THE WEST'S IMPERIALISM A THREAT TO AFRICA'S INDIGENOUS CULTURES

The recent tug-of-war on property inheritance surrounding the late Archbishop Samson Gaitho's family is astounding.It is disgusting.

The tussle evokes memories of similar cases that have been in the public domain,especially in Kikuyuland over property inheritance tug-of-wars and unending confrontations between family members of prominent personalities.

To name but a few is the former Starehe legislator,the late Gerrishon Kirima and the late World Marathon Champion,Samuel Kamau Wanjiru.These tussles have portrayed these families,and the community at large negatively in the public over the adherence to values associated with family inheritance.

Now,in the traditional African setting,great values were upheld.The elderly were respected by everyone.There was a council of elders,for each community.These were very important institutions in governing and spearheading the smooth daily life in these communities.Mostly,they focused on legislative matters that determined the punishment for capital and petty offenders.

For instance,among the Ameru,there is the famed Njuri Ncheke council,the Kaya elders among the Mijikenda among others.These institutions remain relevant in the history and in the day to day life of these communities,up to today.But due to the inculcation of capitalistic  ideologies into our ever-dynamic society,such disputes will always recur.These institutions comprised of respectable elders of high calibre and great wisdom.

The 'westernization phenomenon' have come to have grievous effects on the principles and morals of the African morals;the westernization phenomenon have been termed as 'the West's perpetuation of their cultural imperialism in Africa and other neo-colonial ideologies which are resplendent of universal neo-colonialism.

Capitalism,a way of governance adopted in Kenya from the British and perpetuated by the post-independence ruling elite has had to grave the effects besides degrading the African cultural values.
The enforcement of the ideals of African Socialism by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta did not fully succeed as the immediate post-independence society had already gravitated from the ideals of of African socialism fragmented by the entry of the whites.The Kenyan society was already capitalist.

The Tanzania example best explains why the country continues to enjoy relatively harmonious co-existence since independence,while her counterparts in the region namely Kenya,Uganda and Burundi continues to experience internal conflicts almost four decades after attaining their independence.

Socialism,though associated with underdevelopment as a resultant aspect would greatly be the remedy to unifying fragmented societies like in Kenya or Uganda.Currently,Kenya is on the global headlines over the ongoing case at the ICC.Socialism inculcated morals,brotherhood and harmonious coexistence.Mwalimu Julius Nyerere had this vision.

Capitalism enshrines separatist ideologies.Such are the ideologies that have led to unending mutual suspicion among certain communities in Kenya since independence.This is because the coming of the Whites brought with it 'civilization' thus fragmenting the ideals of African Socialism like egalitarianism.

Mutual suspicion created among communities by the notion of 'only my part' has been the primary casualtive of the ever recurrent tribal clashes,in addition to inciteful political rhetoric,mostly driven by the jealous of property ownership  and inheritance.

A recent survey indicated that most of the young people in the East Africa region would rather be rich-as their first priority.Wealth surpassed all other options like education or even owning a family.
With such psyches ingrained in this segment of our future society-then it is no wonder why criminal activities are ever on the rise and insecutity levels escalating mostly in urban areas.The youngsters see any form of success in regard to wealth,regardless of how it is got.Many want to drive flashy cars and own big houses.These are their priorities.

They don't want to know how much one will pay-the perserverence and the patience to attain them.We all blame this on one thing:Capitalism.

This neo-colonial tool to fragment the African morals have left us crying.The old institutions like the council of elders who would be a key element in solving some family related issues have been rendered useless thus exposing some families to the psychological suffering of national shame following the exposure by the media.Such disputes create create antagony and perpetual anathema that can even lead to deaths.Dissatisfied but wealthy family members are known to eliminate some of their kins for monetary gains.

Disintegration of morals -and even the skimpy dressing code,which have come to be idolized by the youth and even the elderly is resultant of globalization which in it conceals the West's neo-colonialism and the desire to impose a world-order under their control in the name of 'democratising' the developing countries.

Mwacha mila ni mtumwa,so goes a Swahili adage.Let us respect and reclaim our cultures to avert a looming cultural bondage imposed by the West on us.

Wanderi wa Kamau,
Egerton University-Nakuru.

FAILED LEADERSHIP TO BLAME FOR OUR WOES
From Donde Bill,came Michuki Rules and now Mututho laws.These are names associated with individuals who have sought to seek legislation of various laws to improve the livelihoods of Kenyans.To change the current non-efficient policies to more effective and vibrant ones.

But do Kenyans learn?This is the biggest question of all.From the Sinai tragedy to Nyahururu and Ruiru ill-fated drinking sprees,all these are demonstrations of a reckless if not a flippant populace.

When John Mututho,Naivasha legislator sought to put in place tough measures to regulate the beer industry in Kenya,he was greeted with every fury.He was branded every name-a traitor with no touch with the the commoners' economic woes and even some went ahead to accuse him of seeking self-glorification and sheer publicity.He remained firm and steadfast in the midst of all these unbearable reproofs.

But moments later,a country he sought to redeem from the yoke and servitude of drunkenness is mourning the repercussions of the same jeopardy they greatly opposed to be delivered from.It is like removing a moth from the flames of a burning lamp and willingly,it flies back there! There is no any help that can be extended to such behaviour.

At his time,John Michuki,the then transport minister stood to his ground during the imposition of 'his rules' in the public transport sector.After his transfer,the ghost in the sector leapt back! Carnage in our roads has become an every day tale.Thousands of lives continue to succumb to the dontcareism of our drivers,most of whom are unqualified.

Two weeks are not over,since the completion of the Kenyans-for-Kenya initiative.Tear-breaking images of malnourished children struggling to keep death at bay through the poisonous and inedible willdfruits filled television screens globally.This prompted the international community and the corporate world in Kenya to come to their rescue-amazingly,from Kenyans themselves.

Numerous questions lingers:where was the government all this long?What do our leaders demonstrate when they 'join' the victims of any catastrophe at the very hour of need?These are difficult questions within any critical self.

Firstly,it is the government that is mandated to formulate and enforce effective policies that drives a country every day within all spheres.The government consists of our leaders at the legislative,executive and judicial levels,not the corporate world.

It is very hypocritical when leaders,wearing very 'dejected' and 'sympathizing' faces visit catastrophic scenes and hospitals to 'sympathize' with the victims.This is because most Kenyan disasters are man-made.Their likelihood of occurrence is known,in some instances even by the commoner but the degree of institutional laxity in Kenya is marveling.Some of the repercussions,like the Sinai deaths is what we have to pay for failed action.

The media has been always on the frontline to play its rightful role as a watchdog,surveillance among other roles very keenly.But,do our leaders and institutional heads listen?Had not been the Sinai disaster been predicted  as a 'time-bomb' if anything happened?The recent famine-had not the meteorological department warned of an impending drought?What was done?Everybody sat down and watched and now-we had to 'misappropriate' over Sh.700 million to repay the government's failed action

Another take:given the current disillusionment is being experienced at the new dispensation,why is the reason?

The current coalition government was formed,not on the fundamentals of democracy.It was one of the many 'ways'  to heal and quell the tension that had gripped the country,following the bungled 2007 election that erupted into an orgy violence that claimed over 1300 lives.

It is a mixture of all elements;the meagre percentage of of reform-minded selves to the bulk of anti-reformist clique,most of which are remnants of the past regimes which have been associated with every form of abyss that Kenya has been plunged into.

In a tug-of-war,it is impossible for the side with the few to over-power the side with the most people.Thus,with the current composition in the current government,it will be very difficult(until after 2012)when a new breed of leaders-if Kenyans will open up their eyes,assume leadership portfolios to come up with vibrant working rather than documented policies.

It is more than obvious that most leaders did not embrace the passage of the new constitution.This was the reason why they came up with over ninety amendments on the eve of its passage by the parliament.Most of the anti-reformist clique and the crusaders of status-quo felt threatened by this new law.That is why the implementation journey will remain bumpy and filled yapping and bickering of retrogressive psyched politicians.

Why are they fixing the election date to 19th December,while the law is very clear?These are the prices that Kenyans have to pay for electing non-reformist politicians who hoodwink and blindfold them with monies.

Let all the woes that the country is undergoing through be an eye-opener to Kenyans,so that in 2012,they will elect leaders,not on the basis of ethnicity,creed or wealth but on character and their potential to deliver.

Wanderi wa Kamau,
A journalism intern,
Egerton University-Nakuru.

 LET THE REFORM PROCESS  IN THE POLICE FORCE BEAR FRUITS
Massive reforms within the police force have been witnessed lately and this is a welcome move for Kenyans.Indeed,the recent vetting process for top-ranking officers within the force ha begun to change the Kenyans' attitude towards this crucial institution for a country's internal security.

Kenya's police force for long has been marred by high levels of corruption,nepotism,ignorance to the plight of Kenya's populace,non professionalism due to recruitment of unqualified recruits among many other negative attributes the force was engulfed in.
With the new constitutional dispensation therefore,the force is yet to fully reach the envisaged levels in the reform process.

For instance,the coming out of three young men from Nyeri to the public limelight to confess that they had wrongly been placed under 'the most wanted persons' list puts to questions the intelligence modalities that the police use to identify these suspects.

Flanked by the KNHR(Kenya National Human Rights Commission) officials and looking innocent,the three young men frankly said that they were ready to face the court and co-operate with the police force in identifying their misdeeds.

According to the new constitution section 25(a),it provides the rights and fundamental freedoms that a person is entitled to,one being the freedom from torture and cruel,inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.Contrary to this,the police have caused unnecessary psychological trauma to these young men by putting them in such a dreaded list .

For a long time,the civil society groups have been blamed to co-operate with criminals by the ploice thus becoming a' great impediment' in improving security levels in Kenya.
Since the NARC government took over power in 2003,hundreds of innocent young  men especially from Central Kenya ,have been subjected to untold torture on grounds of being Mungiki suspects.Many of these jobless youths are still languishing in Kenyan prisons and cells because their cases are still pending or were convicted on malicious grounds.

When the UN special rapporteur to Kenya,Prof.Philip Alston, compiled a report to indicate the height of extra-judicial killings in Kenya,many leaders in the government stood up with every form of condemnation to the report,many saying it was biased and shallowly researched.
It was only a short time after he had presented his report when two Oscar Foundation activists,Samuel Kamau King'ara and Paul Oula were shot dead on allegations that they were linked to Mungiki underground operations.Later media-friendly Mungiki spokes-person,Gitau Njguna was killed in cold blood.

The discontent here is that the police should carry out thorough and in-depth professional investigations before rushing to brand innocent youths 'wanted criminals' tainting their image in the public domain.

This is a key challenge to the government to honour its promises to the youths to create more job opportunities.Aristotle,a great Greek philosopher,once said that poverty is the mother of all crime.Indeed,the ever-escalating crime rate is caused by high poverty levels among the disillusioned Kenyan populace,especially the youth.This will only be achieved if transparency and accountability reigns in public institutions to coincide with the new dawn.

Wanderi wa Kamau,
Egerton University,Nakuru.
 

 ETHNICITY OUR GREATEST UNDOING
In Towards Genocide in Kenya:The Curse of Negative Ethnicity,Koigi wa Wamwere points out that balkanization of the Kenyan society into ethnic federal states by our volatile and polar political system is the cause of the current socio-political woes the country is undergoing through, since independence.

The balkanization process,which is steered by the opulent political class uses the propaganda of ethnic hatred to advance separatist politics to reach their political goals.When a community in Central Kenya is mythologized by their tribal kingpins to believe that a community in Western Kenya is their enemies,this sentiment is passed on from one generation to another-and this is the root cause of the ever unending tribalism cancer in Kenya.

I laughed when I watched one of the G7 lieutenants stand in the podium to ' preach  peace and harmonious co-existence' among the Kenyan citizenry.Ironically,in' pacifying and uniting' these Kenyans,he said that they should not co-operate with the leaders of 'other communities' because they had rejected to support a bill seeking to see one of their 'member' approved by parliament to hold a strong position within the judiciary.
Now,one wonders whether there is any difference in old-style divisive politics of the KANU era and mature politics in the new constitutional order.

These are the leaders who have come out to express their presidential bid in 2012.Where are they driving back this country to?Did they not feel the carnage that post-election violence of 2007/2008 left to helpless Kenyans who continue to languish in abject paucity and desperation?

Okwudiba Nnoli in the introduction to Government and Politics in Africa puts the image of African politics as 'nasty,brutish and bestial'.He continues'...detractors can easily point to the one-party system,the life presidency,the ubiquity of negative ethnicity,religious strife,political violence,genocide,military rule,the rigging of elections,corruption,abject poverty and the nightmare of refugee flows in the history of African politics...'
In reference to the above  description of African politics,and our own Kenyan situation,some leaders have spent almost all of their adult-life in parliament.The keys to survival have been politics of patronage and hoodwinking the electorates.

How do one feel,succession politics at the height of skyrocketing food prices and high inflationary rated to starving and disillusioned citizens?This is a demonstration of the worst kind of negligence by leaders to the Kenyan citizenry.

Another take:the irony of the ongoing Conference on the implementation of the Constitution.While August acts as the deadline in which key bills for the  new law to be fully in force,the parliament has only managed to pass only seven out of 50 bills which are instrumental fot the transition period to end .And with the parliament engulfed in unnecessary political contests,the common mwananchi will continue to wallow in hard economic times as the Kenyan shilling continue to depreciate aganist other international currencies.Having reached a mark of Sh.92 aganist the US dollar,economic pundits are warning of difficult times ahead.

Our leaders should go back to the drawing board and re-think of Kenya's future rather than engaging in blame-games.The G7 lieutenants have the power to end the current IDP menace because it is their communities who loathe aganist each other.I believe if this alliance practice policy-oriented campaigns and be ready to preach peace without blaming other communities for their woes,this country can make great strides socially,politically and economically.

Let the ongoing Conference on Constitutional Implementation process be a breakthrough for speeded up implementation to restore Kenyans' hope on the new law's implementation.

The destiny of this nation lies with our leaders' accountability.

Wanderi wa Kamau,