It is the with great concern that Kenya has found herself in such a breath taking scenario, this was totally un expected and got nearly everyone by surprise, but what surprise? Kenya is one of the most un equal society when it comes to wealth distribution, and like the rest of Africa, Kenya young and energetic population is always left behind if not suppressed. This people who are people at there prime are completely un utilised and in the end so many dreams and aspiration are deferred to mere fighting for daily survival. This is hard reality that in deed the so called and fair election in Kenya has exposed.

The main challenge is how to even start addressing this? The naked truth is out there, mistrust is also hanging, the Kenyan institutions in ability are also puking and really stinks, the shame is too broad to un bare, the level of poverty is there on your face that makes it looks like a fiction! People turn on each other as if it was just another bad dream. We the young generation we are beginning to asks ourselves what went wrong? And how long has it been going on ? and why did we not see it coming?

Once I thought my country was very religious, now I knock my head and say haaa! It was religious how could I be so stupid? Knock knock! Anyway all is not lost, we have to keep how hopes a live and hope against hope there is some decent young , old , men and women out there who will bring sanity to our once beautiful country on earth and this Kenyans are you and me and definitely all of us. We have a mission and a vision that we don’t need to write but bring it close to our hearts and make it personal. KPAG we are a group of young Kenyans from all over Kenya encompassing nearly all tribes brought together with a collective aspiration of wanting to do something with our lives using arts and culture.

At time when our unity is been tested, it is even more urgent that we put our heads together as young Kenyans and show the world .. What?…. above all prove to the world our strength and our capacity to restrain from this vicious violence that has left a lot of many Kenyans worst than when they went for voting hoping that something could happen in the effect. We are not doing as if we don’t know what is happening, yes we are aware of what happen and we denounce it in the strongest terms possible! But the ball is in court and we have two choices shrew it or make the best out of it.

To understand the present government and Opposition or to put it in another form to understand the present opposition which is the government and the circles continues is something worth bringing to the theatre space which will still look absurd but is a good starting point of improvisation. So I urge all members of KPAG and ex-Members to be more sober towards this situation and above all preach peace and encourage dialogue using the tool we know best SHH!! ‘friends, Romans and fellow country men this is not a time to…we don’t want to miss this when we meet again and resume our normal classes. Hope to see you as soon as possible and keep the fire burning inside!

Daily Nation – Friday, September 1 – 2006
Interview: Elly Wamari (ewamari@nation.co.ke)

MY TAKE Odak Onyango
Founder of Kenya Performing Arts Group, which leaves the country at the end of September for a two month tour of the Netherlands.
An Actor and dancer, Odak also recently founded the Nairobi International Festival of the Arts (NIFTA), which is a five-day carnival of performances by local and foreign performing arts groups in selected parts of Nairobi. The inaugural NIFTA ended on August 26.
Odak is also a founder of the Factory Club where individuals and groups to present their acts to an audience every Friday at the Kenya Cultural Centre to gauge responses.
Would you panic if your pants dropped on stage?
Well, I would improvise something quickly and make it part of the act. It’s often advisable to be prepared for such odds. The “what if?” question is very important. Odd happenings do occur on stage sometimes. Even big actors drop in unexpected lines by mistake. The bottom-line is to make it appear very normal if that happens on stage.
What one thing would you change in the performing arts scene?
The high financial expectations that people often have. When I took the NIFTA idea around, I noted that people, though receptive of the concept, expected a lot of money in return. I understand that there is need to put bread on the table, but I also wish that in this field, people focus first on the long-term impact of their productions rather than what will be given to them.
How would you depict the present parliament in an act?
As a king in a big castle, who needs to come out to the masses in December and give out Christmas gifts. I have come to realise after NIFTA 2006, that to represent the majority is not the easiest thing, especially where there is a lot of expectations. But that does not mean that our parliaments should barricade themselves and then dish out little amounts of cash to their constituencies instead of coming up with long-term policies to address their problems.
Would you recommend dance as therapy to the heartbroken?
Yes. Go out and just dance. Even you, when you feel tired, just try dancing for a little while and you will realise how fresh you feel. By the way, dance is a universal communication media with which you can reach anybody. I think that within dance, there is so much dialogue.
The most outrageous role you’ve ever played is…
That of a henchman who would agree with whatever the boss said, and even add salt to statements made by the boss. People booed me for that. I look back and say I will never play such a role. I mean, I will never be a henchman in real life.
Your free time is taken up by…
My baby. I am a father of a little girl. She is four months now. She takes all my free time, and I love it!
What is least known about you?
Most of my peers don’t know my background. They don’t know that I was born in Mathare. Many people don’t know too, that I often expect to fail rather than succeed.
What urban dream will NIFTA achieve?
NIFTA’s theme (“Bridging the urban dream”) is actually about the millennium development goals. Placing the festival in slum areas and involving people there has the effect of drawing international attention to what goes on in those areas. After three NIFTA’s, I see a situation in which big talent from these poverty-stricken areas will eventually find beneficial international exposure as issues afflicting them get highlighted and possibly addressed. Don’t you think that, in itself, will bridge something?