In the event that the majority embraces impunity and mediocrity, then these govern. I cry for my homeland, Kenya. This is the only land where you can never depend on merit. The biggest factors for advancement are who you know, how deep your pockets are, and luck, in that order. On a brighter note, it is undeniable that Kenya is a truly blessed land. Some even call it the cradle of all mankind. With some of the best climates in the world, we are indeed gifted. Not only is it endowed with natural features, but the people are also outstanding in their own right. What about the offspring of a Kenyan who becomes president of the US, just fifty years after the enslavement of slavery! I wish I could be proud of my country. I really long for the day when I can truly feel proud of my country. But in every way, up to now, my beloved country has been a disappointment, ever since I was born. Every day I feel more frustrated. My country is no longer a source of inspiration. Instead, what happens is just a source of fear, anger, despair, and guilt. My elementary school teacher taught me to appreciate the values ​​of honesty, integrity, and hard work. These do not work in Kenya; not anymore! And now my son will soon join the educational system. What will the system, formal and informal, teach my child? What else can explain public carriers ‘putting down their tools’ because they are now required to obey the law? Where else are people with pending serious court cases being celebrated and running for president? This must be a case of a shortage of people of integrity, which I don’t buy. It is purely a case of the standards we have chosen to set for ourselves, our children and the future. These are mediocrity, impunity, anarchy and absolute disregard for everything systematic or ethical. This, added to the general lethargy, cowardice and inability to be decisive without seeking ‘what others think’, has made my country something I am afraid to raise my child in, or even feel proud of. What a waste!…
These were the raw and real feelings running through the mind at that moment. How times change!
Today, I decided to focus less on those feelings and try to focus on real action-oriented approaches. Now I write. I choose to write.