The Herald

ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU

ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU

            On 29^th February, 2012 Nairobi residents woke up to new graffiti images on the walls around the city centre. The images depicted bald-headed and big-headed vultures in suits, an image on a public toilet. Words on the side described MP’s/ vultures as thieves, irresponsible, selfish, missing in action and pathetic. Another graffiti image showed an MP sitting on a chair, his feet grinding into a woman’s head. ‘MP’s screwing Kenyans since 1963’ reads a footnote. Boniface Mwangi, a CNN award winning photo-journalist is part of the crew who is behind the graffiti images on walls and parking lots. From an interview with a journalist, he said “These paintings are passing a message to Kenyans to vote out their irresponsible leaders currently in the leadership.”

            There are a lot of expectations by Kenyans from their leaders especially those coming in after elections. Judging from the responses by Kenyans on the vulture graffiti images; Kenyans are discontent with the leadership. The discontent is not just at nationwide level but even in education institutions. In Daystar University for instance, some students do not see the need for DUSA (Daystar University Students Association). Joseph Mararo, a fourth year student thinks there are no leaders in Daystar. He has no expectations from them whatsoever.  “Whether they are there or not, I really do not care they are for show.” He says. For him he has never felt that DUSA have done it, the leaders come and go but it is always the same thing. Mark Mukunya, another student echoes the same sentiments. “It is ceremonial, if anything the people who do the work are just the committee members.” The student leaders might have a different view on these but the people they lead are the ones who decide whether they are competent or not. Shedeur Kimutai, a communication student has only seen few true leaders in Daystar. According to her the DUSA chairperson in 2008-2009 academic years was the best. Another student leader she praises is Pancras Mutuma who was in the Social Welfare docket. He was voted in twice in two academic years, a courageous move thinks Shedeur. “For the people to vote you twice to be their leader, you must be doing something,” she says.

            The question that seems to pop out, why is almost everyone disappointed with the current leadership? Kenyans have found a way to deal with it simply because there is nothing they can do now. As the vulture graffiti images puts it these people have been in the system for so long, to get change they have to be removed. According to Mararo, the system has locked out the good people. The few good leaders have no chance to do their best because of the structure of the system. Majority of the leaders in right now are already in the system, changing that is not an easy task. “The guys in the system right now are like vultures”, says Mukunya. He supports the vulture graffiti images and wishes they were put on billboards just to create more awareness. “Kenyan leaders are the highest paid in the world, therefore we expect them to do their best,” he adds.

            Everyone has a view on the current government and the leadership. Some think the government should be run as a business with the president as the C.E.O, if you slack in your work you get off the job and go home. Many seem to appreciate Kibaki’s leadership but think of him as a manager more than a leader. He speaks less but does more compared to the others who speak more and do less. Kenyans have different expectations from their leaders, not the current ones but those who will be voted in. “To start with I want a young leader,” says Mukunya. “I want a leader with a vision, who sees the future and know that the future starts right now not tomorrow,” he adds. He wants a leader who is not there for the benefits and then hand over but somebody who can unify the country or even nations. His example is Nelson Mandela who in a way represents all African leaders. If the country gets that person who can unify everybody then we will be on the right path. Mararo seems to echo Mukunya; according to him we need a Moses, someone who will lead the rest. He believes that for you to be a leader it should not be about the money but the will and the passion to lead. A leader should have a vision for the community. Francis Maina wants a leader like the North Korean President Kim Jong-il  who revolutionised the 3rd world nation to become a first world nation within a ten-year period. Shedeur on the other hand wants a leader who can take responsibility, be accountable and also mentor other to fill in their place. According to her, you only succeed as a leader when your predecessor has succeeded.

             Is there hope for Kenya to get such leaders? There are different views to this question but most believe we can get there as a country. The turning point should be we the voters. Once the vultures are rooted out, we should vote in the right people who might just be true leaders. Isn’t that the ideology being propagated by the vulture graffiti images? As Kenyans we need to hold our leaders accountable, we have become a lot that enjoys being lied to. They say they will do we don’t ask how, they don’t do we don’t ask why. Shedeur thinks holding debates between the running candidates will bring them to book. She believes if  a leader does not deliver what he/she promised then we have records we can go back to ask why then send them home. If we start this practice, the incoming leaders will have to deliver because they know the consequences.  Mararo believes the new constitution will change the system and open up chances to true leaders. Like Shedeur he thinks the people demand accountability from leaders, and this is evident from songs composed by Kenyan artistes.  An example is Liar by Villagers band. “Do not be shocked if we experience a revolution in a few years.” Mararo quickly adds

            The point here is that good leadership starts with us the citizens. Who we vote for matters, if we still vote in the vultures then nothing will change, same thing will happen if we think and vote as an ethnic group.  The decision solely rests with us; we should vote in the right people and root out the vultures in our leadership system. 

Echoing the words of the 35^th American President, the late John F. Kennedy “Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country”.

Recently a music artiste Julius Owino alias Juliani was in Daystar University for a concert in his tour. His music tour in Universities is dubbed Kama Si Sisi and it propagates the idea that it is us Kenyans to choose and decide our future. Kama Si Sisi translates to (If it is not us), therefore if not us who else? 

LESSONS FROM CHILDHOOD GAMES

LESSONS FROM CHILDHOOD GAMES

One’s childhood should equip one with all the necessary life skills (Something I doubt many of us have and especially the current children). Many of today’s problems would be non existent if we had taken the time, energy and effort to have a fulfilling as well as a playful childhood. What better way to bring it out than through games.

 As a child you can never do without games, it doesn’t matter if you realized it or not but valuable lessons are learnt during this period. Just to take you back in the days when you grew up and played games, this is for those who did.

Charity begins at home and that is why cha baba and cha mama (as most know especially those who grew up in the small towns) taught us family values, roles, importance of family unit as well as home management.

We all respect and honor the fast and quick witted among us, I can almost guarantee you these same individuals are the ones who never lost in Chobo –ua. (A game played with an object which was forbidden to pass in between your legs, if it did one was beaten). The champions had to think fast to avoid the object. Those of us who were not quite as quick, compensated by fore-planning and today’s policy makers were the Bano, hop scotch champions of our childhood days.

No man is an island and we must rely on each other to be a success. That is why our team leaders where the rounders and kati players. The game involved dividing yourself in teams, one had to both run and dodge the ball at the same time, and you had to win somehow not to let down your team. Another version of kati required concentration to fill a bottle with sand or arrange tins in a vertical position while dodging a makeshift ball aimed at you. Ask me again why women are good at multitasking? This prepared us well for life in today’s rat race.

Remember bladder? Where a girl jumped over a bladder held by two others and the height kept increasing from the legs up to the shoulders. Isn’t this the ultimate coping mechanism? Especially with the constant change and pressure among the young community

Every once in a while in life, you need to take time off from the pressures of life and come back victorious. This same strategy made the song Brikicho-Bantura or as other versions Krikicho –Bantura were (depending which county you grew up) a famous one among our generation. In this game you had to hide when the song was sung and while in the hideout you replied, just to confirm if the searching party was away to finally emerge before they found you.

One of the most important values in life is honesty, you must realize that dishonesty has terrible consequences and that is what the game cheatings taught us. As a child incase you lied or mentioned any untrue fact that was a cue for your game mates to punish you accordingly depending on the terms you had agreed on.

Before most of these games, there had to be an agreement between the parties involved (come to think of it we started signing contracts long time ago).The agreement was symbolized by crossing the little fingers or kukata as most called the act, these meant you are in the game therefore rules had to be followed. The good book informs us too that when people agree, God blesses them and there you have it more reason to agree.

Singing games, the likes of Tinger tailor! Soldier sailor (to date I have never understood the meaning).Chako which was mostly played in the evenings before leaving for home, bendings and kiss command and promise. Even though we never understood what we sang most of the time it was fun, we made friends and these games brought us together. To sum it all up childhood would not be childhood without fun and what better way to teach life’s lessons. If you look back now in your childhood you will definitely find your purpose, enjoyment and fulfillment all disguised in the fun and intrigue of childhood games. You might find sweet memories too.

Why You Need That Me-Time

WHY YOU NEED THAT ME-TIME

Someone once said " You can only be happy when you are alone and you love the person you are alone with”

With phones all over the place and the internet just a button away, television screens in every office, waiting rooms and matatus it’s rather hard to get time to just be with you. Normally you are woken up by a noisy alarm, once out of bed you either  turn on the radio ‘ I am a slave to that ’ or turn on the T.V. Heading to the office or school if you do not have earphones on, you are definitely listening to the radio or staring at a screen on the bus/matatu. Ever thought what would happen when you wake up one day and you are the only human being in this entire world? Sounds crazy? I bet it does but it’s possible in one’s mind though.

 What is the worst that can happen if you switch off your phone for a whole week or maybe a day? Don’t log into Facebook or tweet about your thoughts and experiences. I think life will go on as usual though I am not about to subject myself to all that. All I am driving at is the importance of having some me-time.

Putting a bit of solitude into your life is essential to your health and happiness; this is the time I refer to as me-time. It is the only time you look back on your failures, plan and then strategize on how to forge ahead. You get to learn about you by having your own company and undivided attention. Being with other people for long periods of time, no matter how loving, wonderful and interesting they are, they maybe interfering with one’s bio psychological rhythm.

This time usually comes natural for some; babies stare into space, teenagers say ‘leave me alone’ and monks meditate but for others it is a scare just to be alone. I belonged to the latter group until a while ago when I realized the benefits me-time has. Me-time transforms to time with God, time to be peaceful considering you have shut out everyone. Being alone allows one to exercise their imaginations and creativity resources. According to one author (Karasu), being alone puts individuals in touch with their deepest feelings and allows time for previously unrelated thoughts, feelings to interact and regroup themselves into new formations and combination.

If you have no idea how to create this time or enjoy it, here is how to;

• 
   Take a walk alone in a park, nature has a way of refreshing the mind. While walking, if you have a thing for photography, carry a camera along you never know when you will get the perfect shot.
• You can just sit own in a room and do nothing, allowing your mind to wander.
• Take a noise break from all the machines; turn off all the computers, radio, T.V, wall clock, fridge and phone.
• 
  For those who love stargazing,do that and enjoy the breeze.
• 
  Soak yourself in a tub and let your thoughts go.

• 
  You can also plan a getaway. Waking up just early enough to get a glimpse of the sunrise, the birds chirping, and feel so peaceful with no expectations or deadlines to beat, but an entire day to spend with that amazing person, you.

Now you know what you need to do whenever you feel like not doing anything as Bruno Mars sings in his Lazy song or when next you experience a burn out.