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Are You It?

I don’t take pride in engaging in politics or its talks but somethings cannot be ignored anymore. This can be attributed to the fact that I am looking at things from the outside; but at the same time, I am part and parcel of the lives our leaders are gambling with. Let’s be able to decipher the situation we are in, by first listing facts. Fact number one is this country is continuously being a constitutional outlaw. The rule of law is what keeps systems working, if it is not observed, we can as well govern ourselves. I mean, we are fighting for our freedom and rights all over again. The one thing that our forefathers shed blood for so that it would be our reality. Therefore, when someone(s) tend not to respect such sacrifices makes you question if they have our best interests at heart. The way things are being done out here is just wrong, the arms of the government cannot even do their work independently without having an outside influence. We have to accept there have been puppet masters since the beginning of time but the rule of law kept them at armlengths, or maybe they couldn’t remain at bay. Whatever the reason is, cannot justify the reality we are living. The sad part is the only people getting away with this lawlessness are those in power, having no respect for the positions they hold and what the ripple effects of their actions are.

I, personally thank the Linda Katiba team, we need more people to be brave enough to ask the questions and even oppose reforms that are being spread out of context, with bias. You cannot be selling half a narrative in the name of looking out for the interests of citizens. The full story is what we need so that one can fully be aware of the burden we are willing to carry for the benefit of progress. To be honest, we cannot be out here revising a constitution that is barely being applied. The ages of being blinded and having closed-door meetings to make decisions that are affecting masses, cannot be allowed. If you are not bringing everyone to the table, we can as well stop asking us for support on the matter. The most disgusting thing is the personalization of the narrative, making it a one-man/group show while it is collectively ours. It’s clear that every party is getting something out of it, what is Wanjiku getting is the question. What is our price?

Fact number two is most of the things in the 2013 manifesto have not been fulfilled. With that said, the evasion of responsibility by both the government and the opposition is clear. Their association has become a grey area which has made them not do their jobs effectively for the citizens. It started with the government being against itself, individuals not doing the work allocated and if they do, their interests come first. Then, it went to undo the damage, well, that’s proving to be an impossible task for the three arms. Now, the interests have shifted to the future, neglecting the present. Putting band-aids on the major wounds on the citizens.

Our candidates are about to do their national exams and they are so many uncertainties surrounding them. It is a frightening season for them as it is and with a short period, they had to cover their course work, how prepared are they? For those in high-risk areas, I am sure their concerns are way dire. Can we surely have such inhumanity, our children need us but we are caught up with politics. They need support from all avenues to get through to the other end. The unrests from the students should not be taken lightly and going back to corporal punishment is NOT the answer, all parties need to meet and talk out the issues at hand and refrain from having a blame game. At higher learning institutions, things have not been easy, but the economy as an entity is not making things easier for graduates. The gap in the system of education and the job market cannot be ignored anymore if we move on like this, unfortunately, the WHEELBARROWS will be the only viable solution. Let’s not even talk of the unmotivated employees working in the public service to cater to citizen needs. We all have horror stories or distasteful experiences with government offices, Utumishi Kwa Wote seems to have been reduced to just a slogan.

Final fact, the future is uncertain, so why not work for now. The legacy package sounds nice but cannot happen without an impact. Impacts are to happen to others, not oneself. The kind of world to live in and the kind of life to live governs the formation of a legacy. It draws us back to figuring out what is important. If both are positively clear then we can move, but even if there is the slightest doubt, miscalculation, or sniff of fishiness, then we cannot sit and wait for regression to happen. The growth of the economy is on debt, which is fine, but why not invest the money to grow the primary industries? Industries that will sustain the economy, unless that is not the mission. Most of the time, history will judge you for the world you created not what you created for the world.

I implore everyone who is reading this and your blood is boiling with rage, disappointment while feeling powerless, I am here to remind you, YOU are NOT. Don’t sit back and watch, it is the time to act. In any way, small as it is, we can do it. Think like a company, a society, a family, an individual on how to better the situation for us all. individual responsibility equals collective work which is what we need. How to start, by ensuring you engage your circles openly on the country’s leadership, get knowledgeable on what is happening by asking ourselves the relevant questions; is it helping my current situation, secondly, is it going to help the generations to come and, lastly, is it sustainable (does it have longevity) over a substantial amount of time. By doing so you create awareness, knowledge is power. Let’s not sit, while we shy away from our responsibility as citizens to hold everyone representing us accountable. Remember, seeing the bigger picture should only clarify your current frame on where to focus on to be able to create it. Only a lion can ROAR. Are you brave?

 

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The Roadmap to Sense…

I think I have been silent for too long on the way the government is running its affairs. For them, it may not seem to bother them, but for the rest of us, the Wanjiku, we sense a bit of incompetence. Disclaimer, I want to say that we, as citizens, know running a country is not easy, and we don’t demand perfection from your governance. That said, we are entitled to some sort of seriousness and structures in your plan for us. I don’t need to be an analyst or have some experience to see how there is disorganization in the running of the country.
Fact, there is a conflict of opinion on how things should be done. This is normal since we have different ideologies, but with other people’s lives in your hands, ‘there has to be the bigger person(s),’ rising above selfish interests. Even before we get there, we have the hierarchy of leadership in whatever docket it is; one leads the rest follow. Voicing your opinion is good, but it hinders decision making if it means the job is not getting done. You can’t derail a whole country because your voice is not factored in.
In this country, if you are a cabinet secretary, it is expected that you know your department to the core. Understanding that, it doesn’t make sense to me when you are giving recommendations that don’t solve the problem at hand. You can’t be making decisions today, then tomorrow going back on your word. I mean, this just shows the state of confusion that is looming in those offices. This is the time to prove your skills to us as a country. In this delicate time, being safe is important, but time is equally as important. Moving fast to contain the crisis is paramount to sliding it under the rag. On various ministries, the lack of accountability and continuous finger-pointing has been seen when things go wrong, justifies my concern. Putting the whole country on hold is not a permanent solution to rising above the pandemic.
With that said, if you need an expert opinion, please get it, ask for it, but it would also help if you keep us in the loop. With the various ideas coming through to tackle our predicament as a country, don’t be shutting out any possible solution to the problem just because the scheme doesn’t benefit you as the government or its leaders. Yes, we know solutions that have been presented by various organizations to solve the internet connectivity in this country but turned down due to a lack of vested interest. We just need solutions that will give long term results. The back and forth, uncertainty will only bring us steps back while we are moving forward. If it means shaking up our normal schedules, so be it. We need things to move, sitting back as we wait for things to get better is only derailing us, so get your act together. We are tired of being frustrated as citizens. A road map is what we all need to assure us we are on track.

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