WOMAN ENSLAVERY

KENYA’S IS A MORAL PROBLEM

L

et me take this opportunity to say that I am  one of the Kenyans who has been longing to see Kenya taking remarkable strides towards prosperity. However, reading Francis Imbuga’s Betrayal in the city, as a Kenyan you easily identify with one of the of the disillusioned characters Mosese Wa Tonga who says, ‘It’s better while we waited. Now we have nothing to look forward to. We have killed our past and now we are busy killing our future'. In the play the people of Kafira had waited with anticipation for independence with the hope that things will change to the better. Unfortunately the fictitious post independent Kafira state was still bedevilled with corruption, arbitrary deaths, nepotism, tribalism, incompetence, negligence of duty etc. Could this be Kenya 50 years after independence?

 Why is Kenya not making remarkable strides in development 50 years after independence? Just how did countries like Singapore rise to be one of the world’s biggest economies today? 50 years, ago Singapore was undeveloped with a GDP of less than $320 per capita. Today its GDP per capita has remarkably risen to $ 60,000. It’s now the sixth world largest growing economies. Just how did this happen in a span of  50 years?

Though some of regulations in Singapore may appear draconian see what it done to them. The penal system is tough, and the death penalty is enforced, mostly for drug offences. It is estimated that about 400 people have been hanged since 1991. Singapore has zero tolerance to corruption. All corruption cases whether white collar or blue collar are strictly charged in the court. Singapore also invested in a housing model that largely  killed ethnic notion. A flat had to be inhabited by the Chinese, the Malay and the Indians so that each one would think as a Singaporean. That state also invested in courtesyo : one of the very integral pillars in nation building. Just one decade after independence Singapore had dealt with the problem of unemployment, housing, education among others.

Today Singapore has been rated as the place with the lowest crime rate, the easiest place to do business, one of the least corrupt states, one of the richest, has the lowest drug abuse among others. Singaporeans have attributed this success to the leadership of Lee, who was the first  prime minister  and led for three decades, and set this country on the path of prosperity.

A moral problem

I am convinced beyond doubt that our problem as Kenya is not economic or lack of resources thereof. Ours is a moral a moral problem.Our country is among the most endowed. We have massive natural resources and bless God we just stumbled on the black gold. We have a  good climate, an educated young populace, freedom of press, ethnic diversity, peace (at least we are not on each other’s throat), a good constitution, strategic location....the list is endless. But what is our problem?

 Apparently, we have never gotten a leadership that is genuinely interested in helping its own people. In other words, there has always been lack of clarity of vision and commitment on the part of leadership. No wonder the philosophy ‘it’s our time to eat’. But again who elects them? As a result  no one has the moral authority to punish corruption. It’s funny that only some of the blue collar corruptions like police taking bribes have been charged. The big fish have always gotten away with corruption.

Almost all our sacred institutions have been tainted. The judiciary, the parliament, the examination council, the electoral body, EACC, and partly our religious institution. May God have mercy on us? Worse still the rot has recently been devolved and the county governments are now on an eating spree. I dare you to visit our universities. Study the graffiti in the toilets , libraries, walls etc. You will agree with me that majority of the writings are laced with tribal and ethnic nuances. The students' politics are also ethnicised. It is worrying that at the university where positive socialization is expected and where there is de la creme of the society, the people are caged within tribal jails. What about the recruitment? No wonder you find one tribe dominant in an office. Amazingly they even use their mother tongue as official language.

Some children in Kenya for instance now believe that they have an express right to leak exams. Again blame the system that puts much premium on grades rather than on the whole person. Recently students thrashed their principal for denying them access to exam leakage. My own students have a number of times asked me why I am not helping them. I have promised them that I will never be party to such evil. Our culture also rewards ‘success’ regardless of the process involved. How many Mrs Kenya's and Mrs Counties get to the top without first being generous to the management by spreading their legs?

How do parents talk about their next door neighbors in the presence of their children? Do they still refer to them as ‘ huyo mjaluo ‘ or ‘ huyo mluhya’.  That is a moral problem.

I am sure we have a lot of reflecting to do. The antidote to our sluggish development has nothing to with high profile conferences. What we need a change of the heart.  For in deed the bible says out of the heart comes murder, corruption, greed, thefts etc. And that is our pollution as Kenya.

Meanwhile I am diligently teaching my dear Ebenezer and Grace to be patriotic Kenyans. Have a reflective day