Lets see things together:
But since u see better and more
Fill up the gaps in my seeing
Lets speak out to the land, together,
Lets speak out to Africa, together…
To the new Africa especially,
Lest the falling pot bangs her dead.
Joseph Kagimu
Our societies are losing values and morals, in the wake of globalization, in the age of technological development and in this age of modernism. We, thus, need to draw lessons that will help us forge ahead in these turbulent times and in this era of socio-political deceptions. We need to recreate our societies, recreate our values and beliefs to fit in the changing times. You agree that in this times standards are falling, culture of materialism is common, double talk and hypocrisy is part of our everyday life, the increasing deceptions, killings, rapes, muggings, corruption, outright lies and so many other negative cultures are slowly creeping into our societies and eroding the values and morals of the larger Kenyan society.
The alleged classic FM message made public, the death of the six infants in Thika all point to this, if we don’t realize this and act appropriately, this will eventually be our greatest undoing, Kenya has a pride that it needs to safeguard, the once hospitable and polite people are now becoming intolerant and irate, easily flared up by an unwarranted hatred of ones brother and baseless political emotions, divisive politics is diminishing the little that is left.
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| the r/ship between values and vice. |
Following all this, we need to have timeless lessons that will have relevance to all generations; every socio-economic, political, religious cultures and every ethnic group will find the unity of their beliefs and values. Lessons that apply to all, lessons that will help us be in touch with the humanity in us, lessons that will help us embrace ethics and morals. The following are some of these desirable lessons that every individual in Kenya should strive to embrace and manifest in his/her life for a peaceful and united Kenyan society.
1. Dialogue.
Kenyans should talk to each other, about their problems, plight and share in the joy of one another. We can resort to solve our differences by words instead of weapons.
2. I am my brother’s keeper.
Kenyans should see themselves as one larger bloc. The plight of one should be felt by all- we should be our brother’s and sister’s keeper- the KENYANS 4 KENYA initiative that has managed to collect more than 500 million shillings in a few weeks time is an indicator that we have the ability to pull together when we see each other as being in the same boat.
3. Integrated persons, lets own Kenya.
Many among us Kenyans play spectator roles where active and popular participation is called for, we watch as the direction of our future is shaped and only start complaining when the conditions become unbearable. While some take the role of only criticizing every decision, policy without providing alternatives and other suitable solutions. We need to be integrated into the political process, policy making, and the implementation process too, as integrated persons we will be able to transform and shape Kenya as our responsibility; we will be the subjects of the transforming process. We won’t be subjected to the choices of others when we take initiative: guided by our own thinking.
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| stop vandalism |
The government resources are our own, lets take care of them the way we care for our own, it beats logic seeing people vandalize resources in their care because of claims such as “it is the government’s”, who is the government? Every citizen constitutes the government. Two things are apparent in the use of government resources: carelessness and recklessness.
4. Reflection and action.
We need to think and deeply reflect about our roles as the citizens of Kenya. Action without reflection has pulled us back, when we act without considering the consequences of our actions then we are doomed. The 2008 Post election violence was a result of action without reflection. Stop, look back, reflect and see what you can do that will have a positive outcome not only on you but also on the people around you. It’s the only way to prevent rash counterproductive actions.
5. Tolerance.
Kenya has diversity in cultures, ethnic groups, religious beliefs and political ideologies. Despite all this we have shared goals, desires and national decisions binding and bringing all this diversity into one larger dream, the dream of prosperity and development of the nation of Kenya. How can we co-exist and live peacefully together accommodating all the diverse cultures, beliefs, values and divergent ideologies to realize this bigger dream? By exercising TOLERANCE, it is only through tolerating and respecting other people's decisions, cultures, beliefs, desires, values, goals and ideologies that we shall work towards our shared dream. It’s only through tolerance that we can avoid negative ethnicity which has had and still continues to act as a major impediment to our achieving development.
6. Avoiding fanaticism.
Taking political stands without deliberations, making subjective decisions and general fanaticism leads to underdevelopment because it separates us, our communities and creates hatred, intolerance and the culture of negative unwarranted competition between individuals, political groups and ethnic groups.
The shoe shiner’s place and barber shops political analysis shows just how fanatic Kenyans can be when it comes to politicians- we need to replace all these common place political discussions that perpetuates rivalry, tribalism and hatred with decisive lessons of development and civic lessons on issue based politics.
Recently Barrack Muluka in an interview said that as Africans we need to “Objectify our subjectivity and subjectify our objectivity”- we need to have shared objectives.
7. Quality Service from all and to all.
The culture of mediocre performance and falling standards in the provision of services is one that needs to be addressed by all citizens. In whatever level that you are servicing, give what you expect, be your own supervisor- give your best, serve with all your heart, selfless service will improve the culture values and morals.
8. Free thinking.
We need free thinking, broad-minded individuals and people driven by the good of the whole society and not by selfish interests. The culture of materials leads to the disregard for others interests. Mob psychology is a recipe for eroding morals.
Oliver Goldsmith captures just how important morality and values are in the well being of a society through this quote “Ill fares the land where wealth accumulates and men decay”.
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