Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe, in his Biafra War memoir, 'There Was a Country', declares that, "a man who does not know where the rain began to beat him cannot say where he dried his body."
In this, he was referring to the partitioning of the African continent into colonial territories occasioned by the Berlin Conference of 1885. He states, in his own words, "The rain that beat Africa began four to five hundred years ago, from the 'discovery' of Africa by Europe, through the transatlantic slave trade, to the Berlin conference in 1885."
Closer home, this historic episode is re-enacting itself. But only with some little modifications.
This time round, the 'partitioning' is engineered by natives - the sons and daughters of the soil. The 'conference' is held closer home - in county headquarters, lodges, lounges, hotels, beaches. Yes, in those posh 'heavenly' places where the 'commoners', the taxpayers cannot access.
As opposed to the Berlin conference, the partitioning here entails sharing and ‘eating’ the spoils of devolution – what others would call ‘lootocracy’.
To put it into perspective, I am talking of the 'eating culture' that has began to corrode DEVOLUTION - that much touted bellwether and peoples' development machine.
No doubt, devolution is the single well thought creation that Kenya has ever gifted its people. Many believe, which I also do, that this is the only mechanism to grow and develop hitherto marginalized and economically disempowered communities.
But the greed and senselessness displayed in the management of devolution largess will eventually be the game changer and the needed powder keg to assemble a powerful, 'destructive' bomb to clean up the 'eaters' of today and replace them with a people with eyes, ears, mouths, hearts and brains of the masses.
Those who feel the heat underneath. Those who share in the aspirations and dreams of the people - the taxpayers. I mean the ones who speak the language of the poor. A people with concrete plans and will-power to pull Wanjiku up the economic, social and political ladder. Not eaters.
But the road to achieving this is not smooth. There are manholes to fill and bumps to clear.
Look, Turkana County, of all places in this planet can afford to 'reward' its governor with half a billion shilling handshake to roam around the world (in trains, jets, limousines, tramways and what-have-you) to 'study' and bring home goodies in those far lands.
The life of the governor, it seems, carries more weight than those of his employers. So to 'secure' him, they say, he must enjoy a publicly-funded 50,000,000 shilling-life insurance scheme.
As a top-up for his 'exemplary' services, they propose to build him a Ksh 115,000,000 taxpayer-funded kingly mansion to cover him from mosquitoes and polluted air that only the employers can contain. After-all, diseases, cold, heat, insecurity, hunger are meant for the overtaxed mama-mbogas, cow herders, unemployed youths et al.
It is not over yet. My people are so generous and selfless, you see! They are 'ready' to entertain and accommodate guests. Ksh 50,000,000 is budgeted for this 'critical' sector of the county.
Don't forget this is where hunger has a field day. It is killing and decimating populations at a rate never seen before. This is the same place where mothers and children trek for hundreds of kilometers in such of drinking water and health services.
Don't even consider education. Eighty-percent of folks here have never stepped in any classroom. Schools, just like hospitals, are luxury 'commodities' reserved for the who-is-who in this land of oil. Schools are far apart that you have to decide either to ‘live’ at home (and ‘forget’ about getting an education) or you relocate completely and ‘live’ in schools.
Youths roam villages and towns; and in drinking holes for lack of meaningful employment. Unwanted pregnancies and upsurge of street families is nothing new. Life is hot down there. People are burning. But their leaders have a different agenda. You see, they don’t share in the same predicaments.
Roads are non-existent - or as my people will say - you don't need a road to walk. The leg knows where it sleeps. They can only be likened to those dusty camel routes!
And back to where I began; the enemy of the people is not lack of resources. It is not Nairobi and all the trappings of national power. It is the egos and greed that dot the streets and villages of our counties. It is the 'eating-culture' that shapes any thinking and action vis-à-vis matters public funds.
This is the monster in the room. It is killing and raping my people. It is responsible for the painful deaths of babies and mothers. It is the reason why, for generations, people must be fed, instead of being taught to fend for themselves.
It is imperative, therefore, to note that for devolution to succeed, this monster must go. Those who feed it must go. Those who use it to 'scare' and silence the people must go. They must go to Hell!
And when this monster is finally ‘gone’, we shall confidently rise up and sing, “Our lives changed – for good - the day we discovered where the rain began to beat us!”
But before shouting hallelujah, perhaps, we should ask ourselves if its actually raining. And if yes, where did it start to beat us? Failure to which we shall always be moving in circles as the people of Turkana County keep on lining up for food rations!
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
A short note to the Turkana County Assembly: You enjoyed the music, right? You found it fit to call our local artists and talented musicians to grace your forums. You promised to pay them, at least for their sounds and dances. But you have failed to honour this.
The tears of Miss Madonna Erupe and the Turklife squad will always flow until you pay them their dues.
Pay them. Give these talented sons and daughters of the soil what belongs to them. Don’t say you were not reminded. Yes, pay them. Pay them now!
Twitter: @mlemukol. Email: lemoseh89@gmail.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your thoughts? thanks for dropping them here...