A Native Son's Perspective of Kenya

Education

2006-10-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

Education today is essential in every facet of life. In many states, the state has been the main provider of education.

In many of the former colonies, the initial schools were started by missionary organizations with the broad purpose of establishing the church. The metropolitan powers represented in Africa or Asia by colonial civil service had very little vision of educating the natives.

At the simple church schools, however, the natives did learn to read, write, and compute. The little learning attained at church schools was however sufficient to defeat colonial oppression.

The colonial administration did not sufficiently invest in African education. The irony of the matter is this: The colonial administration did invest in the education of their offspring including university education. Lack of equal access to education became one of the main grievances in the struggle for liberation.

Since 1963, steady progress has been made in expansion of educational opportunities and preparation of teachers. Challenges that have occurred are normal. One negative outcome of the rapid expansion of the educational opportunities has been the rise of unemployment among school leavers. The benefits of an expanded educational system, however, outweigh negatives.

The introduction of universal primary education by the current administration is a very important contribution to our overall development. Innovative and creative change has happened on the primary level; e.g., academies. However, in order to realize fully the benefits of education, change is inevitable.

The current system of national and provincial high schools must yield to community schools in every location of the republic.

One of the best ways to setup community schools is Constituent Development Funds. Constituent Development Funds utilized in establishing community schools in every location of the republic, grades 1 through form four, would be a tremendous economic boost throughout the country.

Resources used to educate a few would be used to educate many more people. School fees, the main burden today, would become a thing of the past.

Migration

2006-09-30T11:06:00.000-07:00

Today Ulimwengu is a global village. Three examples will suffice:

1. Communications; e.g., Internet, Telephone, Television, Radio.

2. Transportation. The airline industry transports people to every corner of the globe in a matter of hours.

3. Commerce Goods and services are flowing back and forth between industrial countries and those countries that are on subsistent level.

People living in remote villages, e.g., Africa or India, have fairly accurate information on what is happening around the world. Human beings are rational beings, and will do what is necessary to survive. Desperate economic conditions are what motivate people to migrate.

Today, immigrants to Western Europe, USA, and Canada are from Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The fortunes of every immigrant are not the same. The strategic advantage of a talented athlete is much higher than a medical doctor. Since Latin America has a substantial number of well paid athletes, remittances to immigrants home will be equally high.

Corruption

2006-09-25T17:13:00.000-07:00

Corruption which is part of the daily life for many Kenyans, e.g., country bus operators and matatus, and many others inorder to get a service, is against all good business practices.

Even during the colonial administration many chiefs were suspect of being corrupt by the colonial administration. Independence and the subsequent Africanization of the economy accelerated corruption. The quest in the 1960’s and even now is to accumulate wealth as quickly as possible. Since life is short and demands are far in excess of supply of resources available at any given time, demanding cash bribes covers the deficit.

It is a good thought and hope that one day corruption will be a thing of the past.
Corruption, a universal phenomenon, is not quickly erased.Other countries have their vices, e.g., envy, which are just as debilitating.

Eradication of corruption will require different approaches; e.g., education on the corrosive nature of corruption, exposure of the virus of corruption before it sticks, and legal sanctions, etc. We have many good virtues and also weaknesses. Corruption is a weakness we do not need around our necks.

Mutual Aid

2006-09-20T15:03:00.000-07:00

Mutual Aid among the immigrant community especially in USA is a common; for example, Sunday afternoon teas are organized frequently by South East Immigrants with the ostensible purpose of fund raising. Funds raised at such events are for aiding the new arrival getting settled. Without already established family connections, or other community connections, the home community is the resource of last resort.

New arrivals are faced with a myriad of needs; for example, shelter, winter clothing, etc. Shelter is expensive because in many instances security deposit is required. Transportation if one is to buy a car to go to work requires a deposit. Mutual Aid is therefore an important component of upward mobility.

Sometimes abuse of a good objective occurs; for example, funds raised are not delivered, or misleading appeals are made. Other than noble objectives must be exposed to lessen abuse. Since the goal is to foster unity of purpose, a name that engenders unity is probably more suitable than Haraambee.

Response to Mr. Wamwere’s essay on the Self-Image of Kenya’s people

2006-09-16T16:56:00.000-07:00

Mr. Koigi Wamwere's comment on the self-image of Kenya’s people, (Sept. 13, 06, The Standard), and the outcome of the said image is very instructive. Some of the reasons for a defective self-image are : Conquest, subjugation, and acculturalisation.

In 1963 the nationalist goal was political independence. What was achieved, however, was only partial independence. The intellectual substance and structures of the colonial administration did not change. The structures and machinations of administering the colony were already established and entrenched. Furthermore, discussion, or slightest hint of changing the existing order, even slightly, would have derailed independence. The philosophy of divide and conquer had long been introduced and the poisonous philosophy had done the damage it was intended to do. The main by-product of the philosophy of divide and conquer is ethnicity more commonly known to us as “tribalism”.

The achievement of independence in 1963 was a milestone in our history. It was an achievement whose time had come. On one hand the battle was won, but on the other hand what was gained was lost because the nationalists did not have the economic muscle to introduce structural change. The nationalist cadre might have had ideas of what they wanted to do with independence, but absent resources the only change was black faces replacing white faces.

Post independence, then, has been plagued by seeds sewn in the colonial era. The present gods, e.g., money, etc., is not going to deliver us from the current malaise, or want because resources are always insufficient. The consequence of realization of the fact that resources are always insufficient leads to angst. A chasm has always existed between that which is achievable and reality.

The odd behavior that is exhibited in many instances, e.g., display of wealth, hedonistic tendencies, the constant need of affirmation especially by foreigners, the emulation of negative behaviors transmitted by the media, shows how insecure we are. To recapture the spirit of the Mau Mau era, or pre Mau Mau era, is not a viable option today. No human being steps into a body of flowing water twice. History is not static. We have evolved to what we are today.

The current philosophical constructs however are not sufficient to erase self doubt, poor self image, and self hate. What we need is a rediscovery of purpose; that is, reading of our history and getting to know how struggles were lost, or won. The Israelis study the the Old Testament not only for inspiration purposes, but for lessons on how to survive in a hostile world.

Our sages also need to be listened to. Those who have been silenced, or sidelined because of hostility to their ideas, or vision are needed. No one person, nor institution ecclesiastical or secular, has all the knowledge and wisdom to suffice the needs of our country.

Under Construction

2006-09-16T16:53:00.000-07:00

Thanks for stopping by. Please come by later.

LKG