Closely referring to Professor Kimani in Fathers of Nations, write an essay to show how one problem can lead to another.
Occasionally, we encounter challenges in life. Often, a single problem can cascade into several others. In Fathers of Nations, Professor Kimani experiences a chain of difficulties that appear to emerge sequentially from one initial issue.
The global economic downturn results in reduced salaries for academics like Karanja Kimani. The reforms recommended by external donors bring harsh implications, sometimes triggering further complications. Members of parliament, who once earned less than professors, now accumulate wealth exponentially, often a hundred times higher than university lecturers. While academics’ earnings remain taxable, MPs enjoy exemptions. Kimani laments these disparities to his daughter while sharing a meal at an inexpensive restaurant. Unlike MPs such as Walomu, who possess multiple vehicles, Kimani can afford only a worn-out Toyota. He also faces mounting pressure from his wife, who urges him to leave teaching for a more lucrative career. Clearly, one problem sets the stage for another.
Kimani’s financial struggles inadvertently contribute to the tragic death of his daughter, Tuni. She requests to borrow her father’s car, which Asiya dismisses as a decrepit old Toyota. The request frustrates Kimani, leaving him embarrassed and struggling to offer an excuse. With the car out of service until his next salary, he feels trapped. Once admired as a young, promising man, he is now likened to his aging car—going nowhere. Asiya even suggests he follow Newborn, a colleague with four cars, to greener pastures. Tuni opts for a public minivan, only to suffer a fatal accident. For six months, her parents remain inconsolable. Asiya blames Kimani, asserting that Tuni might have survived if he had a better vehicle. Evidently, one problem can spark another.
Following Tuni’s passing, the emotional strain in Kimani’s marriage intensifies. The parents grieve together for six months, yet the sorrow eventually shifts to marital tension. Asiya develops resentment toward Kimani. Any attempt at intimacy is met with recoil. He is compelled to avoid her, and their communication dwindles to nods and silent gestures. Her persistent gloominess escalates until she finally declares her decision to leave Professor Kimani. Once more, a problem leads to another.
Financial instability and the loss of their daughter culminate in the dissolution of Kimani’s marriage. Asiya Omondi, his wife of over three decades, abandons him within six months of Tuni’s demise. She accepts Newborn Walomu’s proposal. Previously, she had suggested Kimani quit teaching for a more rewarding career, reopening old wounds by contrasting him with Newborn’s wealth. Kimani questions whether Asiya is motivated by money, yet finds no solace in her reply. Despite his attempts to persuade his 60-year-old wife to stay, she departs the following morning.
Even after marrying Asiya, Newborn exacerbates Kimani’s humiliation. Considered an adversary, Kimani labels him a greedy fat baboon. Confronting Newborn about the stolen spouse, he questions the value of Asiya to both of them. Newborn taunts him, citing statistics on spouse-stealing from international studies and mockingly claiming “old is gold” for Asiya. Unable to endure the ridicule, Kimani swings at Newborn three times, missing each attempt, and loses balance. The scuffle results in both men being arrested. Here, one problem clearly leads to another.
The altercation with Newborn ultimately results in Kimani’s arrest and demotion. After Asiya leaves him, he challenges Newborn physically, but this confrontation leads to legal consequences. Charged with assaulting a member of parliament, Kimani serves six months in prison, emerging deeply dejected. Subsequently, he is demoted from professor to senior lecturer. Having joined the University of Nairobi as a senior lecturer after studying at Oxford, and successfully implementing several radical reforms, Kimani had married Asiya and achieved professional prominence. However, with his wife gone, his arrest and demotion leave his career in ruins, and he contemplates leaving teaching altogether.
In conclusion, when difficulties arise, they often accumulate. Professor Kimani’s experiences in Fathers of Nations illustrate how one issue can trigger a series of subsequent problems, creating a cascade of challenges that compound the original hardship.