Today I faced a sad realization. That the constitution that we so excitedly pinned our hopes to, and voted for in the referendum, may not help us realize the vision of a second liberation. Let me tell you how I reached this heart breaking conclusion.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
The responsibility of the youth in shaping their own destiny and that of the nation.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a game night organised by the social circle group @NBOtweetup. A meeting of Nairobi's social enthusiasts whom are mostly in their young to mid 20s,well educated, dynamic and information savvy.
You would have expected such a collection of potential to produce very provocative thoughts and radical conversation; the type capable of tackling hard-shell problems facing the country. But I was suprised to be greeted by the same bored humbum talk of Nairobi life. Not the vigor nor intellectual acuity you might have expected of dynamic urban youth. I have always been under the impression that the young Kenyan interacting socially online is the embodiment of a more self aware and learned citizen. The product of a robust education system with the intrinsic potential to transform this country into the jewel it could be. The young generation armed with a new constitution and necessary knowledge to actually start an intellectual revolution in this country. Not the type of revolution that manifests in wars and claims lives; but the type that makes a people more politically aware and advocates for better public governance. I expected to meet young men and women who were very aware of the problems afflicting the nation and were actively engaged in trying to resolve them. Cut out from a different cloth than the village ilk who believe in 'kuomba serikali itusaidie'. I expected to meet people who were actually capable of 'KUAMBIA serikali lifanye wajibu wake!'
Yes, suffice it to say I expected to meet with the cream of the Kenyan city populace, its hope, its promise; ...........its youth. Burning with the passion of change and ready to take charge of how the country is governed. Willing to challenge its leaders into taking responsible constructive action to achieve social good. I expected to meet thinkers, I expected to meet urban, I expected to meet potential. I expected to run into individuals who meet to deliberate on matters of national importance using logic and wisdom as the moderators of their discussions. I expected to be in the company of the leaders of tommorrow; actively seeking solutions to the problems of the day..................
I was hugely dissapointed! :-(
The current young Nairobian doesn't care much about the crises the nation is facing. He couldn't be less bothered with the fact that public coffers are being plundered with impunity unheard of, he's too busy making small talk and trying to liven up an otherwise dull life. She doesn't care that governance in the country has fallen to new lows which have made the country climb even higher up the ranks of 'failed states'; she's too busy trying to stay popular to a social circle that provides her with a feeling of relevance.They both aren't distressed over the masses of Kenyan citizens staring starvation in the face due to the prolonged drought. A bit concerned perhaps but not overwhelmingly pertubed.
There, I said it. The young Nairobi social circle is overflowing to the brim with pettiness and myopia. Forget about marshalling public opinion and taking charge of the reins of power, this crowd just wants to sit down,drink over-priced coffee and cheat at board games.
( and for those who are interested in knowing how the traditional game of scrabble ought to be played i.e which words should be allowed; here are the scrabble rules. Pay attention to the final paragraph.)
Where as I was hoping to get guys to discuss about the ongoing famine catastrophe facing the country and suggest ways of supporting the relief efforts, I was met with curt replies whenever I brought up the topic. Something along the lines of; "....oh, I have already donated something small." Not anger over why the government let this disaster happen in the first place, nor plans of how we should question the politicians on twitter about the issue, just a few dry jokes about the inarticulacy of the government spin doctor
So much for the promise of a young generation who would bring about social reform through use of social networking tools to clamor for better governance. The much hyped educated elite who would herald the dawn of a golden age for a republic still grappling with the yoke of neo-colonialism. So much for that gleaming vision that leaves starry-eyed dreamers like me with a sigh and a prayer. No, the Kenyan dream is far from taking its first breath of existence. I was disappointed,I was deeply saddened, I was nearly heartbroken.
Oh dear Mama Africa, when will your children take up the clarion call to deliver you from adversity. You had so much hope in this young educated generation. They who were fortunate enough to grow up in an era of technological renaissance and freedom of information. And now they leave you unattended with your dreams and hopes shattered. I grieve for the youth of our country and the continent at large. How vain and shallow we have become when our mother needed as most. When we finally had the tools and opportunity to change the mess things are.Politically as well as economically. We were given a chance to rise above our generation's predecessors and take control of our destiny as a people. We chose to sacrifice that potential when we got to the inescapable altar of opportunity cost. Where as we could have chosen greatness, we chose pettiness. All in the name of sensationalism. Seems to be the only thing people are interested in these days. Whats new and whats juicy.
When did we lose the fire and energy that burns hope and zeal into the heart of the young? When did we lose that feeling to act and right wrongs that oppress our society? Why did we become so lax and disinterested in our own systems of governance. We are always portrayed by the media as being more conscious of our leadership than any other generation,aren't we? We whom are the so-called Generation Y, the guys who refuse to be silently oppressed and are vocal about how things ought to be done. How justice and equity ought to be administered. When did this perception of our nature turn into a fantastical whim?
In a country where over 40% of the willing and able labor force is unemployed, you would have expected the youth to have more relevant content for discussion other than just idle prattle. You would have expected some level of intelligent deliberation to differentiate the urban learned from their under-privileged rural counterparts. The last thing you would have expected is a culture of apathy in those whom shoulders the faith of deliverance lies.
I'm not trying to attack anyone nor sound condescending. In fact I apologize to anyone who might find offense in the words I write. But I just had to ring out a wake up call to the tech-savvy youth in Kenya. To the twitter crowd who are so inter-connected and aware of everything that is happening in the world.
Come on guys, you can do better than this. You can become more. You've been handed a trump hand and all that remains is for you to play your cards right. You now have the same opportunities as your peers in the developed world. It is time for us to rise to the challenge and transform our country, our continent, our people. Time to focus on what really matters and stop taking that back seat as we watch things happen. It is time to make things happen! We have the education, the technology(internet) and the opportunity to influence policy and governance(social media). Lets not let this chance pass us by. We've always asked for a lucky break, now here it is being handed to us on a silver platter. We have to embrace our destiny. Remember, to whom much is given,much is also expected.
In closing, allow me to give my perception of the virtual online landscape that is interactive websites, which have characterized our relating habits in the 21st century. I refer to social networking media. Unlike Facebook which was more of a toy for people to play with their friends through, Twitter is a tool that harbors a vast array of possibility. It can forge solid professional networks and has the capability to empower ordinary citizens to have a voice in their governance. In Kenya, It mostly comprises those in employment and those in institutions of higher learning. The smart guys whom can mentally engage corporate giants such as CEOs and powerful politicians such as the presidential hopefuls. Guys who got fed up of all the childishness and immaturity of Facebook that they coined a nickname for the site as they migrated in droves out of it. A local nickname that has since gone viral and been accepted globally as official slang to denote the site.....#MKZ (Mukuru Kwa Zuckerburg). They came to twitter to engage with other sharp minds and find ways of making the country sally forth into the vision of industrialization. That is the kind of crowd I had expected to run into at the game night.That is the kind of potential I saw lying dormant in each and every one of those bright guys who sat playing and having a nice time. I just wish that they would discuss weightier matters even as they proceeded with their relaxing games.
I hear there is another twitter group that meets up to discuss matters intellectually. A group with a more philosophical inclination in conversations shared during its meet-ups. It goes by the name of #MindSpeak. Now that sounds more like my cup of tea. So to the organisers of that event, I hope to find more relevant content when I join you for your next tete-a-tete. I'm just not a big fan of dissapointment. As for the @NBOtweetup crew, hope you'll have familiarised yourself with the proper rules of wording before you next play scrabble. Au revoir.
You would have expected such a collection of potential to produce very provocative thoughts and radical conversation; the type capable of tackling hard-shell problems facing the country. But I was suprised to be greeted by the same bored humbum talk of Nairobi life. Not the vigor nor intellectual acuity you might have expected of dynamic urban youth. I have always been under the impression that the young Kenyan interacting socially online is the embodiment of a more self aware and learned citizen. The product of a robust education system with the intrinsic potential to transform this country into the jewel it could be. The young generation armed with a new constitution and necessary knowledge to actually start an intellectual revolution in this country. Not the type of revolution that manifests in wars and claims lives; but the type that makes a people more politically aware and advocates for better public governance. I expected to meet young men and women who were very aware of the problems afflicting the nation and were actively engaged in trying to resolve them. Cut out from a different cloth than the village ilk who believe in 'kuomba serikali itusaidie'. I expected to meet people who were actually capable of 'KUAMBIA serikali lifanye wajibu wake!'
Yes, suffice it to say I expected to meet with the cream of the Kenyan city populace, its hope, its promise; ...........its youth. Burning with the passion of change and ready to take charge of how the country is governed. Willing to challenge its leaders into taking responsible constructive action to achieve social good. I expected to meet thinkers, I expected to meet urban, I expected to meet potential. I expected to run into individuals who meet to deliberate on matters of national importance using logic and wisdom as the moderators of their discussions. I expected to be in the company of the leaders of tommorrow; actively seeking solutions to the problems of the day..................
I was hugely dissapointed! :-(
The current young Nairobian doesn't care much about the crises the nation is facing. He couldn't be less bothered with the fact that public coffers are being plundered with impunity unheard of, he's too busy making small talk and trying to liven up an otherwise dull life. She doesn't care that governance in the country has fallen to new lows which have made the country climb even higher up the ranks of 'failed states'; she's too busy trying to stay popular to a social circle that provides her with a feeling of relevance.They both aren't distressed over the masses of Kenyan citizens staring starvation in the face due to the prolonged drought. A bit concerned perhaps but not overwhelmingly pertubed.
There, I said it. The young Nairobi social circle is overflowing to the brim with pettiness and myopia. Forget about marshalling public opinion and taking charge of the reins of power, this crowd just wants to sit down,drink over-priced coffee and cheat at board games.
( and for those who are interested in knowing how the traditional game of scrabble ought to be played i.e which words should be allowed; here are the scrabble rules. Pay attention to the final paragraph.)
Where as I was hoping to get guys to discuss about the ongoing famine catastrophe facing the country and suggest ways of supporting the relief efforts, I was met with curt replies whenever I brought up the topic. Something along the lines of; "....oh, I have already donated something small." Not anger over why the government let this disaster happen in the first place, nor plans of how we should question the politicians on twitter about the issue, just a few dry jokes about the inarticulacy of the government spin doctor
So much for the promise of a young generation who would bring about social reform through use of social networking tools to clamor for better governance. The much hyped educated elite who would herald the dawn of a golden age for a republic still grappling with the yoke of neo-colonialism. So much for that gleaming vision that leaves starry-eyed dreamers like me with a sigh and a prayer. No, the Kenyan dream is far from taking its first breath of existence. I was disappointed,I was deeply saddened, I was nearly heartbroken.
Oh dear Mama Africa, when will your children take up the clarion call to deliver you from adversity. You had so much hope in this young educated generation. They who were fortunate enough to grow up in an era of technological renaissance and freedom of information. And now they leave you unattended with your dreams and hopes shattered. I grieve for the youth of our country and the continent at large. How vain and shallow we have become when our mother needed as most. When we finally had the tools and opportunity to change the mess things are.Politically as well as economically. We were given a chance to rise above our generation's predecessors and take control of our destiny as a people. We chose to sacrifice that potential when we got to the inescapable altar of opportunity cost. Where as we could have chosen greatness, we chose pettiness. All in the name of sensationalism. Seems to be the only thing people are interested in these days. Whats new and whats juicy.
When did we lose the fire and energy that burns hope and zeal into the heart of the young? When did we lose that feeling to act and right wrongs that oppress our society? Why did we become so lax and disinterested in our own systems of governance. We are always portrayed by the media as being more conscious of our leadership than any other generation,aren't we? We whom are the so-called Generation Y, the guys who refuse to be silently oppressed and are vocal about how things ought to be done. How justice and equity ought to be administered. When did this perception of our nature turn into a fantastical whim?
In a country where over 40% of the willing and able labor force is unemployed, you would have expected the youth to have more relevant content for discussion other than just idle prattle. You would have expected some level of intelligent deliberation to differentiate the urban learned from their under-privileged rural counterparts. The last thing you would have expected is a culture of apathy in those whom shoulders the faith of deliverance lies.
I'm not trying to attack anyone nor sound condescending. In fact I apologize to anyone who might find offense in the words I write. But I just had to ring out a wake up call to the tech-savvy youth in Kenya. To the twitter crowd who are so inter-connected and aware of everything that is happening in the world.
Come on guys, you can do better than this. You can become more. You've been handed a trump hand and all that remains is for you to play your cards right. You now have the same opportunities as your peers in the developed world. It is time for us to rise to the challenge and transform our country, our continent, our people. Time to focus on what really matters and stop taking that back seat as we watch things happen. It is time to make things happen! We have the education, the technology(internet) and the opportunity to influence policy and governance(social media). Lets not let this chance pass us by. We've always asked for a lucky break, now here it is being handed to us on a silver platter. We have to embrace our destiny. Remember, to whom much is given,much is also expected.
In closing, allow me to give my perception of the virtual online landscape that is interactive websites, which have characterized our relating habits in the 21st century. I refer to social networking media. Unlike Facebook which was more of a toy for people to play with their friends through, Twitter is a tool that harbors a vast array of possibility. It can forge solid professional networks and has the capability to empower ordinary citizens to have a voice in their governance. In Kenya, It mostly comprises those in employment and those in institutions of higher learning. The smart guys whom can mentally engage corporate giants such as CEOs and powerful politicians such as the presidential hopefuls. Guys who got fed up of all the childishness and immaturity of Facebook that they coined a nickname for the site as they migrated in droves out of it. A local nickname that has since gone viral and been accepted globally as official slang to denote the site.....#MKZ (Mukuru Kwa Zuckerburg). They came to twitter to engage with other sharp minds and find ways of making the country sally forth into the vision of industrialization. That is the kind of crowd I had expected to run into at the game night.That is the kind of potential I saw lying dormant in each and every one of those bright guys who sat playing and having a nice time. I just wish that they would discuss weightier matters even as they proceeded with their relaxing games.
I hear there is another twitter group that meets up to discuss matters intellectually. A group with a more philosophical inclination in conversations shared during its meet-ups. It goes by the name of #MindSpeak. Now that sounds more like my cup of tea. So to the organisers of that event, I hope to find more relevant content when I join you for your next tete-a-tete. I'm just not a big fan of dissapointment. As for the @NBOtweetup crew, hope you'll have familiarised yourself with the proper rules of wording before you next play scrabble. Au revoir.
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