A New Kenya is Here

Published on 27th July 2010

Many eyes are watching Kenya                           Photo courtesy

Prof. Gregory Clark a widely published author on economic history asserts in his book “A Farewell to Alms: A brief economic history of the World” that: “No God has commanded worshippers to their pious duties more forcefully than income as it subtly directs the fabric of our lives.” It is income and the quest for more income – that is what Kenyans want.

The country’s religious leaders, bourgeois class and perpetrators of Western interests have failed to read the mood that Kenya as a society has changed. The reason why we farm, go to school, migrate to cities, engage in business, and crime, among others is to address the “income” issue. The dawn of a new era that will redefine religion, politics and the country’s social fabric is on its way. Will a new constitutional dispensation deliver higher income to Kenyans? In the new era, it is critical that we direct our attention to the country’s bourgeois class, religious groups and Western influence.

The old constitutional order produced lazy and unproductive upper class members. Their wealth did not accrue from adding value to society but rather, through milking value out of society. This reflected badly on the majority of the population who then assumed that all one needs to do is to jostle for political positions in order to have an opportunity to “eat,” hence the famous refrain “…it is our turn to eat!”

Religion and Christianity in particular have played a vital role as the conscience of society. If what pollsters predict to be the outcome of the August 4th referendum does take place; then Kenyans ought to take a moment and reflect on why they have rebelled against their less than 120 year old conscience. Some religious leaders have disregarded the history that made Kenya by focusing on the question of Kadhis courts. Others have focused on the emotive subject of abortion. The old constitutional order with its colonial winner- takes- it- all approach created economic disparities that put more pressure on individuals and families to such extent that Kenyans are forced to live with wanton cases of fetuses in garbage bins. 

As the world becomes increasingly multi-polar with Asiatic and South American economies on an upward surge; Kenyans must learn to manage to their benefit a variety of influences at play globally. At independence, a constitutional order that sought to sustain Western influence rewarded collaborators and disenfranchised ethnic communities of the new entity known as Kenya that was established. For over 47 years, the disenfranchised Kenyans battled to create systems that can enable each one to participate effectively in matters of state and country building. Meanwhile every election time has come to mark a period of bloodbath that destroys hundreds of lives in the quest to be part of the national income bracket.

The proposed new constitutional order is a tool; analogous to a “jembe” or a hatchet which even if sharpened, unless a farmer makes use of it, it will be of no value. The proposed constitution is supposed to serve as a structured guideline and catalyst that will see more Kenyans join the productivity lane. Considered as just another document and left at that, it has nothing to offer unless we implement it.

Kenya will join the middle income countries if citizens use the new constitutional order to ensure that the new bourgeoisie class creates wealth and not merely rob the citizenry. Kenya is on the verge of its own age of enlightenment.

By James Shikwati.

Mr. Shikwati [email protected] is Director of Inter Region Economic Network.



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