TURKANA'S BIGGEST ENEMY IS ITS APATHETIC PROFESSIONALS

I have severally been asked to explain the interface between pastoral developments, elites' role in advancing the same and (to) provide a vivid description of the extent of intra-community inequalities among pastoral communities in Kenya.

I have confronted many arguments - some outrightly false - on the state of development in Kenya's pastoral lands. Many commentators - most of them natives of the said lands - affirm that the biggest  challenge up there is centrally a climate issue - or simply a natural phenomenon, to borrow their appellation. 

The masses too - partly because they trust their schooled sons and daughters - have swallowed this lie and moved on with it. They have been conditioned to blame natural factors and shift their attention  away from the inadequacies of their sons and daughters. 

Resultant effect? Too much grumbling. Endless lamentations. Too much talk and little action. Defeatism at its best, you see!

While natural phenomenon cannot be wished away, I strongly hold that progress isn't subject to factors that are inherently external. Harsh weather is one such external factor. Not even the loudest lamentation can bring forth the desired positive effect if it's not tinged with reasoning and followed up by concrete action. 

We are tailored, through our many gifts and capabilities, to better our conditions and not look for ready-made interventions. I oppose food rations to the masses for three reasons. It subjugates the people. It embodies defeatism. It is a tool of a few to control many. 

Only holistic interventions can stand the test of time. Somebody must lead the way for this to happen.

And who can do this?

Now, this where the rain started beating us. It's exactly sixty days since I wrote a piece about a forgotten school found deep inside Turkana County. Many of you might be aware that lack of school infrastructure in the remote corners of this country is still a big headache.

Some of us from Kenya's northern frontier counties won't be surprised to see kids learning under trees or schools devoid of teachers. This is 'normal' over there.

Wait, the point here isn't the astonishment (or lack of it). Such encounters put into perspective the innate apathy of professionals from these regions. They are completely withdrawn from the day-to-day encounters of the masses.

Mark you, the school's story just ended like that, a story. Only endless splashing of empty rhetoric kept flying in. No homegrown action. Only strangers streamed in with goodies.

Which provoked some bitter questions: could this be the end of the beginning of progress? Who do these 'enlightened' people wait to do what benefits their people? Or could this be a protectionist mentality deployed by the few at the top to maintain their grip over the clueless mass of people out there?

I think the problem started some time back. Many of those controlling levers of power in these regions passed through the helpful hands of Churches, NGOs or Special government programs. They were handpicked, schooled and sent out as agents of change.

But what do we see now?

It seems the lesson was wrongly internalised. Many of these professionals have grown up with the feeling that external help (especially from aid agencies and government) is a must. 

Look, prior to the introduction of Constituencies Development Fund in 2003, about eighty-percent of schools, health facilities and rescue centers in Turkana were either built by faith-based organisations or  some stand-alone NGOs.

This justifies my understanding of development problem in Turkana. The thing is wholly a soft-ware problem. It demands a mental shift to tilt the scales. Blame not material shortage! 

Materials will always be scarce in a place dotted with chaps that still cling on blame-shifting and apathy as the only way to progress. 

Which progress? Format your brains and it will dawn on you that you have a lot to offer to build your communities.

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Many thanks to the following persons/entities for turning up: 

1) Mumbi Kaptere - Ksh 18200

2) Ultimate System Decisions -1 - Ksh 1365
3) Claire Bond Kshs - Ksh 2730
4) White Cliffs Music - Kshs 910
5) Jo Graeme kshs - Ksh 1365
6) Ultimate System Decisions -2 - Ksh 1638
7) Dr. Ekuru Aukot - Ksh 14000
8) Mr. Linus Ebenyo- Minister for Tourism and Trade Turkana County  - 20 iron sheets. 

The children of Kootoro Primary School are happy to know that you heard their pleas, and you responded accordingly. Be blessed.

Lemukol Ng'asike is an Architect. E-mail:  lemoseh89@gmail.com.  Twitter:  @mlemukol.