Proudly Kenyan

We take for granted so many things as Kenyans. Its because we are too used to the peace and the some form of prosperity in the country. Day in day out people complain about the state of affairs in Kenya but how many times have we sat down and actually appreciated the fact that we have a country? We compare our country with the likes of Singapore, South Africa and even to some extent the United States of America. How many countries do we think look up to Kenya just for some form of peace or even the level of freedom and education? Kenya is growing and despite the critics, most of us Kenyans have a lot of opportunities. We have seen people from the slums rising to become rich and famous. We have seen the kadogo economy working to favor those who are not well off economically. As Kenyans we have survival tactics and we thrive.

Most people however choose to look at the glass half empty. Mombasa for example is a land known to many Nairobians as ‘mji wa furaha’ which according to some scholars is quite the opposite at least for the Mombasa residents. The elites in Mombasa call the shots. The politics are controlled by drug barons. I just read an article on Mombasa claiming that it is a ticking time bomb. What I do not understand is why the Mombasa youth want special treatment from the government. They keep blackmailing the government with the threat of joining Al Hijra or Al Qaeda. This is a country and the interests of 40 million supersede the interests of a few extremists claiming ‘Pwani si Kenya’. Education is now free in Kenya and we all know knowledge is power. The amount of greed in the Kenyan Coast has led to the youth becoming beach boys and prostitutes and later on blaming the government for doing nothing about this vice. The level of education in the Coast has dwindled over the years and God forbid they have their way and secede from mainland Kenya, the poor will continue languishing in dire poverty and the rich will continue getting richer.

We have had a lot of issues with our leaders and even the security system in our country but our country has not yet gone to the dogs. Countries around us and in the world over are looking up to us as an example to emulate. There is nowhere in this world that the citizens do not complain about the state of affairs in their government and the blunder that some make is actually trying to oust the reigning leadership. This to me is a very selfish and silly idea. A form of government whether dictatorial or democratic is better than anarchy. Kenya has a legitimately elected government whether you believe otherwise or not that’s your opinion but the Jubilee government is in power and the least we can do is support their leadership. The pains of losing a country is unimaginable just ask the Somali natives. Libya and Egypt were the leading economies in Africa but at the moment the citizens of these countries live in uncertainty not knowing what will happen next.

America is usually termed as the land of milk and honey. But what exactly is the definition of milk and honey? In my opinion Kenya is the perfect description of that kind of land. One can work so hard to get rich but at the same time enjoy his hard earned money. In Kenya we are given opportunities to explore our talents, ideas and hobbies. People leave Kenya to go to the so called developed world only to make money that they can’t enjoy. Given these countries are beautiful. The infrastructure in Dubai, the social amenities in the UK and just the kind of comfort one enjoys in Malaysia is what most Kenyans look up to.

However though, despite it all I would still rather be a Kenyan living in Kenya. This is one of the very few states where we sincerely love and cherish one another. Don’t raise an eyebrow towards that statement because it’s true. Kenyans have a lot of negativity but someone somewhere will always raise a helping hand towards her fellow citizen. The president himself sponsored a poor boy through high school just because he made him laugh. Where else would you hear such stories? People contribute money for just causes every other day. I am so proud to be Kenyan because I can air my views without getting arrested. My opinions count either to influence other people’s train of thought or just for the mere fact that I want to air them out. I am so proud to be Kenyan because I can sleep and wake up and go about my daily business without fear of constant tension. Yes the country has faced a lot of clashes and terrorist attacks but we are a resilient people.

The other day I was reading an article about xenophobia in South Africa against the Somalis. Somalis living in South Africa prefer going back to their war torn country due to the hate crimes propagated towards them by the South Africans. This just goes to show without a peaceful state one lacks a sense of identity and security. Somalis are quite a hardworking people but despite this, they face a lot of discrimination world over. Our security mechanism may not be the best but its way better than having none. Our government may be full of corrupt people but at least it’s a working government.

We all witnessed when the whole of Somali government worked from Nairobi due to instability. We all saw the joy of the Southern Sudanese when they got a country. Many Kenyans keep comparing our country with others but whatever happens we are Kenyans and we should start appreciating the little good things we have. No matter where you go whether rich or poor as long as it’s outside our boarders you will forever be termed as a second class and even third class citizen. They will consider you an alien in all the other countries. When you go to the tourists destinations, you will definitely pay higher rates. The fact that you do not understand the culture of the host country they will treat you like a different creature either wanting to take advantage of you or treating you like trash because you are not one of them.

Kenya may not be the best country in the world but ask the foreigners who flock here in billions they will tell you a different story. Let’s not concentrate on the evils of this country.  We have way more beauty to showcase than the evil. Let’s not keep fighting about things that do not make any sense like ethnicity because if at the moment u claim to hate everything about Kenya, ask the Somalis, Syrians, Afghans, just to mention a few what they are feeling towards their countries. Somali was once a peaceful country but due to silly misunderstandings and greed, they lost their country just like that.

We are a country of bright people let’s try to solve our issues internally other than calling to the international community to solve our problems. And yes I am talking about the ICC lest we become like the Serbs and Bosnians. And on that note the media should be very responsible in what they report. Yes we need information but really, national security overrides any form of information. I do not think it was wise to show the Westgate expose. In my opinion it was too soon and it was to the wrong audience. Anyway I digress. My point was that we are lucky to have a country very highly respected for that matter, Lets all join hands to protect it tooth and nail like the North Koreans protect their state and proudly say ‘Najivunia Kuwa Mkenya’. For once let’s think of what we can do for our country and not vice versa. Let’s try not to blame the government for every little thing. Know the laws and follow them to the letter and let’s see how well that will work.