The greatest enemy of progress is s/he who thinks education should not reach all, and if - by chance - it flows to those in need, it must be channeled in a manner that shakes not the chains of oppression and poverty. This enemy believes education is not a right and (it) should be doled out to those who 'fit the bill'.
While it is a reality (even for numskulls) that education remains the only way out of the mental and material poverty that still condemns my people to endless bouts of violence and destruction, some mis/leaders out there want to force us to believe that their narrow interests and one-sided politicking should out-compete the needs of Wananchi.
These mis/leaders know something most of us don't know. They have mastered the art of profiting from the illiteracy and mental hollowness of the people. They know their (political) survival is built on the school-lessness of their folk.
Mark you; they are determined to maintain this status quo through outright neglect of the biting need of building new schools and/or supporting the few existing ones.
In cases outside their control, they have moved ahead to badmouth the good intentions of those pushing for provision of education. Unfortunately, the very same education-thirsty Mwananchi has been roped in to throw stones at teachers and to pull down classrooms that house their children. A clear indication that we have a long way to go to liberate this type of citizen from the mental prison blurring his vision.
For these wayward politicians, their ignorance-founded political real-estate must be protected from all infiltration whatsoever. This is why our children's education gives them sleepless nights.
Those of us from nomadic backgrounds know this animal exists and still straddles the terrain up there unchallenged. We have chosen to mind our own business and 'let the equation solve itself' for two solid reasons.
One, because our children are not directly affected by this hollow-minded political philosophy and two, because we are beneficiaries of our people's sufferance.
But one thing comes out clearly: The free reign of political meddling in education matters in Turkana will not take us anywhere. It will mar our efforts to uplift this community. There is no way hitherto cooperative community members can rise up one day and close down a school and (literally) chase teachers and pupils away.
There is no reason to believe that differences can only be resolved through raw power and headless political posturing. We must stand against this evil.
Politics that is not informed by the real issues affecting citizens is politics of slavery, not empowerment.
No. We refuse. People come first. Education is the way. Teachers know where this way leads us.
Personally, I feel the pain of those kids somewhere in Turkana whose education was cut short because a local politico found it fit to pick their school as the battle ground to prove his good-for-nothing political muscle.
Turkana needs more committed teachers. Such teachers need our collective support to out-maneuver the political wave that feels threatened by expanded schooling targeting a huge segment of marginalised Turkanas.
Good people, we must confront these greedy politicians before they rock our children's education - and future.
Turkana County teachers need more than just verbal support.
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