FROM JOMO KENYATTA: A SIMPLE STORY OF JUSTICE AND PEACE

Introducing a little shift today, I present the voice of President Jomo Kenyatta as he tells us a simple story of justice and peace in the Jungle which I find fascinating and full of meaning. The story was retold by Mathew Hassan Kukah in 2004 in a paper presented at a Commomwealth Conference at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

THE GENTLEMAN OF THE JUNGLE

A man built his house. An elephant came and demanded if he could find a place to shelter his trunk from the rain. The man conceded, but the elephant went on to eject the man from the house. Commotion ensued and the Lion appeared on the scene to find out what was happening. When the lion heard the case, he suggested that a Panel be set up to investigate the matter. The Panel, made up of the Buffalo, Rhinoceros, Fox, and Hyena were called in to listen to the case and
make recommendations. The Panel decided to take evidence from the Man who had been evicted from his house. Unfortunately, in the process of hearing the man’s evidence, the animals in the Panel decided that it was better to save time so the case was struck out on the grounds that the man had not confined himself to the facts of the case and there were inconsistencies in his account.

The animals retired to the house of the Elephant for a meal and also to write their final Report and make recommendations. After the meal, they then delivered their judgement: In our minds, you tried to make a case, but it lacked merit. However, in sympathy, we give you another space to build yourself a new house.


Fearing the animals and some repercussion, the man did not appeal but quietly went ahead to put up another building. He had barely finished building when the Rhinoceros moved in. The charade about justice and a Panel continued with the same judgement offering him a new piece of land. Convinced of the injustice, the man decided that his new house would have to be the last house he would build. This time, he built a grand house that was better than anything he had ever built. No sooner had he finished than, predictably, all the Kings of the Jungle, Lion, Elephant, Fox, mainly the various members of who sat on the Panels regarding his case, moved into the new house.

Each wanted the beautiful house for him. But they soon got involved in a fight as to who would own the house. While they quarrelled and argued inside the house, the man stepped out and set the house on fire, thus burning down all his tormentors, the so called Kings of the jungle! Surveying his burnt house and his oppressors, the man said: Peace is costly, but it is worth the expense.

JOMO KENYATTA, Frist President of Free Kenya, Author of the book: Facing Mount Kenya

Millions, most probably billions who walk this earth are in a daily quest for justice that seems ever elusive, and peace that seems to behave like the fairy who never really stays around. Gone are the days when this struggle was only for Africans, South Americans and Asians alone- It is now Ubiquituous.