The Flowing Awash

Kenya

3 min read

Washed away with Ethiopian aura and a soft political detour.

NAIROBI, Kenya, February 1, 2024/-- Kenyan food is African food. Is Africa a country? Yes, in Kenya, Africa is a country. Or to be precise in Kenya there is little Africa in every corner of the country. And to be more precise there’s a little African town in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.

Last Sunday in my search for the best beans, arabica coffee beans, I landed at Awash Ethiopian restaurant. Awash named after the mighty Awash River, which is Ethiopia’s principal river is off Mbagathi Road. A road named after Mbagathi River, which is key to the Nairobi National Park, and has a very rich history.

Tucked away in the quiet and peaceful Golf Course Estate along Mbaruk Road, an old bungalow ushers you into the main dining space located at the rear. Basically, the space is a light space. A light construction accommodating a freeing and airy aura. The simplicity in the flow of space, the lush landscaping, and Rastafarian colours compounds to the serenity of the space.

Awash Ethiopian Restaurant courtyard

Oozing culinary excellence

As I have reiterated in my past musings, beyond the food, I am all for the ambiance. However, it has started hitting me that in such authentic traditional food joints, people are here for the food! Food first, then aura next.

Awash is flooded with fine and colourful platters. Seated a few metres away from me, I couldn’t help but overhear a table of three exchange students enjoying this food with spicy flavours busting in their mouths. I kind of believe if a person of Indian descent gives a resounding approval of your spicy food, you must be right?

What did I have?

As earlier said, I was here for the beans. (Remember, good coffee is all about the beans.) So, I had a cup of coffee. Simple without the descriptive or distinctive naming (branding). However, it had a caffeine punch that the waiter had promised. From the serving in a colourful ceramic cup, and the coffee chit-chat, I knew this was what I had bargained for.

They also have a reasonably priced coffee ceremony which I will have to one day bring some friends to partake. Though I was tempted to grab the injera with a platter alongside. I was dining solo thus couldn’t enjoy the fulfilling offerings, and was also waiting for someone in the vicinity.

To end this food entanglement, the staff are hospitable and knowledgeable of their menu offerings, and in particular Cyrus who served me. Bon appetit!

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Hawa Vijana!

Let's take a detour. A soft political detour. In the recent weeks, the Kenyan political scene has been hot with discontent. That was displayed in political gatherings around the country, and the moving protests at violence against women.

I wish to narrow down on one demographic that appears the fuel to this engine. And maybe the real engine of this blooming movements. Like clockwork, the youth. But a certain subset of this youth, Gen Zs.

Hawa Vijana are a driving force that will change the fabric of the Kenyan society, and their first entry will be political. Conveniently, politics is the low-hanging fruit and has the lowest barrier of entry compared to other avenues of societal change or “reform” in Kenya. There exists an overlooked vacuum; and you know what nature abhors?

For brevity purposes, this generation feels purely alienated or marginalized to contextualize their plight. By who? Everyone, not the current global realities, not their religious leaders, not the government, and also not their own parents.

They have channeled this apathy to a power. A potent “I Don’t Care” approach, which can have mileage if your look at many of their aspirations and their size, demographic-wise. A ticking-time-bomb. A latent vapour that can turn to a wave without notice.

Tufanye Nini? People of reason in Kenya who wield the requisite power and influence should address this. The old rule books ought to be updated to accommodate this demographic, lest you be caught flat-footed in the next polls. No matter how unique they are, the measures to address them are ubiquitous. If you are lucky enough, ask the people running the social media companies their insights.

Have a fantastic February!

By Phineahs Munene

email feedback to phineahs [at] wazomoja.com

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