As a child I loved my national anthem,
It asked the Lord to bless our land.
O God of all creation
Bless this our land and nation
And we prayed for justice and unity
Justice be our shield and defender
May we dwell in unity
Then we asked for Peace and liberty.
Peace and liberty
Plenty be found within our borders.
I am searching,
A traveler in search of peace.
I am on a journey,
To find this elusive virtue called peace.
I love my country,
But my country’s politicians doesn’t love me.
They brand me this tribe, and my friends the other.
And say all these things about our tribes,
Bad things, terrible things too.
I thought I was a Kenyan first,
And my tribe second.
I never really thought of my tribe,
Growing up in town with other children,
From other communities, the rainbow of our nation,
Nairobi is, a mix of culture and traditions and people.
I want an answer,
For why we let the politicians group us into tribal cocoons,
Leading us like sheep to slaughter?
Why do we let them,
Drive us apart with propaganda and stereotypes?
Then when it is time for justice,
Why do we cover for them,
Saying that other tribes are targeting ours.
My brothers, my sisters,
We are more then tribal peoples,
More then cultures or people from geographical regions.
We are a people bound together by love and duty to a country,
A country called Kenya.
Let us lay down our pangas and swords,
And the worst weapon, our sharp tongues.
Let us work together to build our land
Let us sing the national anthem and mean it,
Every word, line and stanza.
Let peace rein in this nation,
And then we shall all sing
Let one and all arise
With hearts both strong and true
Service be our earnest endeavour
And our homeland of Kenya
Heritage of splendour
Firm may we stand to defend.
Let all with one accord
In common bond united
Build this our nation together
And the glory of Kenya
The fruit of our labour
Fill every heart with thanksgiving.
