by Canon Francis Omondi

The Moi tree bore strange fruit.

You will know them by their fruits.

Do men gather grapes of thorns?

Or figs of thistles?  (Matt. 7:16)

 

Blood on the runways and blood on the walls.

Brutal blows; screams; coerced confessions:

Bulging prisons; fleeing citizens.

Strange fruit hanging from the Nyayo tree.

 

The irritating wind blowing our streets.

Swollen heads; broken limbs; fire red eyes;

Chocking cries ring the chaotic streets.

Fimbo ya Nyayo.

The Moi tree bore strange fruit.

Smoking fields, and smouldering houses,

The valley is not home again.

Bulging streets with homeless families;

While they say, lie envelop low.

 

The men they croon; and the children chant:

The Nyayo songs, our new must tune!

 

Every good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,

Neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit,

Is hewn down and cast into the fire. (Matt.7:19)

 

Wherefore by their fruit, ye shall know them. (Matt. 7:20)

The Moi tree also bore strange fruit.