Havoc of choice is a book written by Wanjiru Koinange, also the author of Africa Voices
The book revolves around the choices that people make and later have consequences in their later lives, the consequences can either be positive or negative, depending on the outcome of the decision that was made by the bearer of the choice.
The book focuses on the long reach effects of colonialism and corruption that affects many countries of the Africa and mainly Kenya has the book has most of its setting in Kenya. And also the desperate experiences of class and clan they encapsulate.
To understand the roots of this spontaneous tests, organized conflicts and the figure out what healing looks like for the people of Kenya, that is highly related to the PEV. Wanjiru takes us through asking ourselves about the healing process that the Kenyans under went after the 2007 general election
The characters in the book, Karata who is the daughter of Hon. Muli
We ask ourselves the question of will Kavata and Ngugi ever pull out from the dark abyss and at least reconnect the jigsaw? Has Ngugi learnt his lesson? Will Kenya heal some day after the events that took place after the elections.
The characters in the book are so diverse and each had a pivotal point when they knew their lives were never going to be the same again- the diverse here can be seen as the different classes of people available in Kenya that are divided by the so called class, that make them not to treat each other as family but as a different thing all together.
The choices that caused havoc.
- Ngugi decides to vie for elective position that muli is vacating
- Kavata decides to leave Kenya and travel to USA without telling anybody making her husband to report her as missing
People are killed as a results of these decisions.
My biggest takeaway of the book, is how the author brings about hidden stories back to the people, like the 2007 election violence in Kenya, she uses this book to show the chronic amnesia that the Kenyans have in forgetting the events that might lead to either another violence or worse.
The amnesia and how it is relatable is how the author talks about the corruption where the characters of Muli is known but he still gets to groom Ngugi as his favorite choice for the parliamentary seat. This should show how Kenyans take keen on how their politicians think of leadership as a hierarchy that demands their views.
Again, the amnesia is Kenyans being aware of the corrupt leaders with a terrible and dirty records but still choose to turn a deaf ear on the signs
This is a must read book as it gives Kenyans something to read as the reflect on the choices they should make having in mind about the either positive and negative consequences. Also credits to the author for making the Kenyan almost-be genocide be known to the world, this is so because the events didn’t get the international media attention because
- The event happened during Christmas holidays and the media was on holiday
- The post-election violence was after the voting which always doesn’t get much attention
To get a copy of this book, you can buy online from: Nuria Store.