Lay up the infrastructure

Someone said that when the big things are sorted, the rest fall into place.  While there are a lot of young people in Kenya that have been finding a footing in their unconventional ventures, there remains a huge lot shelving off their dreams because they have been unable to find a place to even put their foot. I watched the gymnastics at the Rio Olympics, and I couldn’t help but think of the significance of gymnastics in some countries. Gymnastics have a national place in these nations, and this sport is such a recognized activity that it was a part of the Olympics. For the most part in Kenya, these gymnasts, commonly known as acrobats perform in the down- town streets for passersby. They are struggling artists who get peanuts for their art.

When we have an infrastructure, everything else falls into place. It’s like having a small drawer that serves the purpose of de-cluttering a room because it holds together all the small things that had previously been scattered in the house.

While many self-help initiatives are happening in our communities, a lot of young people’s pursuits are without an infrastructure, and they often take a rough and bumpy road when they take off. Many are scarred along the way because of the treacherous road. Some have actually bailed out and tried other ways of earning a living. Those who did not want to be employed in an 8-5 job find that their only hope of surviving is by seeking employment. Sometimes it kills their ambitions. Only the strong willed survive.

I have lived in a place that has had a terrible road network. Vehicles got stuck in the mud when it rained and during the sunny days, dust was all over the place, giving everyone brown eyelashes. The women covered their heads with headscarves to keep their hair clean. It was really agonizing. Recently, this road was tarmacked, and the results are unbelievable. The area has opened up: the cost of land has gone up and a lot of businesses have sprung up. The place has become a big shopping center with a lot of people moving in because it is now accessible. It was so amazing to experience first- hand what I had only read in textbooks about an economy thriving because of a good road network. What has happened since is a testament to what a good infrastructure can do.  When a country is doing well, so will everyone else get a piece of this profit because the benefits trickle down.

When we build bridges that enable others to pass, we all benefit. The investors in The Shark realized this. When they invest in someone/ business, they help the person grow and at the same time they share in the profits. When people invest in people, they too become beneficiaries. For example, many shopping malls have opened up in Nairobi and its environs. These businesses are not flowers to be admired, but these entrepreneurs need people to buy their products. The food that one finds at a food court in a shopping mall is not a primary need; one can as well cook and eat from her house. The clothes that one buys from the mall are not a necessity; mtumba is an option. So, for one to visit a mall, to eat from the food court, one needs to be fulfilling other wants other than basic necessities. In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, these individuals are above the basic needs concern. More people need to enter this category to make the country more developed. When many people can afford to pay for the goods and services you're selling, you also thrive. So when we invest in people, it is actually a plus for us. This country needs more individuals who have cash to use, not just money to get by. Actually, when people have more to spare or use, the more business opportunities there will be because every other problem is an occasion to offer solutions that pay.

The traffic jam situation on our roads reveals so much of our selfish nature. We have become so swamped in a ritual of me, myself and I that when there is any small traffic delay, overlapping is the next course of action. Drivers overlapping on both sides block the road and what started as a small hold up becomes a huge road jam. When everyone only wants to cut their share and forget the other person, everyone gets stuck. Until you let the other vehicle pass, you are both held in a deadlock.  Such selfishness is not sustainable, and it is eating into the future of the coming generations. 

When you feel inclined to build a conduit, just do it.  Some people have talents, but they do not know where to start, they don’t know where they will apply them. To survive, people with great ideas and ambition abandon their passions and adapt to what the society has to offer, which could be a mediocre job, but since it provides food on the table, they stay on, forgetting the great dreams they once had. You might be the solution that someone is looking for. When this individual starts to earn, he will dine at your restaurant, or he will buy the designer clothes in your store.

When we seek the good of the land, the people who benefit are us.

Dear Maka

Dear Maka,

It has been a long time since we talked; a lot has happened since then, much more than I would have thought possible. The reality of things is always stranger than fables.

I am in an extraordinary world right now. You’ve heard of Pumziko? That’s where I’m residing.  I got in a few days ago, so I am still fumbling around. I’m sure I will have much more to talk about this place the next time I write. Pray that I can survive the new abode. I intend to relocate here permanently; if my fate allows. You remember those days when I told you I was looking for liberation? Well, since then it’s been a whirlwind. The world can be so confrontational!! I have had some of the best times, and some of the most challenging. I never thought that I could be tried in this sense. I had checked myself in Mpito hotel. It is where I had been working from until someone told me that it was not the real deal. So two days ago, I checked into Pumziko. Going by the services I have been getting here, I think I am in the right place: the towels are fluffier, and the air con is just right. It’s a bit lonely though, there are not so many people as I would have wished, I don’t know if they are closed up in their rooms; there are not so many at the pool.

Maka, a lot has been going on in the world. It has been tearing me up. It is one of the reasons why I had to move here, to try and reconcile my thoughts. I want to do better than just have compassion for people who are going through upheavals. I don’t want to always feel constrained and unable to be of service. I want to see how I can help without having cobwebs in my brain. I am looking for a way forward where I don’t have to be continually drawn in by sorrows, but that I can exude.  I want to know that in the toughest struggles, there is still a way to have hope.  I am looking for a sober mind.  Maka, I don’t want to despair again; at least not in the way that I did the last time I lost my means of subsistence.

You know Maka, they closed my shop again, took some of the stock and detained my assistant at the Kanju offices. Said I didn’t have all the papers required for my type of business. I hadn't  bought one licence yet. Cash!!... Maka. I begged them to give me a month, then I would have recouped enough money to pay for it. They refused, said I was violating the council by-laws trading without sufficient licenses. You know my container had been held up at the port for six months, and it was only released last week? I only sold the clothes for three days before they came. I thought that God had finally answered my prayers when I started selling, and now this. I have been going to the county offices to implore them to reconsider. Wapi! It has been falling on deaf ears. It made me feel real bad. It was like taking away my dignity just when I was trying to get it back. Having that container was one of my highs and not having a means of income devastated me. Maki, I had to sit down and reconsider. You know this is one of the chains that I had earlier told you? The shackles of having my peace fixated on a particular item?  Yes, I know that it feels good to achieve, it’s awesome to live in that cloud, but I had to reconsider Maki. I was down once again: God willing I anticipate to live for many years and how many times will I be disappointed? Many. Will I keep sinking into the doldrums? No, I don’t want that. I am just tired Maki. I have been down this road too long.

Last Sunday, my sister told me about this young woman who earns a living by doing other people’s laundry. But that is not it. From her earnings, which you can imagine are not much, she provides lunch for dozens of children in the local public school. She has picked on children who struggle to afford a meal. Some of these kids used to faint because of hunger. She has so little, yet she gives so much. I think she has made her life bearable and better by being happy in the small things. Maka, with all that is going on right now, don’t you think taking it a bit easy is a big reward? Do you think that I can take it easy Maka? I think so Maka. I might not be feeding school children, but I believe there are more things to be done. Do you think that I can just relax in this Maka? Let me see how it goes here, I will sure keep you updated.

Always

Mwende

The Vexations of a young Kenyan

We are living in a world that is requiring every bit of our faculties, and demands us to know every corner of our sphere to be able to navigate it.

America and the rest of the developed world have set a pace for most of the developing countries; it is sort of a blueprint that the world follows; unless you are powerful in some way or another and refuse to embrace. It is a subtle following; we watch the movies, listen to music, attend webinars that are international, get international scholarships and we are sold out. This world has seemingly made it, and we strive to follow. These things are pleasant; they are tempting to the eyes. There is the impression that we have to match up with these trendsetters. The problem is these countries have developed gradually, giving them the leverage that they now enjoy. It is strangulating to the individual who is  playing catch up but does not have resources to emulate their role model.

It is a fast world that we are living in, and our past circumstances have made a demand on people to make a dash at the fortunes that we see with our eyes, but cannot touch. In Kenya, most people are only a generation away from poverty. The result is a crash program that calls on one to learn everything business. Survival of the fittest is the art of the game, and individuals have perfected it. Misery is reserved for the one not equipped with the street essentials. Mutual support has always been encouraged , selfishness perceived as a vice. The trend is changing, where everyone has to look out after their own at all times. People are shrewd in their dealings. Well; it is the only way out of the rat race. It is about what is in it for me .It is a life of hustling and gambling at all times. Rapports are at most times, not just friendships, but they have to be friendships with a benefit. It is very rare for someone to just meet up for a cup of coffee in the evening; a business deal has to be realized.

Time has advanced the world such that we are all competitors in one global village. Some bigger world economies for instance Western Europe and North America have vast resources at their disposal. School programs are tailored not merely for an academic achievement, but are more rounded to enhance a child's unique skills and abilities. The culture in these countries enables children to be better grounded in their areas of competence. Kids are urged to be self- assertive and individuals consider themselves to be in control of their environment and that they have influence over it.  School children get broad exposure as pertains to their disciplines. It is a norm for students to intern abroad if it is the focus of their training. Students take gap years, which is encouraged so that they acquire life skills and not just an academic degree. Fitting in this capitalist society is easier because of early exposure.

The developed and developing worlds are merging, the arena being set by countries that control the world economically. The Multi-National Enterprises (MNE's) are an excellent example of this. It is not a balanced playing field because the bar will typically fall short on persons without the adequate acquaintance and expertise. The developed countries can afford to expose their people to the important requisites without a dent to their economy; it is a primary necessity. Academic institutions are many in Kenya, but if it is a public establishment, there is always the problem of insufficient money for research, out-dated equipment and facilities among many other issues. It makes an education merely be a classroom experience, only textbook knowledge with students having the inability to synchronize classwork with the outside world.

The powerlessness to live outside our familiar spaces is not only seen in schools, but also in the communities around us. During a social justice week, a group of people went to Mitumba slums in Nairobi's South C estate. A young boy was asked what he would have liked to be when he grew up. His ambition was to be a watchman; not lofty aspirations for instance president of the country or fancies such as pilot or lawyer. His response was shaped by his background. His father was a watchman, and so were the majority of his neighbours. He did not know any other world.

Society has become more and more polarized. The gap between the have, and the have not's is huge. The world is not merciful; it judges everyone by the same standards. It does not care if one studied under a tree in school, or whether one had the privilege of going for class expeditions abroad. It is a miserable place to be at for those who cannot match up because there is no one to feel sorry for them. There is a family out there that does not know what it is to have an economy that has plummeted down. It is interesting when countries mention of how the world economy went down in 2008, or when people say that business is down. Some people do not know when the economy is down or up. There is no difference between the two. The world has never risen up for it to be down. They do not know how it is to not have enough presently for the reason that the economy is down, they have never had enough. They do not know that the economy is down because they cannot afford their annual vacation; they have never gone for a holiday their entire life.

Whereas all this is happening, some children have been privileged and though they came from a background that was not able to afford them luxuries (I call academic trips luxuries, I say being self-assertive is a luxury) they had people who came along and were of assistance. They have risen to such heights and they are unbowed. They have been able to steadily climb up the ladder, and dominate the world. They do not have to take crash programs to enable them to learn how to survive in the fast market that is the Universe; they were given wings, and they have progressively been exercising them. I visualize how it would be when our children are taught to know who they are from the early beginning, so that bit by bit, they can take on the world. I think it would lessen the frustration.

Beat Yourself!?

I have not been down this grove of trees in the last four months. But today as I tread along this path, I can feel some nostalgia hitting me .I wonder what it is that could possibly have created memories on this road; I hardly use it; my work and life do not revolve around this route, yet, some things were created along this trail.

***

It is all coming back. I can feel my resolve and the determination to get to my destination, to realize my ambitions. These memories are embedded deep in me; I can see what I felt then. I know how to trudge along murky waters because I walked in them at that time. I did not know what tomorrow would bring, I couldn't bring myself to think about it; all I knew was the journey that I was now on. I beat myself hard, and I kept moving. I could not allow myself to think that I was tired, or even feel fatigue; that would distract me. It is not how I felt, it was about what I was focusing on. I had to pay bills, had to save some money for tomorrow, and also have some left for an unexpected occurrence. Bigger than them all, I had strived to live a life that would bring meaning to what life was about. I did not just want to pay bills, but I wanted to be able to live a  life that I had only idealized, a life of purpose that would take away the desolateness that would viciously attack interminably.

***

The other day I heard the story of the famous televangelist who received a prophecy that she had the gift of healing. For three years she prayed for sick people across continents .Not a single person got healed. After three years of steadfastness, it started happening! People were getting healed. Needless to say, she rose to become one of the distinguished preachers in history.  I was awed and amazed that she had such strength to persevere and persist though she could see no results. How I wished that I had the same kind of tenacity, such doggedness for my aspirations. It was food for thought for some time.

***

Further down the groove of trees, my line of thoughts is building up, and I find myself nodding. Only a few days ago, I had been disturbed by my seeming lack of purpose. I had looked with awe and amazement at the determination of the preacher to reach to what she had been called to do. I had looked at myself and wished that I had such zeal. What a moment when I turned on the truth! I had diligence, I was resolute. I did not have to wish for what I had seen someone else do. I was on the same path too. How I had been blinded by present circumstances. 

The truth was too much at the time, and I had to sit down and reflect. I was on the right track. I had not lost the fight, but I was still carrying on. At the time of doing the mundane things, I did not think that I was doing any service to myself. I simply knew that this was how it was done. I did what I had to do. I beat myself hard and was relentless because I had to attain what I believed was a good goal. I did not have to think myself different anymore, someone who was simply unable to reach her goals, it is the little things that matter, the resolve was certainly there. I had it all within, and could only continue with the journey that I had begun.

The wandering mind

 The creation of the extraordinary from the ordinary brings a spring to life. The mundane details of our lives have the ability to be created, to no longer be a run of the mill fixations, but things that have a significant impact on our lives, making us enjoy it immensely. Take for instance; I am seated on this bench, and in front of me is a gigantic mugumo tree. It has large roots that have spread all around its base, with branches dangling from its stem. It is over one hundred years old; I am told. The rover in me, the part of me that has allowed my soul to be invoked, travels back with it. I think of the reverence placed on it by the Agikuyu people in the days gone by. It is here that they came with anguished hearts to pray to their God to rid them off the colonialists who had dispossessed them of their ancestral land. I think of the massacre that was visited on Agikuyu women when they matched to Central Police Station to demonstrate the arrest of the famous Kenyan Nationalist, Harry Thuku. More than twenty-five women felled with the bullet on that day.

The image of this tree also captures the exciting times I have encountered with nature. My mind travels to the mangrove forests in Lamu, in the Coastal region of Kenya. The mangrove forests are something to behold. They are sprawling as far as the eye can see, and this happens right in the middle of the ocean! They exhibit an aura of calmness, peace, and serenity. The Indian Ocean, with its vast waters, gives a base for these trees. They live in harmony. There is no telling what this does to a tired soul, a mind looking to be revamped and satiated with fullness. 

 

Lamu is in a different world, with a different kind of people, who are the warmest on the face of the earth! It is an Island, tucked away by an almost seven-hour bus journey from Mombasa town. For the lovers of arid landscapes, the passageway to Lamu affords them a great semi-desert backdrop covered with extensive shrubland. The heat is sweltering, but there is reprieve when you arrive at the island because of the refreshing sea breeze. 

The waterfront is the first encounter of the isle.It also happens to be the business hub of the town. All the major action happens at this spot, from banks, donkey sanctuary to heritage sites such as The German post office. Men sit on the bazaars catching up with the latest chit chat. They have the most captivating stories.

Vehicles are absent in Lamu. Hard to imagine that a place is habitable without cars as a means of transport! The conventional conduit within the island is donkeys as the streets are too narrow for vehicles to pass through. Since Lamu is an Archipelago, boats are another means of transportation across the numerous islands. The hustle and bustle of Nairobi are non- existent making Lamu the ideal place to take a deep breath and wind down, away from the pressures of life. The proof of this is the presence of lots of holiday homes, some of which are built in the midst of mountains of sand dunes giving the place an idyllic picture.

After the sojourn, the mind finally comes back to the present, but there is no denying the capabilities it has to bring back beautiful pictures, which are liberating for the soul.