Man Petitions Kenya's Parliament to Stop Using the Term 'Wanjiku'
A Mombasa resident has petitioned Parliament to cease using the term ‘Wanjiku’ to refer to Kenyans.
Bryan Omondi wants the August House to instead consider using the terms ‘Wakenya’ or ‘Kenyans’, arguing that the use of the word ‘Wanjiku’ to refer to ordinary citizens is unconstitutional.
He notes that it is inappropriate to use the phrase Wanjiku, a Kikuyu word while referring to Kenyans yet the country has over 43 tribes.
“Calling of Kenyans ‘Wanjiku’ in matters of national concern is biased, discriminatory, in bad faith, in bad taste and contravenes Chapter Four of the Bill of Rights on equality as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya, which you all swore to uphold, respect and protect,” Omondi says in his petition.
He adds: “I confirm that efforts have been made to have the matter addressed by relevant bodies, but they have failed to give a satisfactory response. I have approached activist Mutemi wa Kiama, and even some advocates from Kituo cha Sheria and all failed to give me a satisfactory response.”
He wants Parliament to look into his concern and consider adopting his recommendations.
The phrase ‘Wanjiku’ was coined by the later former President Daniel Arap Moi and is often used by politicians and lawyers to refer to Kenyans.
Comments (16)
Always thinking in shallow terms of tribes! Wacha upuzi wewe Omondo!
Omondi is going to court to waste money there while 95% of his tribe is starving in Nyanza! It is “Wanjiku” who will come to rescue them because they are too lazy to work. Hii Kenya yetu. Think about that simple fact!
After many years of of Omondi’s tribe throwing stones with an empty belly, Raila has realized that Wanjiku is supreme! He joined hands with Uhuru through a handshake so he share the National cake that is buttered in central kenya!
As a result of the handshake, nyanza has a stadium, good roads, railways, nice omena fishing decks by lake Victoria, a good Airport, etc! @ Omondi, you should thank Wanjiku for helping you out quiet deeply!
Remember Nyanza is land locked region! We can always stop Kenya airways from landing in kisumu! The helicopters you have right now collapse upon landing!
The chicken you take to kisumu in huge baskets from Nairobi come from Wanjiku! Even the urinated mattresses you put on top of buses are from Wanjiku.
Be kind to yourself @omondi because you need wanjiku more than Wanjiku needs you!
Oh! I didn't know the late Mo1 started the name...I think it is because he hated the communityso much, to the extent of faking a "tribal clashes" ethnic cleansing ritual to try to eliminate them from the Rift Valley. Ths was, besides trying all he could to seriously impoverish the remaining ones in Central and the rest of the country. Bure kabisa!!
We have two groups of people in Kenya.
The ELITES and WANJIKUS....WAKENYA..
THE RICH AND THE POOR MASSES.
IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
Omondi’s petition should have included other tribal names like Kenya which was coined from KIRIMA GIA KIRINYAGA by MAKABURU with some people claiming expired muuaji Kamau,a.k.a,KENYA(TTA) donated the name from his.Then NAIROBI-which is water in Maasai.Then all the names and buildings like JARAMOGI ODINDA UNIVERSITY,MOI RD,KENYATTA AVE,CASTRO RD etc must be removed.But some names like KENYATTA & MOI MORTUARY are proper for such people.Other mortuaries can be name after murderers Raila-CITY MORTUARY,Kabogo-KIAMBU,Wanjiru-CHIROMO.
Why so big hate of Kikuyu people? If Moi coined the name Auma and was later adopted by everybody as the name to refer to common Kenyans would it be a problem for you Omondi? Why are you against parliament using a Kikuyu name yet Kikuyu's are the ones who fought and died to liberate your parents who most likely were loyalists? Why call yourself Bryan which is a Caucasian name and not Onyango Omondi or Orengo which are Luo names? You seem to be suffering from some kind of inferiority complex. By the way are you circumcised boy Omondi? I don't think so. You need to ASAP. Once you are circumcised you will start to see things differently
It is really so naive to be myopic! Huyu omondi yuko shinda zake mwenyewe! Ou can hate a hand that feeds you but that hand does not care about you in the first place, but you can’t live without it. We build the it’s where you live burster! We are still feeding it 50 years after independence! Even we just called a new stadium Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium! Do you feel me?
Wanjiku is the equivalent of Jane Doe or John Doe in the US. We also have Joe six pack. Don't read too much into it.
I fully support this initiative but not for the reasons given. It is a matter of equality. The political class should not create labels of them versus everybody else. We are all citizens and we do not need any more labels. "Wanjiku" is on the same level as "ordinary citizens" or "watu wakaida" meaning others are extraordinary and can claim priviledges. When used by politicians "Wanjiku" simply denotes "others, them not us, the poor, the disempowered etc". However our Constitution calls us all Citizens, wananchi or wakenya. Any other label meant to create class distinctions are simply divisive and unnecessary.
I concur with the petitioner...why Wanjiku and not Atiena, Amina, Nafula or Cheptoo. Imagine referring to Americans as Latashas or Bridgittes..
Well Seneca, may I introduce you to Karen, Becky and Chad and of course Joe Blow. Moi had no love lost for Mūmbi's descendants so I wouldn't presume he used Wanjiku to elevate her or her fellow aGīkūyū.
Why are these Kikuyus claiming that they feed Omondi? From what I know, they probably take away Omena that's meant for akina Auma na Omondi. No wonder samaki prices are cheaper in Thika than Kisumu.
Moi also used every Tom Dick Harry. Onjiko sounds ok too. Mwananchi is more appropriate. Commoner, the poor, common man, mnyanyaswa, bottomer, grassrooter, hustler etc
Omondi,would it make any difference if Atieno or Adhiambo were adopted?
You can only understand the violation and misuse of the name ONLY if your name is Wanjiku. They portray Wanjiku as a person who has all the country’s problems and is in dire need for “Serikali nisaidie”. Mr Omondi should petition to change from using Wanjiku and instead use Atieno.