The 'Majuu' Syndrome: Kenya's Obsession with the West

Azimio spokesman Makau Mutua provides insightful observations regarding the perception of one nation by another and how citizens express their sentiments.

He castigates the derogatory remarks made by US President Donald Trump about Black and African states. In contrast, Mutua notes that Americans often express great admiration for Kenya, particularly its hospitality, wildlife, and the allure of African safaris. However, he is perplexed by the self-denigrating worship exhibited by Kenyan visitors to America. While curiosity and marvel about another civilization are normal, he finds submissiveness before another culture a form of self-humiliation.

Mutua questions the "majuu" terminology Kenyans use to describe the United States, a Sheng word loosely translated as "up there" or "heavens, the skies." This term, he explains, originates from the use of aeroplanes to reach America. He cites a recent spat between Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and CNN journalist Larry Madowo over the deplorable state of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Murkomen's reaction, telling Madowo not to badmouth his native Kenya simply because he now lives in "majuu," prompts Mutua's loud laughter. He laments the perception of the "superiority" of "majuu" over "machini" (Kenya).

Mutua asserts that Kenyans have a significant problem of externalizing their ambitions, believing that nothing good comes from their country. This manifests in the importation of fake goods and the veneration of the West despite limited knowledge about those countries. He decries the worship of whiteness and the betrayal of Kenyan football, with even illiterate villagers rooting for English Premier League teams instead of supporting local teams.

Mutua criticizes the labelling of African languages as "vernacular," equating it to a derogatory term. He advocates for teaching Kenyan history and culture in schools as a proud heritage, citing the example of iconic writer Ngugi wa Thiong'o who is often castigated for writing in Gikuyu. Mutua contrasts this with other nations that take pride in their native languages and highlights how Tanzanians exhibit greater national pride than Kenyans. He attributes this to the nation-building efforts of Julius Nyerere while condemning the "tribal" society perpetuated by Jomo Kenyatta.

Finally, Mutua says that Kenyan visitors to the US engage in what he terms "visitor-picture pornography." He disputes the practice of Kenyans posting pictures of themselves with huge smiles upon arriving at American airports, seeking to showcase their arrival in "heaven." He also condemns the impersonation of professionals such as nurses posing as doctors as a criminal act. Mutua calls for an end to this "picture pornography" and urges Kenyans to stop being "coconuts" – black on the outside but white inside.