People, if we sincerely aspire to see good results, efforts to reduce extreme poverty, to empower communities and to foster a climate of community-led governance must be build on solid steps. I am afraid we risk pumping oceans of cash into what we term as noble initiatives to lift up the poor but still end up with little or nothing at all to show.
The war on poverty demands a new thinking. A thinking that allows communities to own the process.
One point remains indisputable: No matter the poverty level of a person, a community, or a nation, there is always something constructive (within them) to bank on. The fact that these people still live is a justification that they too can participate in the making of their own lives. This however demands (that) we own up our inadequacies.
Top-down lectures are time barred. You see, it is only fair to confront marginalisation by holistically targeting those at the lower levels of our (development) scales. Their success is ours too.
Which begs the question: What constitutes the wealth of a poor person, a community or a nation?
In a world whose measure of wealth is based on shiny skyscrapers, glittery airports, flowing foreign accent, well-pressed 'modern' outfits et al, I know it is extremely difficult for most of us to accept that our cultural heritage can pay handsomely.
My sojourn in Europe a few months ago opened me to a world of "immaterial materialisation." I came face to face with a world dotted with endless chains of museums, parks, culture preservation centers, culture-inspired incubation centers and of course the many eateries, shopping malls/points that accompany such places.
Upon interrogation I realised that anything culture over there is the buzz word. Not only has the government played its part, the people have literally picked up the baton and ran away with it. They know very well that culture is not petrol. Its life is indefinite. Its largess is here to stay.
But brains must be activated in order to reap big from what our forebears bequeathed us.
This brings me back to my people. Kenyan nomadic heritage is largely undocumented. My inquiries and searches at various Kenyan universities for any documentation about Kenyan nomads returned a negative verdict.
It seems Kenyan intellectuals - plus the government - greatly downplay the cultural significance of our nomadic communities. This is despite government figures revealing that nomadic communities top Kenya's poverty index.
Surely, it is only an apathetic system that can let such a resource disappear without it having an economic impact on its owners.
I think we need to remind ourselves that civilisation of the nomads is equal to any other civilisation. It is neither inferior to, nor a brainchild of other people's ways of lives. This is purely nomadic and must be jealously guarded as such.
I eagerly wait to see counties step up their efforts to protect, preserve and value cultural heritage.
There are many ways to integrate people's culture into mainstream thinking without evoking any hitches. One, a mass community mobilisation and education is key. Two, we must institutionalise cultural bonanzas, designs, outfits etc. Three, put in place barefoot colleges at the village level.
And for my home county, Turkana, I believe something big should be our target. Devolution has given us the financial muscle to “reward” Lodwar town with an International Nomadic Museum.
It is time nomads enjoyed the fruits of their heritage. Deeply, simply, it will be a big scandal to let nomads die in poverty yet they possess one of humanity's oldest civilisations.
I hope my Governor will find time to reflect on this.
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