It’s a new day and week in shamba ya mawe and the great
country known as Kenya. The day is Monday 17th September 2012 and
Kenyans have woken up to another week of more strikes, high fuel prices and
cost of living. We are leaning towards a failed state at this rate. Kenya has
become a country of overpriced basic food commodities. These days if you can have
bread and milk tea for breakfast you’re a sonko. If you can afford meat,
chicken or fish you are living the kings’ dream. Fuel is still high and after 2
months of price reduction, the price of fuel was added again. No wonder we have
littering of Vits and Proboxes on the roads. The difference of this addition was
that within minutes the fuel stations were charging the new rates despite the
fact that when the price is reduced they create an artificial shortage and
start charging the new price two days later.
We are a striking nation and should include that as part of
our marketing Kenya campaign. Teachers are on strike, doctors are on strike,
policemen are on go slow, lecturers are on strike and the government is stuck
sucking its thumb. The government’s
reaction is to threaten the striking workers with firing if they don’t report
to work this morning. In my opinion, this is the stuff trade and labor unions
live and thrive on. The stalemate will continue as long as the government
behaves like a bully. We cannot be adding salaries of Ps’s and expecting those
more deserving to swallow humble pie and continue living on peanuts. The
teachers are tasked with molding the minds of our children who are the youth
and leaders of tomorrow. The police are tasked to maintain law and order and
yet we expect them to work for core shells, take a bullet for us and keep the
bad elements out of our houses as we sleep. Otto Van Bismarck once said “we sleep
because there is a rough hooligan ready to do battle on our behalf as we
slumber”. That said let us pay them their dues and what they deserve if not for that reason then because
the mere thought of underpaying an individual we have entrusted with a gun
should scare us into doing the right thing. As Ruto is fond of stating, this is
the maisha of hustlers and suffers
3 weeks ago the country was up in arms and everybody was
holding their tongue to see what the governments reaction would be in regards
to the fracas and riots that erupted after
the killing of Muslim cleric Rogo. The reaction of the Muslim youths thereafter
and burning of churches has seriously left a sour taste in the mouth of majority
of Christians. All it served to do was to support the notion and further the
idea that the Muslim religion is intolerant. My question to these youths is
very simple, since when did the government become church and what justification
do you have to act in that manner no matter the grievance? The response to these
atrocities was very telling and showed the lack of cohesion and decisiveness
from our commander in chief. No sooner have we settled that situation and then the
Tana clashes began to the point even police were being attacked and killed. The
police commissioner, internal security minister, government and commander in
chief yet again did not think it prudent to nip it in the bud and yet again
were playing catch up. For how long will Kenyans suffer insecurity issues and
delayed responses to services we are paying for in our taxes. Destroying the
fabric of society and leaving a mess for the next government does not make you
cool, it only shows the callous disregard you have for yourself, those around
you and the people of Kenya. Act now or be judged harshly later by those you
have mistreated.
We are approaching another election in a few months and it is
very telling in the way we handle or rather stumble from one crisis to another.
Mr. President Wake up and galvanize the troops to order. You speak of a legacy
you want to leave for the people of Kenya but in the last 4 weeks, certain
actions or rather lack of action have been exemplified by your indecisiveness
in the way you and your government have dealt with them. Remember this as you
build your legacy in your last months in office, a man is only remembered for
his deeds and actions. This is your call to action, do not let down the people
of Kenya.
