our democratic space and rights. And as many have said before, if we see little value in the lives already lost or wasted, then perhaps more should be lost until the point sinks home.
Steven Were Omamo wonderfully crafts the novel for quick, enjoyable reading (being only 160 pages long) despite all the amazing perspectives and raw facts on how to spark Africa’s socio-political renaissance. There are lots of quintessential Kenyan anecdotes and funny incidents to make you laugh along the way to the back cover as well. I dare say that this book is more relevant to the country now than when it was published 13 years ago! There is a sense of political awareness building up right across the board and there still is a lingering question on our minds that remains unanswered: What if the PEV of 2007 had raged on? This book adds further questions – what if it had raged on to the point of secession? As we proceed to another election period soon, do any of the political parties in place come close to resembling the impressive set up of Luka Sollo’s PNN party? Good thing is that the book not only poses vital questions but also suggests much needed solutions as well. The views expressed here are not utopian but realistic ones alive to the unique challenges the African continent is faced with. Everybody should read it as soon as possible.
PS: Now, to my knowledge, copies of this book are very scarce indeed. I could only trace a single physical copy on sale on Amazon. That is why the review is as lengthy and quote-laden as it is – so that as many people as possible get the gist of the book. However, the author may be contacted via his LinkedIn page or the email address provided in the book: swomamo@yahoo.com to discuss getting copies of the book on order.
The book I speak of is Private Solutions: A Tale of Political Awakening and Coming-of-Age in Africa, written and self-published in 1999 by Steven Were Omamo, a Director at the World Food Programme and also a role-player in economics and food policy circles of the AU and UN. It proves very interesting reading given the format and content of the story. This novel takes the form of “memoir fiction” or autofiction – an autobiographical account of moments in the lives of fictional characters. What results from this unique style is a book-within-a-book of sorts. Private Solutions is centred on Luka Sollo, an economics lecturer and the member of a newly formed political party of a fictional African country. In as much as the country is fictional, the discerning Kenyan reader will have a great time lifting the thinly veiled metaphors peppered throughout the entire book – references to towns such as Terodlé, Umusik and Urukan, references to geographical features such as The Valley and The Great Lake, etc.
The genesis of the story is the brutal murder of Luka’s father under mysterious circumstances that lead Luka to believe that all is not well when a poor squatter is arrested and charged. It is this quest for the truth (and subsequent death of one of his colleagues) that thrusts Luka into the murky world of domestic politics where he uncovers a sinister plot by politicians from a regional block to secede from the rest of the country and form a secluded government. It is shocking how the situation being envisaged by these rogue politicians mirror all the political upheavals that have shook this country post independence, that is, the creation of ethnic tensions (1992 clashes), military involvement (1982 coup attempt) and the exploitation of ethnic tensions to change the destiny of the country (2007 post-election violence).
Luka shakes off his middle class apathy (often cited as one of Kenya’s socio-political quagmires) and decides to have a say in shaping the destiny of his country in political terms. His acquaintance with one Dr. Tai Ogundipe, a wise and charismatic Nigerian with the flair of Fela Kuti and the determined resolve seen in the likes of Miguna Miguna, further cements his decision and he begins the process of coming up with a political party that will shake the status quo of the nation and finally bring reprieve to its long-oppressed citizens. It is Ogundipe that provides an accurate description of the status quo, which rings true for most African countries:
“First you can be sure that Letat will continue to use the ethnicity card to buy time; more people will be killed, maimed, orphaned, raped, rendered homeless as a result… Second, … new wealth will not be shared by all citizens but will instead accrue to a favored few… Third, mismanagement of your public sector will continue and likely deepen… That is the country you will have by the end of Letat’s current term.”
The subsequent e-mail correspondences between Luka and Ogundipe as the party is formed and progresses provide what can only be described as an impressive guide to creating a progressive political party for Africa. That segment is so good; it is easy to forget that the book is fictional and treat it like essential strategy notes: The party’s top brass comprises of professionals under 40 years of age from different sectors and of both genders. The party is advised not to have a nationalist agenda based on xenophobia and exclusive notions but nationalism striving towards an open, assimilating nation. Their sourcing of funding is mainly from the domestic population who are viewed as “partners” or “investors”, the rationale being that the more the population invests financially in a political project the more committed they will be, as opposed to other parties that rely on foreign funding or funding from a select few to serve the interests of a few. As regards the fight against corruption, Ogundipe points out to Luka that the best method of attacking the vice is not a high profile campaign asking or compelling people to forgo corrupt activities (which in most cases are just private solutions/resorts to wider public problems). The best methods would be to instead concentrate on the wider public problems that fuel corruption –provide basic amenities, improve infrastructure, make vital goods and services more affordable, promote job creation etc:
“If we Africans have a signal feature, it is that we specialize in devising private solutions to public problems. We are compelled to...From the ugly water tanks on house after house even in the most posh residential neighborhood…to the growing number of school age children herding livestock in rural villages during school hours…Shoddy public utilities mean that we all have to be at least partially self sufficient in water and power…Retirees with meager incomes…do as their parents did three quarters of a century ago; they send their kids into the fields with animals…So the point you need to get across to the average man and woman is that a vote for you is a vote for a party that will seek public solutions to public problems.”
As regards washing off tribal prejudices, things take a more personal turn as the party’s top brass (all from different ethnic communities) talk about where their tribal prejudices emerged and it is discovered that the “apathy, paralysis and easily-ignited blind rage” resulting from ethnic-based clashes had been exploited by past and present regimes to keep focused, progressive opposition divided:
“After that things got more personal. We talked about tribalism and what it has meant to each of us as individuals. We lamented the many conversations that had been ruined, friendships hijacked by ethnically insensitive remarks…And each story was tinged not only with anger and bitterness, but also with a strong determination to hold on to that which had been ridiculed – be it foreskin, skin tone, head size, lip size, teeth angle, accent, whatever – and in doing so remain true to the tribe…talking about it helped. We laughed a lot.”
The final punch the book drives home is how the country’s loss can eventually be the beginning of its liberation, as with individuals. The loss of Luka’s father eventually leads to his getting a fresh burst of life and hope through the small gains his party makes in the course of the general elections. The same probably rings true in Kenya. The apparent loss of our lives and freedoms since independence right through to the 2007 Post-Elections violence and beyond should propel a desire to change the status quo, to speak out and oppose injustice and to strive towards the sanitization of our democratic space and rights. And as many have said before, if we see little value in the lives already lost or wasted, then perhaps more should be lost until the point sinks home.
Steven Were Omamo wonderfully crafts the novel for quick, enjoyable reading (being only 160 pages long) despite all the amazing perspectives and raw facts on how to spark Africa’s socio-political renaissance. There are lots of quintessential Kenyan anecdotes and funny incidents to make you laugh along the way to the back cover as well. I dare say that this book is more relevant to the country now than when it was published 13 years ago! There is a sense of political awareness building up right across the board and there still is a lingering question on our minds that remains unanswered: What if the PEV of 2007 had raged on? This book adds further questions – what if it had raged on to the point of secession? As we proceed to another election period soon, do any of the political parties in place come close to resembling the impressive set up of Luka Sollo’s PNN party? Good thing is that the book not only poses vital questions but also suggests much needed solutions as well. The views expressed here are not utopian but realistic ones alive to the unique challenges the African continent is faced with. Everybody should read it as soon as possible.
PS: Now, to my knowledge, copies of this book are very scarce indeed. I could only trace a single physical copy on sale on Amazon. That is why the review is as lengthy and quote-laden as it is – so that as many people as possible get the gist of the book. However, the author may be contacted via his LinkedIn page or the email address provided in the book: swomamo@yahoo.com to discuss getting copies of the book on order.
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