A WHINING NATION

I like the Kenyan culture of ‘naomba serikali iingile kati.’ Again I am tempted to quote the famous American president John F Kennedy who said, ‘Don't ask what your country has done for you, ask what you have done for your country?’

There is this famous lady from Kano plains. She has become the face of 'Naomba serikali.' In as much as she is hilarious and clearly states what the she feels deeply from her heart, it depicts a culture that is not going to fade away soon and deeply entrenched in this modern era. Reason being it is inherited.

The quintessential lady of 'Naomba Serikali'

This culture has however gone to the extent that even the country head may soon find himself lamenting using the same statement. However, he is the head of government and that is not expected of him.

That our nation is a whining state is not a lie. We like asking to be helped but not helping ourselves. This reminds me that sleaze in the country is at an all-time high. The situation is not getting any better and the number of exposés lying with the authorities that have  not been attended to upon is alarming.

It is embarrassing to lament as a people but again it is out of destitution and desperation. Many are suffering. Still the situation is not getting any better. Unemployment rate is at an all-time high. At 40% it portrays a nation that is devoid of ideas and opportunities so rare. Graduates are forced to taken any jobs.

Take the graduate who was employed by Kakamega County for instance. She was employed as a sweeper. Yet in school you are told to work hard to get a good job. I am not against her working in that post. Ideally any person can sweep. 

What is not right is that it has a negative impact in society.  Why? Illiterate and ignorant parents, for lack of better words, may incite their children not to attend school for the mere fact that school has no benefits. I know of relatives who prevented their children from attending high school due to the same. The poor sons and daughters lament insidiously having not been sagacious at that time to at least finish high school.

In my humble opinion, there should be a balance. If we continue encouraging graduates to take any job, then something does not add up. It behooves of a nation hell bent on frustrating those who toil and moil in high school burning the mid night oil only to be bombarded by the harsh reality of no jobs. What is worse is you are told to start a business. Again business is not for everyone, few ever make it as statistics show that 90% of start-ups fail and never see their first anniversary.

Back to the ‘naomba serikali’ mentality. This is not something I wish we could transfer to the next generation. It makes those who labour hard each year feel like they are doing something wrong. It may be right expressing the sentiments but it curtails the progress that has been witnessed so far.

Long ago when the notion was condoned, the state of the nation was pathetic. Structures put in place were collapsing and none could speak. Few had the courage to counter those tasked with authority to ensure development is seen in the lower echelons of society. But with advancement and devolution, the mentality should cease.

But as long as the corruption czars don’t devolve their units, nothing will happen. The masses will continue to be frustrated and the merchants of impunity will continue to enrich themselves with funds meant for developing the counties. Sad to say that some county officials look like they have found that there are no measures in place to counter their voluptuous appetite for self-endowment.

Already scandals are rippling through many counties and the notoriety and unsavory reputation some are getting bemoans of a nation that does not want to rescue itself from the jaws of persistent poverty. If the legislators in the counties and in the national Parliament continue bequeathing themselves at the expense of the tax-payers whom they serve, then this nation is doomed.

Sometimes I wish Kenya could have found a leader like one of the leaders of Asian Tigers. Lee Kuan Yew, a former Singapore Prime Minister, helped the country to not only secede from Malaysia but also subsequently transform from a relatively underdeveloped colonial outpost with no natural resources into a ‘First World’ Asian Tiger.

What we need are selfless leaders, those who want to serve the nation to alter the economic map of the country. If this can come from the top, it will trickle down to the common 'mwananchi' who will also work hard and enjoy the fruits of their labour. Not where we have a few billionaires and the rest of the nation is embroiled in never-ending penury that does not seem to die away as it is inherited by their progeny.