Episode 5:The AGDA Calls in Fathers of Nations KCSE Revision Guide
The AGDA Call in Fathers of Nations
Pastor Chineke Chiamaka, one of the four strangers at the Seamount Hotel, receives a mysterious phone call from a man called “the guide” from the Agency for Governance and Development in Africa (AGDA). This call reveals secrets about the summit and shows how AGDA manipulates people to push its agenda. For KCSE students, this episode is important for understanding themes like secrecy, manipulation, and the struggle for Africa’s future. This post simplifies the AGDA call events to help you revise for your exams.
The Call to Pastor Chiamaka
At 9:00 p.m., a mobile phone rings in the west wing of the Seamount Hotel. Pastor Chineke Chiamaka answers. The caller, who calls himself “the guide,” works for AGDA. He wants to check if Pastor Chiamaka has opened the briefcase he was given. The pastor confirms he has seen:
A letter from AGDA: This introduces AGDA’s mission to influence the summit.
Way Omega: A development plan created by 20 African Nobel laureates to end Africa’s problems. The heads of state are supposed to discuss it at the summit.
Path Alpha: AGDA’s rival plan, which they believe is better than Way Omega. AGDA wants to secretly replace Way Omega with Path Alpha.
Leaflets, pamphlets, and brochures: These are AGDA’s materials to promote their ideas.
A mobile phone: The phone Pastor Chiamaka is using, given by AGDA to control communication.
The guide orders Pastor Chiamaka to study both Way Omega and Path Alpha carefully. He tells him to keep the phone on at all times because he will call again, sometimes without warning, but only using this number. The pastor must talk freely when called.
Revision Tip: Note how AGDA controls Pastor Chiamaka through the phone and briefcase. This shows the theme of manipulation, a common KCSE topic.
The Guide’s Secrecy and Anger
Pastor Chiamaka asks for the caller’s name, but the guide gets angry. He says the pastor doesn’t need to know his name because he will always call first. When the pastor keeps asking questions, the guide shouts, “Shut up!” and orders him to obey without arguing. Scared, Pastor Chiamaka agrees to follow orders.
The guide says they are on the same mission, but it’s at a “delicate stage,” so he won’t share his name or show his face. He tells the pastor to call him “the guide” and to trust him because the AGDA letter says so. The pastor, still unsure, submits to the guide’s authority.
Revision Tip: For KCSE, link the guide’s secrecy to the theme of mistrust. Why does AGDA hide the guide’s identity? This could be an exam question about secrecy or power.
The Bar Incident
The guide shocks Pastor Chiamaka by saying he saw him at the Seamount Hotel’s bar drinking a Pepsi. This makes the pastor suspicious—how does the guide know where he was? He fears the guide might be dangerous, like an “invisible executioner.” Feeling guilty, the pastor apologizes for being at the bar and promises not to go again. The guide’s knowledge shows AGDA is watching the pastor closely.
Revision Tip: The bar incident highlights surveillance and control. Use this example in essays about how AGDA manipulates characters like Pastor Chiamaka.
Other Calls at the Seamount Hotel
At 11:00 p.m., more phones ring at the Seamount Hotel, showing AGDA is contacting others:
South Wing: Comrade Ngobile Melusi, a Zimbabwean activist, answers a call.
East Wing: Professor Karanja Kimani, a Kenyan academic, takes a call.
North Wing: Engineer Seif Tahir, a Libyan engineer, responds.
These calls suggest AGDA is working with all four strangers, each with a role in their secret plan to influence the summit. The novel doesn’t reveal what the others are told, but it builds suspense about AGDA’s mission.
Revision Tip: For KCSE, compare the four characters (Chiamaka, Melusi, Kimani, Tahir). How do their backgrounds (pastor, activist, professor, engineer) relate to AGDA’s plan? This could be an exam question on characterization.
The significance of this episode
The AGDA call chapter is key because it shows the following themes:
Secrecy: The guide’s identity is secret and he secretly watches pastor Chiamaka, creating mistrust.
Manipulation: The guide controls Pastor Chiamaka with fear and orders, showing how powerful groups influence people.
Conflict: Way Omega vs. Path Alpha represents the fight over Africa’s future, a central issue at the summit.
Irony: The summit is meant to help Africa, but AGDA’s secret plans suggest corruption and betrayal.
For revision, focus on Pastor Chiamaka’s fear and obedience. Think about how AGDA’s actions reflect bad leadership and hidden agendas, which connect to the novel’s title, Fathers of Nations.
Sample KCSE Questions to Practice:
How does Paul B. Vitta use the calls from the guide to show the theme of manipulation in Fathers of Nations?
Discuss the role of secrecy in this episode
Explain how Pastor Chiamaka’s interaction with the guide reflects the novel’s criticism of leadership.
Revision Tip: Make notes on themes (secrecy, manipulation, irony) using examples from this chapter. Practice writing short essays with clear points, examples, and explanations to prepare for KCSE.
