I’ve never been a fan of politics and the unfolding of political events in the country has especially made me indifferent towards the subject. This was not until the ‘Foreign Policy’ magazine recently ranked Kenya 13th on its annual list of failed states. On this one, I had an opinion. Yes, it is a failed state. To this effect, my comrades and fellow bloggers had mixed reactions pertaining my stand on the issue.
This year's failed states index drew on 90,000 publicly available sources to analyze 177 countries and rate them on 12 metrics of state decay namely brain drain, refugee flows, illegitimate governments, public services, inequality, group grievances, economic implosion, human rights violations, security threats, factionalized elites, external intervention and demographics.
MPs in Kenya have voted to boost their own salaries, making them among the world's best paid politicians. As we all know by now, our legislators are hell bent on seeing the implementation of the Akiwumi report that recommends them to earn an estimated $182,000 a year, more than America’s congressmen whose annual take home stands at $174,000 a year and nearly three times the $70,000 a year that Tanzanian MPs earn.
For a country to remunerate its members of parliament such amounts with internally displaced persons (IDPs) still in camps is simply appalling. Let me not even get started on issues such as inadequate hospitals, thousands of jobless graduates and scandals such as the maize one, Free Primary Education (FPE), makaburini, Triton, Anglo-leasing and Goldenberg which still remain unresolved. Are you still of the idea that this is not a failed state?
My friend Rahab disagrees: “I think it’s all because of the misuse of freedom our leaders who are driven by selfish interests. Thus, they make the state look like a failed one.”
A great friend, Carol, thinks the apathy of the people themselves (the electorate) is to blame. “Who chose those leaders? Who doesn’t hold them accountable? Who still calls them waheshimiwa? If we learnt and accepted that we can help ourselves and we don’t really need half educated people ruining our lives, then I think we would be better off as a country.”
At this juncture, Rahab interjects and asserts that whether the leaders are full or half educated, there is no difference.
I agree with Carol. Majority of the electorate just follow these so called leaders blindly. The problem here is that human stupidity is infinite as some philosopher put it.
Ann, my twin sister, sees it differently. “Is the glass half empty or half full? I choose half full! We aren’t a failed state, just a few mishaps but generally my choice between bad/good/best, I choose good. We aren’t the best but at the same time we aren’t that bad.”
At this point, I remind Ann of how things such as corruption are wired into people's genetics such that thinking otherwise is just but a mirage. For heaven's sake we even have goons who sell relief food to the hungry! These people embarrass us even in the international front e.g. Kabuga's case, the drama with the Jamaican hate cleric, corruption abroad in embassies, not forgetting Kenyans on the receiving end in Dubai.
The way matters are handled in this country also leaves a lot to be desired. Carol wonders when people will wake up and see a country isn’t meant to be in such a condition. “A citizen shouldn’t be arrested for no reason by cops and shouldn’t have to bribe their way out. We don’t have to be corrupt and no one has to get ahead of the others by taking advantage of people. But I guess it has to run its course before people agree to change. I just wonder who/what will trigger it.”
Wanjohi, a colleague at work, reckons that it’s more like a politically failed state. “However, we still kicking it, just not going anywhere in the near future...ahem 2012.”
“I think it’s time we did away with democracy. We need a powerful leader who is not directed by his corrupt cronies, a leader who will take Kenya where it ought to be and not where these looters we call 'leaders' are taking Kenya,” asserts John, a former classmate.
He had totally read my mind. I've always maintained that what this country needs is a development-oriented dictator. Kenyans simply can't handle democracy!
“Democracy is impractical in Kenya. I would like to see Gaddafi's style of leadership in Kenya,” John concludes.
Shehe, an avid blogger, wouldn’t let this slide without a fight. “The term ‘failed state’ is too harsh. Kenya, though poor and with greedy leaders, has the people that any country would rather have. Guys, we’ve got to be positive. Despite the immense challenges that we have faced and continue to face, we refuse to indulge in negativity or pessimism. We are an organization that believes in empowering people to be their best.”
All in all, my childhood comrade Wangui summed it best: “It (Kenya) should just be auctioned to the 'highest' bidder!”
This year's failed states index drew on 90,000 publicly available sources to analyze 177 countries and rate them on 12 metrics of state decay namely brain drain, refugee flows, illegitimate governments, public services, inequality, group grievances, economic implosion, human rights violations, security threats, factionalized elites, external intervention and demographics.
MPs in Kenya have voted to boost their own salaries, making them among the world's best paid politicians. As we all know by now, our legislators are hell bent on seeing the implementation of the Akiwumi report that recommends them to earn an estimated $182,000 a year, more than America’s congressmen whose annual take home stands at $174,000 a year and nearly three times the $70,000 a year that Tanzanian MPs earn.
For a country to remunerate its members of parliament such amounts with internally displaced persons (IDPs) still in camps is simply appalling. Let me not even get started on issues such as inadequate hospitals, thousands of jobless graduates and scandals such as the maize one, Free Primary Education (FPE), makaburini, Triton, Anglo-leasing and Goldenberg which still remain unresolved. Are you still of the idea that this is not a failed state?
My friend Rahab disagrees: “I think it’s all because of the misuse of freedom our leaders who are driven by selfish interests. Thus, they make the state look like a failed one.”
A great friend, Carol, thinks the apathy of the people themselves (the electorate) is to blame. “Who chose those leaders? Who doesn’t hold them accountable? Who still calls them waheshimiwa? If we learnt and accepted that we can help ourselves and we don’t really need half educated people ruining our lives, then I think we would be better off as a country.”
At this juncture, Rahab interjects and asserts that whether the leaders are full or half educated, there is no difference.
I agree with Carol. Majority of the electorate just follow these so called leaders blindly. The problem here is that human stupidity is infinite as some philosopher put it.
Ann, my twin sister, sees it differently. “Is the glass half empty or half full? I choose half full! We aren’t a failed state, just a few mishaps but generally my choice between bad/good/best, I choose good. We aren’t the best but at the same time we aren’t that bad.”
At this point, I remind Ann of how things such as corruption are wired into people's genetics such that thinking otherwise is just but a mirage. For heaven's sake we even have goons who sell relief food to the hungry! These people embarrass us even in the international front e.g. Kabuga's case, the drama with the Jamaican hate cleric, corruption abroad in embassies, not forgetting Kenyans on the receiving end in Dubai.
The way matters are handled in this country also leaves a lot to be desired. Carol wonders when people will wake up and see a country isn’t meant to be in such a condition. “A citizen shouldn’t be arrested for no reason by cops and shouldn’t have to bribe their way out. We don’t have to be corrupt and no one has to get ahead of the others by taking advantage of people. But I guess it has to run its course before people agree to change. I just wonder who/what will trigger it.”
Wanjohi, a colleague at work, reckons that it’s more like a politically failed state. “However, we still kicking it, just not going anywhere in the near future...ahem 2012.”
“I think it’s time we did away with democracy. We need a powerful leader who is not directed by his corrupt cronies, a leader who will take Kenya where it ought to be and not where these looters we call 'leaders' are taking Kenya,” asserts John, a former classmate.
He had totally read my mind. I've always maintained that what this country needs is a development-oriented dictator. Kenyans simply can't handle democracy!
“Democracy is impractical in Kenya. I would like to see Gaddafi's style of leadership in Kenya,” John concludes.
Shehe, an avid blogger, wouldn’t let this slide without a fight. “The term ‘failed state’ is too harsh. Kenya, though poor and with greedy leaders, has the people that any country would rather have. Guys, we’ve got to be positive. Despite the immense challenges that we have faced and continue to face, we refuse to indulge in negativity or pessimism. We are an organization that believes in empowering people to be their best.”
All in all, my childhood comrade Wangui summed it best: “It (Kenya) should just be auctioned to the 'highest' bidder!”
No comments:
Post a Comment