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.