Betrayal in the City

There are no characters in the play that have not experienced some version of betrayal. Every citizen of Kafira has been betrayed by its president, who does nothing to improve their lives. Doga and Nina are betrayed when their innocent son is killed. Kabito is betrayed by Mulili. Boss is betrayed by everyone who participates in the play. Mosese is betrayed by Nicodemus. The play presents a dizzying array of deception, underscoring the idea that when a populace cannot trust its government, real change is almost impossible. If trust and truth are the foundations from which all progress emerges, as Imbuga suggests, constant betrayal results in constant despair and paranoia. 

Imbuga lived in a century that saw a vast array of brutal African dictators whose corrupt actions stemmed from a desire to enrich themselves and to maintain power. His play illustrates that corruption can be hard to detect, since much of it happens during meetings, deals, and situations that the public will never hear of. Limiting access to information is an effective way to improve the odds of pursuing corrupt agendas without detection, even in countries where information flows freely.