What Can I do as a Kenyan?

By Gabriel Dinda.

Just few days ago, I was watching a televised Interview of two Kenyan politicians(from opposing sides of course) and I got really disturbed. The manner in which they were talking, anyone would think that the country is already with the dogs. It is around that time when I heard that chaos of different nature had engulfed the by elections which took place in a number of areas in Kenya. Someone also died in Homa-Bay District Hospital for failure of treatment and worst the word of the street has it that there is another scandal, this time not involving the energetic youth, but the sick and the weak

I look at all these, with concern and thought of tomorrow. Surely, what can I do? I would not like to sound helpless but there seems to be very little for me to do as a young Kenyan. I refuse to call myself an ‘ordinary mwananchi’, more so if the word “extra ordinary” is left for those who don’t seem to care for us. As much as there is some sense of hopelessness in thoughts amongst us(young people), I feel there is something we can do.

Planting trees is good, cleaning the streets is good, tweeting about it is even better, and losing hope on the same is not a bad idea. However, I think there is much we can do. In saying this, I run the risk of repeating myself and getting myself redundant. But repetition, a style so much cherished in Literature is meant to emphasis and drive a great point home.

I chose to look at it not from a collective perspective but narrowed down to individual. How prepared are we not to engage in practices of this nature? The main problem could be deficiency of humanity and not the blanket corruption as it is put. The lack of humanity in our hearts drives us down to value more what we have than what we deserve. It pushes us to insist on what is in it for us, than what we ought to give. All these leading us to making decisions which injure our country.

The feeling that everyone is doing it fuels us to make unfair decisions. And the other feeling that those who did it are better off is generally not good for those fighting the temptation of not doing it. Collectively, such thoughts and feelings make us feel less of Kenyans. And the results of such hasn’t been good overtime.

As young people, I feel the best we can do is to do the little we can to ensure that we do not extrapolate these acts to the future. If the little is investing in ourselves by way of participating in engagements which open our eyes to other possibilities, that would be informed. If such little things include participating in Civic Education to ensure the feelings above do not infiltrate into our bright future, that would be encouraged.

Looking at other countries such as US, who for a long time grappled with these challenges, the only long term and sustainable solution to such unprofessional engagements and inconsiderate running of our affairs, could be lying in the manner in which we invest in our future. It is my great hope that we will one day win this.

Let’s talk: gdinda@writersguildke.com