'kenyan'

i was at the department of immigration today to renew my passport. they sell them by the number of pages. something like 24, 32, 48 page options. with the 48 page passport costing a little over 4,000/-

a temporary permit (valid for one year within the EA community) can be purchased for 300/- with 2 passport pictures (costing 200/- for 4 at the booth behind the tent).

there is a man who checks the validity of your documents... he told a somali-kenyan with his 'son' in front of me to go to KRA to get verified, to which the man, upset, responded;

we're being segregated for being somali!
but i thought you said you were kenyan?
yes, somali-kenyan
sir, do you want to talk or do you want to be served?
i want to be served
then go to kra and get verified
but why didn't you send anybody else there? we are equal (he began to walk away) we are equal...

what is to be kenyan? when somalis, dubbed 'foreigners' are rounded up in eastleigh, when the nubians languish in kibera and we are tribesmen before countrymen?

what does it mean to have a blue passport, if you are required to give references, if privilege and education mean none the more responsibility but the opportunity for more wealth.

we fail each other. by not living up to what it should mean to be kenyan. by not starting out with being honourable.