I don’t know but I have been told that if you are not a part of the solution then you are part of the problem. I recently read a post by wacuka kariuki titled “I hope am wrong” (http://tabasamumonologues.com/2011/08/01/hello-world/) and good madam you are. Here is why.
2007 was a bad time for Kenya that I do not refute. Some regions of the country saw a series of senseless violence and bloody killings. Some were ethnically motivated, others were simple outrage at extreme levels of poverty and others a result of ganged criminals. Hundreds of lives were lost, immeasurable amount of property was destroyed, churches were burnt, children were orphaned, people crippled for life, families displaced and among others, faith for our country was lost.
The greatest damage, in my opinion, that an experience can do to a person, is to break their spirit.
Perhaps I am a bit too emotional on the issue but I am especially enraged when people draw comparisons between African countries and the west (as Wacuka does in her post). If the little history I know is anything to go by, Britain where I think the writer writes from was officially formed in 1707 when England and Scotland agreed to merge. That makes Britain over 300 years old. Kenya on the other hand is barely 50 years old and while this is not an excuse for any atrocities, it is a factor that must be carefully considered.
We are a relatively young republic economically and politically. It is not of help either that over the years we have had a pack of selfish, short-sighted and greedy leaders (as most of the western countries did at first). We are not a unique case, the early years (first 100) of most world democracies were characterized by high levels of corruption, assassinations, injustices and a lot of religious and politically motivated violence.
Yes progress is not as fast paced as we would like and our systems are unfair and slow. Democracy is not always the case and perhaps the saddest part; ignorance levels are high. But all this is new to us. Lets not forget that barely 100 years back we were a people depending on hunting and gathering, wearing nothing but leather loin clothes. All these matters are very new to us and we are working hard to learn.
Here is why you cannot even start to compare Britain and Kenya. In 1860, Britain opened its first public flushing toilet. About then we were still throwing our dead in the bushes. In 1877, London introduced its first public electric lighting. About then, few if any africans even had kerosene lamps. In 1891, Britain introduced free education for every child. About then, we still relied on apprenticeship on hunting and herding skills from our grandfathers.
The author of tabasamu monologues describes herself as a patriotic Kenyan but I beg to differ. Patriotism in simple terms means devotion to one’s own country and concern for its defense. Defense here does not necessarily mean physical or military defense. Rather, it means defense against slander, defense for our heritage, defense for our pride and our view in the outside world.
I have enough respect and sympathy for the victims of the Kenyan post election violence. Unlike the author of the tabasamu monologues, some of them are still internally displaced and live in camps (one of our biggest failures as a country). It is a sad affair of matters. It was wrong what happened in 2007. Whether solved or shelved, the PEV aftermath has not been the dominant issue in Kenya for the last four years or so. Development and progress has.
I would like to tell the author that we Kenyans have since moved on from our mistake. Since then, people embarked on reconciliation and re-building. Most of the displace people have been re-settled, towns have been rebuilt and businesses have since resumed. There has been a lot of progress since too. Kenya did not turn into a Somalia or a Sudan. The general spirit all around is that peace is good and progress is ongoing.
The "kanges" are still loud here but did you know that we now have regulations that limit the number of people that can be packed in a matatu and that they now have seatbelts. The preachers still preach in the buses and they now have more space to collect offerings as nobody stands in buses anymore.
The nights in "westy" are still carefree almost every night of the week but since you have been gone we now have drinking laws meant to reduce alcoholism and encourage productivity. The not so busy bodies that you referred to at kencom, ambassador &railways bus station have slightly reduced since we introduce the ‘kazi kwa vijana’ projects.
We still eat "mutura" but since you left we have embraced smokies and the smokie stands outnumber mutura stands in the estates. And it’s good because they are generally cleaner hence healthier. If this is not a move to the right direction then I don’t know what is. We are not London; we are a slow and progressive Kenya.
You referred to two documentaries one by David Mckenzie of CNN on the locked and forgotten and another on BBC on life in Kibera. This convinced you that coming home was not wise. But please kindly consider that Kenya is much bigger than Kibera slums and Mathare mental hospital. Kenya just like any other capitalistic society is a paradise like haven for the educated and those who know their way with money. And is this something to be ashamed of? I do not think so. Name me one capitalistic society in the world isn’t like that.
I happen to be a journalist student in Kenya and BBC and CNN are not exactly masters in matters Kenya. That they even found time to squeeze in a documentary or two on Kenya is surprising. Google if you will “media coverage of Africa” and you will see that the first few pages of your search will be about how unfair the western media coverage of Africa is unfair and one-sided. As one Kenyan journalist that I bet you are not familiar with would say “you simply cannot make this stuff up…”
Less than a month ago a few days to Christmas last year, there was an ebola scare at Kenyatta hospital (remember Kenyatta hospital? They are getting new cancer equipment by the way). The story was all over the news and the next day the threat was called off. It was a wrong diagnosis. The threat was called off and there was no need to be afraid. My mother who also happens to be in the diaspora, called me worried for days on end after that. The media houses in the states where she lives reported the case but apparently forgot to report when it was found not to be ebola. What she could not understand is how it could not have been Ebola when CNN (or whatever international media house that carried the story) had told her it was.
In an article by Melissa sharp about the western media coverage of Africa she says western media portrays the image that Africa is broken and it is the western world’s duty to help fix it…the general public needs to be wary of reporting on Africa…
Here is some advice for you Wacuka, every once in a while switch off your BBC and CNN and watch a little of Kenyan TV, read a Kenyan paper and you will see the much good that is happening here. Multinational and national companies are fighting for space in Kenya providing employment for thousands. Art is getting a bigger platform than it ever has. Our education level is going up, as a matter of fact kids are now using slippers to copy exams.
Music is beautiful and young people are making money and bettering their lives. Corruption is slowly but surely being fought. People are more informed and vocal about their rights. We have a new constitution that’s promising to change things, hell we are even saying counties now. We are making better TV shows, building super highways and kicking al shaabab’s asses.
 |
| yaaay! New Constitution |
One thing I have always admired about the westerners is the amount of faith and trust that they have in their systems. Growing up I was told to always appreciate what I have and work to make it better rather than covet what my neighbor did. If we only showed a bit more faith and commitment to our systems then we would be unstoppable. Fuck the corrupt leaders, the government is you and you and me. Blabbering and bad-mouthing will not help. Change at a personal level will.
This is an election year and yes it is true that there might be a repeat of 2007 or even worse but what are you doing about it? Unfortunately, not everyone in Kenya can run away to Britain or wherever. It is up to all of us to preach the message of peace and tolerance and to break from mental manipulation by political leaders. It is time for us to stand and show solidarity and belief in our country and its beautiful people.
Oh and Wacuka you can go to Kenya. No one is slashing and maiming the other at the airport. Neither are they doing it in the Nairobi and upcountry streets…at least not yet. Forget about the documentaries if you are of sound mind you will not have to go to Mathare. Also, If you have been working hard wherever you are, you will not have to go to Kibera either unless if it’s to help. If your papers are in order, no one will prevent you from leaving. Your pessimism is imagined, You will not be in danger here.
Your concerns while touching, are invalid. We are not a collapsing nation. We just have our fair share of troubles like the rest of the world. Only we can make it fail. Grab your panga, your jembes, your micropohones or whatever tool you use for your trade and lets make this nation work.
The Kenyan glass is half full…not half empty.
That is why you see the resilience in those eyes, but it could also be a narcotic substance...i don't know.
No comments:
Post a Comment