‘’Education is the most
powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’’- Nelson Mandela
These are the powerful words
of Tata. Our fallen hero. The continents
and world’s fallen hero. A man who between anger, revenge, bitterness; chose
forgiveness, love and unity. A man who looked at the continent and knew that
education is what would change the state we were and are in. Hail Madiba!
Lesson about the sacrifices
made by Mandela and the way he championed for education aside.
Why are you here-reading this
article? Could it be the title on our mainstream media on 10th
November?
‘Kakamega County ranked the
poorest scoring 42.9% of the 47 counties’; in a report released by Devolution
Cabinet Secretary Ann Waiguru along with her counterparts.
Could it be because we contribute
4.8% to national poverty with 805,900 of our people living below the poverty line?
What a revealing statistic!
Why are you reading this
article?
Oh! Because, we have now realized
that poverty is our number one enemy. For years our families were not fortunate
enough to afford food-speak of boiled beans (omnuye) for supper, breakfast and lunch. Tattered uniforms,
exposing the hard, coal like buttocks. Grass thatched huts with part of the
roof caving in, letting in rain. Bear feet school going children. After all
this time, we just didn’t know we are poor.
Why are you reading this
article?
Even as we registered a low
voter turnout. With 1,660,651 people and the second most populous county in
Kenya, now the poorest, we registered only, 602,950 voters of which over
100,000 did not turn up to vote. We have always asked ourselves where people go
when it’s time to register and vote. (Gee) could it be they are too busy
working for food-probably after days of starvation?
Why are they selling their votes for 50/-
worth? Could it be they are securing that instant gratification-a week’s,
month’s meal? I wonder.
Why are you reading this
article?
Oh... you are embarrassed at
the statistics. I know I am. More of disappointed let alone embarrassed. We
have been hung out to dry. Our dirty shorts exposed to the world. Our
hopelessness exposed followed by a kick in the teeth. Yes, that is right. We have
finally received what we deserve after all this while, haven’t we. Always
playing it safe, lack of resolve and initiative.
But provided you are reading
this article, I am happy. It is an indication that we are going to win this
battle. So, keep reading.
I am happy that you and I are
wide awake-thanks to the rude shake from slumber, we have received from the
government. More like a kick in the stomach. I would like you to be wide awake
for what I will say, will determine the people we become. What is done is done.
Forget the report. Forget the
agenda behind the report. Forget what the numbers are saying. Forget the
politics circumnavigating the report. Forget it all. Focus on this instead;
what next?
We have been undressed in public
and depending on our endowments, people will either still want to associate
with us or treat us like a plague.
Similar to that girl you are
chasing when she sees you naked for the first time unexpectedly. If she looks
at you the same way or not at all or with admiration-it depends on your
endowments. Are we endowed? Often I have heard that poverty is infectious-lest
we spread our condition to other counties. What next?
There are three actions we can
take.
One, filled with self-pity, we
could lie down and die-words I borrow from my High school principal, Mr. Odera.
Declare its game over. Winner counties will take it all-our land and share our
allocations of the now 54 billion. But it would take us days to die-if we did
it in a manner I have suggested-lying down and dying. Imagine over 1,000,000
people each lying down waiting to die. It would take years. Thus I conclude we
strike out this idea. Can I get some yays?
Two, let us shake the leadership
tree a bit. Call for mass action, protests and forcefully remove and replace
all the current office bearers-government-with performers. It has been done
elsewhere, it can be done. It is provided for in the constitution and thus all
factors are working for us. Perhaps we need a new governor and senator?
Perhaps. A total overhaul of the county government.
But let’s zoom in and analyse
these leaders. Members of the County Assemblies (MCA’s) the least is paid,
200,000/- per month. Majority have houses, land and drive. So they are taken
care of. Our big wigs-aka county billionaires-are all in the government except
a handful. Taking them out could prove a toll order. Given our current
state-many will still sell their resolve for 50/- again. This will weaken our
forces. Some of us might end up in jail or dead. But who is ready to die
knowing that he did so for nothing. I am not.
Let me digress.
In 2007 something had to
change. We voted and killed one another, but still, we are, we are… we are. Let
the county leadership work-after all it’s our votes that put them there. So,
again, let’s strike this one out. An extreme idea, though doable.
Lastly…I am on the last action
point bit with nothing to offer you my reader. Are we trapped in this abyss of
poverty? Do we have a way out? A rope to climb on to perhaps; aha! We do.
It all comes down to you my
reader. You are your own way out of poverty. We are our own way out of poverty.
Mahatma Gandhi said; ‘Be the
change that you want to see in the world.’ I know you want so badly to live a
better life. To provide for your family, secure their future, their education
and lead a rewarding life. And you would like to die at the right time-not to
be given a raw deal by death-due to poverty. All these we want, yes?
Then start by changing your
mentality. Change your schools of thought. Look at things through a different
lens. A lens of hope, responsibility, action and opportunity.
Let me digress a bit more.
In 2008, I went back to high school-Butere
Boys-to collect my certificates. I was eager to meet the man who taught me how
to be a man. Combining his teachings and that of my dear father-Mr. Litunya, I
expected to come out a hybrid. Luckily he was in his office. I stepped in and
he paused for a while. ‘Odenyo’ he called me. ‘Yes mwalimu’, I responded. ‘Have a sit. I know you have come to collect
your papers…’ We talked for a while. As we almost concluded touching base, he
said ‘from now, you are in charge of your life.’ My eyes welled with tears. I remained
silent for almost a minute. The silence was loud. I reached out my hand and
shook him one last time. I left.
They say that throughout one’s
lifetime-expect many turning points. That my reader was my other turning point.
I stopped blaming people for my situation. I went out and went all in.
What is my point; before it
comes down to leadership and other factors that are not turning our wheels out
of poverty, let us do our bit. Learn how money works. Work for money, save that
money, learn how to invest that money.
Use your land to get loans, invest in agriculture, reap, seek profitable
markets, save and repay your loan. This is how our ability to learn-education,
comes in. Let us learn all that there is to know about money, the result will
be unfathomable.
There is a way. All you need
is a will. Eric Thomas said, ‘When you want to succeed as bad as you want to
breathe, then you will be successful.’ Imagine lying on your deathbed and all
you needed to live was breathe and if you fail to breathe death awaits. I am
sure you would marshal all your calories and inhale.
This is the same situation. If
we want to come out of our poverty, then let us want it so bad and we will
eventually succeed.
A rich household equals a
richer county and an even richer country. Take the plunge!
George
Odenyo Litunya
Communication
Consultant, Trainer and Writer; +254(0)711998010; odenyo09@gmail.com
