To the Rongai resident’s, pole sana. As civilians, we depend on the Government to handle infrastructure and the infrastructure can only be as good as the attention that the Gov give’s it. For now we can just try to place ourselves where it would be most convenient.
It is unfortunate that the Gov is the way it is, but let’s hope that the devolution will bring significant changes. Even though Kenya’s economy seems to be on the top in the region, it would actually be way beyond what it is now, should the leaders have focused on performing their duties rather than seeking for an opportunity to gain for self, while in that position (And yes, there are good leaders among the wolves).
The main things that would have propelled this country would be such as, but not limited to a country wide infrastructure (including water), education and energy. The rural folk would be able to make a living easier and in a diverse manner, not depending on traditional methods (primarily agriculture, meats and animal produce). Right now, they have to first battle the transportation problem before delivering the produce with minimum profits due to the expenses in transportation and production, and hence the rise of poverty in the backcountry, which drives rural to urban migration.
With things such as drop irrigation, food produce would continue all year round, water will not be wasted, farmers will not have to depend on the seasons, and food prices would be relatively low.
Education and energy have their roles. Through education, individuals will gain the essential skills to be able to produce and trade. Amongst other things, energy + education will allow none traditional trade to take place. How much of the world is currently making a living electronically or digitally? And how much opportunity is available? So much is being consumed and demanded digitally, and if we get the infrastructure and the skills, we too can be part of the producers. World standard multimedia production, desktop, mobile & web applications and such, you get the picture of possibilities. The problem is that, right now, education and infrastructure that would allow the none-traditional trade to be possible is primarily available only in urban areas. While there are some who are making use of the digital potential in urban area, the majority lack the skills, folks are still learning, given a few more years, with more disciplined approach at life (focus and not getting distracted), things will happen. There’s also got to be cooperation between the Gov and the telecommunication companies. The telcoms should not block the sun from the plants. The fiber’s landed not long ago, and even through there is enough bandwidth, the current prices still do not allow a full broadband experience in the average home (Being able to watch Full HD – 1080p buffer free at home). A lot of education can take place online, such as, doing pre-med at home then only going to campus after the completion of pre-med, other courses can be done wholly online, and many of them have video. There’s also a lot of open education, universities such as Stanford and MIT have their courses freely available, including lecture videos, covering probably all faculties. The Gov can give the telcoms subsidies, such as reduced licensing costs, reduced duties on equipment imports, energy and others, they will be helping removing obstacles rather letting the telecoms block the sun from the plants due to the expenses that can be subsidized. So, instead of the Gov reaping a little from the telcoms, why not support the telcoms, then reap a whole lot more from the population that made use of the subsidized telecommunication services? And let it be a win win win situation.
Those who have not migrated to the urban areas do not know what is possible or the possibilities. Even if they have the cash to get electricity (solar, wind…) or internet via a wireless signal in their area, they would not bother invest in a computer / laptop and the internet, despite their current low cost - all due to ignorance. Nowadays the internet is a necessity, able to contribute to probably every sphere of life, primarily via information, such as innovative farming techniques. The internet is a portal or doorway to and from the world, but no one has taught them what is possible, and so the cycle continues after every generation, old knowledge being recycled, thus hindering productivity and development, many struggling with alcohol and other addiction, for there isn’t much else to do to stimulate their intellects, but there’s plenty of whatever to consume them in pleasure.
Kenya has the land - of course, just like every other country, but Kenya has a good diversity of climates thus allowing almost any type plant foods to be grown (but this has not been fully explored. What is possible with the land is not known, or if it is know, it has not been utilized – we are importing the majority of the apples, grapes and probably all dates that are being consumed in KE, while we have the climates to support the different needs that the fruits require). Kenya has fertile land in diverse altitudes and temperatures, water sources (for energy, human consumption & agriculture), solar exposure or sun hours (not only for plants, but for energy), windy areas (energy), geothermal (energy) – (Kenya has the potential to depend wholly on renewable energy), coastline (primarily trade, imports and exports), the national parks, KE is well positioned in Africa (in terms of proportionate access to the Noth, the South, the Central and the rest of East Africa, for about half of the country is split by the equator, the equatorial region being the most coveted region on earth due to the temperate climate all year round – basically, Kenya has everything that a country needs to provide for itself and others, in all manner of trade including, but not limited to food, energy, manufacturing and the production of intangible digital produce. Kenya also has the human resource and a diversify of people groups, not only diversity in language, but diversity in cultures. Some nations, mostly the developed, have just about one people group(s) and about one language, but here, we have a diversity of languages and cultures (which we can appreciate instead of it being a cause of contention. Different cultures can be identified by different things that are peculiar to them in foods, music, musical instruments, clothing, accessories, lifestyle, architecture and others). There is also the beautiful language of Swahili, which if well spoken in its purity in vocabulary, pronunciation and rhythm - is an absolute pleasure to listen to, the French take pride of their language take good care of it, trying to spread it around the world, even a lot of nations in Africa speak French, but here urbanized Swahili is going rampant, polluting the pure Swahili. I believe that efforts to speak pure Swahili also refines the speaker for the speaker will be in an atmosphere of purity. Imagine how the general population and the youth would be if they all used the vocabulary found in the pure Swahili? Instead of the current coarse tongue. Efforts should continue to spread the pure Swahili around the region, and possibly beyond. The human resource just needs a few extra ingredients: infrastructure, education (skills) and energy, and it will not be the Kenya that’s been known. Ever wondered why expats have chosen Kenya for their homes / retirements etc…, there is a whole world out there, but they have seen the beauty and potential of this country.
After leaving the country at an early age, living most of my life outside the country, growing up in a few countries due to parents work, about two years ago, after completing my tertiary education, I immediately headed back. Folks were telling me of the opportunities that I would forfeit if I headed back to KE, but they were talking to deaf ears. Yes, you can be happy out there, but the maximum potential for happiness and what can actually be achieved, to some individuals like myself, can only be attained in the land that you were born in, despite the challenges that you can face in your country, such the blackouts or traffic. My growth as a whole person had hit the ceiling while out there, there is an awful lot of freedom and space to do probably anything in your own nation (which I highly appreciate – such as being able to start any type or any number of business without much trouble, limitations, conditions, or permissions) than it is in a foreign land. You could have been born anywhere in the world, but the land that you were born in is your signature and home. I’m not discouraging folks from going abroad, by all means, if something is not here, go learn, then bring it back, this is home.
When I arrived in KE, a lot of great things were happening, such as the new constitution, and the reforms that were happening, the ICT incubation labs revolution, the advancement in service in the telecoms, higher standards and / or new courses in certain tertiary educational institutions, infrastructural projects and others, prior to all these, the previous visits that I’d made to KE were being viewed from a perspective that has nothing to do with development, but everything about not being bored – was growing up.
Even though Kenya got its independence in 63, it had plenty of time to get itself to the ideal, but we all know the history and where it is now, but all hope is not lost, if the next crop of leaders put self aside, put aside games - doing cute projects to show activity in that department, but instead focus on solving problems, understand the needs, understand their roles in office, perform their duties, uphold moral standards, collaborate with each other, be disciplined, invest in R&D, learn to forgive and let it belong to the past, be qualified, respect and treat even the lowest of servants with dignity (No strike or complaints from any public / Gov institutions should be heard. This is the same for civilians. Things like the Syokimau demolitions should not happen the way that id did.), if these and others are done, Kenya will be in a new sphere, the general tenor that the populations will emit will not be like that which is being currently emitted – stressed.
Since the stress has been going on for years; it has been thought to be normal, that people just need to learn to live with it, but no, it is not normal, but there aren’t much options available, so people just endure and do that which they have power to do. Again, this cannot be over emphasized, infrastructure, energy & education, these will open many doors, folks will not have to depend on the same old, but wil have a wide range of options, even moving out of Nrb.
All good work that has been done is acknowledge, by no means is it being said that the Gov has not done anything good. The reforms and development that’s been seen in the different areas are commended. This is just a voice from a civilian, and if it gets heard, surely something can be learnt that the Gov may be able to serve the nation better.
Not forgetting the oil discoveries (what more would Kenya ask for?), if Gov manages it well, all the funds that will be required to carry out any project will be available. Country wide, world class medical services, land and air emergency response and Search & Rescue, well equipped educational institutions, nationwide multi-lane road networks … and the list goes on, all these are possible, it just requires the right actions to be taken, by the right leaders who know the countries potential and have the vision that will make the potential a reality, they will need to have the moral backbone, energy to move forward and to persevere despite the challenges and have discipline (They should not be able to be distracted from their purpose).
Even in the presence of financial resources, economy still needs to be exercised. All unnecessary expenditures must be aborted, while accounting the rest.
Transparency systems needs to be implemented, all loop holes need to be closed, a transaction should not occur, money gone, but it cannot be traced. These questions need to be able to be answered: Who performed the transaction? or who authorized it? or where did the money go to? If there is a burst water pipe, you do not start by moping the floor, you first fix the pipe, then mop the floor. If your bag of grain has a hole, you do not start by picking up the fallen grain, rather, you first fix the hole, then pick up the fallen grain. The lack of transparency is the burst pipe or the open hole in the bag of grain.
Finally, the judiciary needs to have teeth to bite – irrespective of status.
They tried to bury us, they didn't know we were seeds.