The Outstater

November 23, 2023

Thanksgiving in Kenya

GRANTED, I MAY NOT KNOW what is expected of a modern governor these days. Somehow, though, I didn’t think it would involve traveling to Kenya for Thanksgiving.

What’s he doing in Kenya? Well, the governor, his wife and entourage are visiting Indiana National Guard troops there. Whoa, now I’m really confused. What is our National Guard doing in Kenya?

The governor doesn’t answer my calls so I’m working off a clipping from the Center Square news service. I can’t vouch for the accuracy. Indeed, it would be a relief to learn that the news service has gotten things mixed up.

It is certain about one thing: The governor is not paying for the trip; the National Guard is picking up the tab. That is supposed to make us feel better.

The only African country that celebrates what could be called Thanksgiving is Liberia. It marks when freed American slaves founded the country in 1822 and takes place on the first Thursday of November.

In Kenya, the biggest holiday is Jamhuri Day, Dec. 12, the date when Kenya obtained its independence from Great Britain. This is remembered along with the Mau Mau uprising in which Kenyans threatened to hack to death all white Europeans on whom they could get their hands.

But back to the Kenya trip.

The governor’s news release explains that the core National Guard mission is to “serve us at home in urgent times.” So what happens if Indiana suffers one of those urgent times while the governor and National Guard are in Camp Simba, Kenya, 8,000 miles away?

Searching the Guard’s website, you find this: “The distribution of soldiers, equipment and facilities across the state allows the National Guard to respond quickly and efficiently to emergencies statewide.”

Again, it’s not going to be all that quick if they have to haul everything back from Kenya.

There’s more: “The Indiana Army and Air National Guard are reserve components of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. During times of national emergency (war), National Guard members may be called into active federal service by the President of the United States.”

Are we at war with Kenya for some reason? Does Barack Obama know about this?

Wait, my copydesk tells me that there are 2,382 Kenyans in Indiana. Did they go back to Kenya with the governor for Thanksgiving? If so, why? I would assume that if they are thankful it is for being here and not there. I may be wrong about that.

No matter. The governor will clear all this up on his return.

Happy Thanksgiving. — tcl

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