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Heroes

As I listen to Nassir's Jones “Hero” which goes something like
Hate Him or Love Him
for the same reason
Can't leave it
The game needs him,
Plus the people need someone to believe in(this)
So In God's Son we trust
Cause they know I'm gonna
give 'em what they want
They looking for … a hero
I guess that makes me … a hero


it brings a feeling of Deja Vu.Like the three dumb pigeons in “Bolt” the movie, I will ask, “Haven't I heard that song somewhere in the news?” And everyone will shake their heads and tell me that I must be dreaming.

Again, as I sit down and watch a pirated version of “Heroes”, an American TV Drama, it keeps me wondering about the above. The connection, if you might wonder, between the two is that “Heroes”, is about people with super powers, and who use them to save other people, thus becoming heroes. But before they became heroes, they used their powers for evil purposes, thus in every Hero is a villain.

In case you have already forgotten, I was talking about the local news, and someone been a hero. Indeed I have not been dreaming. In the last couple of days, a hero has been walking around, telling people how some few “haters” somewhere had plotted to bring him down. I bet he must already be writing a best-seller, telling of how enemies tried to taint him with missing billions, murdered people, missing bags of maize amidst a hunger crisis and a myriad of other claims. He will tell us how he ended walking out of the sewer hole smelling of frankincense; how people hate him or love him for the same reason, why the political game needs him. He will tell us how people really need someone to believe in, with all the accusations flying around, what he gives them. The conclusion of the best -seller will be how he ends up been hero.

He might be the hero we need to save us from all our trouble. With the economy deciding that it is the high time capital joined maize in scarcity, it might be a matter of time before those who used to throw your job application papers in the dustbin join you with their own sets. Matter of fact, some insiders claim that it has already started. Not counting the Gtv saga, a prominent communication company is rumored to have added more talent to the job seeking masses. It is said that the grass is only greener on one out of the four communication firms. It is been said that the other non-green communication firms are really in need of a “hero” , otherwise they might be pulling a Gtv on us.

“Pulling a Gtv” is a phrase used to describe a situation where you are left holding worthless decoders, satellite dishes(and maybe sim-cards soon) and where you made payments to parties that can no longer deliver.

Things have gone bad all over the world, with many corporates in the west pulling-a-Gtv. The situation has been spreading very quickly like a mismanaged fire on a supermarket shelf, with experts saying that Kenya has not yet caught the heat of things.

As for the USA, they are counting on the 'stimulus package' to be their hero. As for the corporates in Kenya, bringing in expatriates and copy-pasting marketing strategies from other developed markets does not necessarily work. Just because it worked in a loss making monopoly(KPLC) does not mean that it will work in other sectors. Maybe it is the high time to look for “hero” within Kenya, especially during this hard time. Also remember that the government here is busy establishing heroes” for its citizen, and therefore might not generate “a stimulus” bill as your hero.

As for you the reader, I hope that you have found your “hero”, if nor, hope that you find your hero in the course of the week. Remember that in most of our heroes, are villains.

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