Just like every village has its mad man, every Kenyan Party in Stockholm has its “fracas dudes”. A prominent Kenyan businessman was last Saturday beaten senseless at a Kenyan Party that had been organized by M.A.D (Making A Difference). The fracas has left Wakenya who witnessed the action “breathless”, not because some Wakenya were getting even but because of the profile of one of the personalities who was in the blue corner.
KSB top brass were attending another Party in Stockholm that was hosted by the “Strategic Bloggers Initiative (SBI)” but a junior staff member was posted at the Party “to hold brief” just in case something dramatic came up. It didn’t take time.
Punde si punde, it appeared as though an argument broke out between the protagonists which included the Kenyan businessman. When we sifted through the details, it appeared like the argument was about a romantic quagmire that has been running for a very long time and that involved several personalities who will not be named here.
At the center of the problem was a Kenyan lady related to the businessman. Music was booming and at first, it did not look like a war would soon break out. But, according to eye witnesses who have filled in vital gaps, the argument reached a stage where the Kenyan businessman could no longer take it.
The next thing that happened was that the guy who was arguing with the businessman got slapped on the cheek (very hard) by the businessman. What Wakenya did not know is that the guy under attack might have been a fun of KSB and therefore, might have leant the importance of “not turning the other cheek” to be wasted. Instead of hitting the businessman on the other cheek as is the rule of the game, he went even further.
He delivered an upper cut then swung a much more heavier lower cut as the crowd began to gather to enjoy the show. Interestingly, nobody tried to get in between during the opening stages because, according to an eye witness, “everybody really wanted the action to continue”.
The businessman then struck back with a rabbit punch (punch around the neck) but the Mkenya neutralized the attack with a bolo punch (you shtua but you don’t hit) which got the opponent off the mark. He then rained several powerful blows on the face, much to the amusement of the audience.
“I saw several jabs and hooks mainly on the face as people moved even closer to cheer”, a contact told KSB. When Wakenya declared the guy the “winner”, the businessman was “drenched in blood” and according to one female observer, “it was like a major bloodbath”. “I have never seen anything like that before”, she told KSB and sounded very devastated.
The businessman is not known to be a violent person and Wakenya could not figure out how he swung a slap at the guy without any physical provocation. By the time the guy was being declared the “Interim champion” of the match, the businessman was bleeding profusely mainly from the nostrils.
INDIVIDUAL VIOLENCE TO SORT OUT DISPUTES IS UNACCEPTABLE
The exact extent of the damage could not immediately be established because after the fight, the businessman dashed to his car and drove off. Someone was heard saying that “It is good that KSB Crew have not been here”. But the damage had been done because apart from a regular staffer, several KSB spies were present.
What now remains is the aftermath as Wakenya enter into a period of analysis. A series of questions immediately begin to flow. How could this have happened at a party that was organized in the name of Kenyan teen-agers? Wasn’t there security at the Party and if no, then why? How comes that siku hizi, when Wakenya are getting even, people just watch? In any case, how could the businessman, who is well known in Stockholm, have started a fight which ended in such a mess? How could things have been left to go this far?
KSB sympathizes with the situation because the incident was an indication that for some Wakenya, sorting things out physically is still the preferred option as opposed to discussions. There was romance in the air, an aspect of the conflict which made it even more personal. A mature person would expect that such conflicts be sorted out privately, away from the public eye. Even if the matter exploded in public, fist fighting is the crudest way of trying to reach a settlement.
There is a view that the guy who was under attack has had to put up with a lot of crap in the past and that on this particular day he had been “pushed up to the wall” and that this is why he became wild. Be that as it may, what example are elderly Wakenya giving the young ones when they begin to spill blood at a place which is supposed to be for merry-making and relaxation after a week of labour?
KSB believes that Wakenya in Stockholm should discourage physical violence as a way of settling disputes because it is too animalistic. This incident was not the first one and only God knows if it is the last one. There is something called “the sense of reason” and if it doesn’t work, why not call in a mediator or just call it quits?
All civilized Wakenya should come up and condemn this kind of violence regardless of the circumstances. We are not going to assume the role of Judge here. Regardless of who was right and who was wrong, the violence that was witnessed at Alby especially by people who should be respected in our society is shameful by any stretch of the imagination.
Without going into the nitty-gritty of the major issues which precipitated the fight, we say “enough is enough”. Individual violence within our community as a way of sorting out disputes is unacceptable and should not be condoned by any Mkenya who claims any level of civility.
Okoth Osewe
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