The art of getting what you want

A Letter to My Fellow Stupid Kenyans

I took some time out to just write this letter. Read and Understand

Ready, Start!

Hello to you, my fellow Kenyan, sorry for calling you stupid, but I really didn’t have any other word for you. I’m not a writer, and I do not claim to have a mastery of this language I write in, but my guts can’t allow me to stop writing this.

Over the years I have sat and watched as you toil in the fruitless lands of your own country. I have watched as the fruits of your labor are swept down the drain at the KCC premises and as spoilt maize enters our boundaries undetected. Seen grand corruption, drug trafficking, and all manner of evil happen to my stupid Kenyans.

Seated on my couch, glued to my television set waiting for my mind to be set by the same people who have done it before; only this time I think they are different –of course because they have said they’re. 

Previously, I had sat on the couch watching as the same people talked about competence in the judiciary. I saw few Kenyans being vetted for CJ and Deputy CJ’s positions. I saw them investigate their past, scrutinize their previous positions and even question their beliefs. And to all this, I said it was necessary for the new Kenya –the Kenya I have so long longed for.

I supported this kind of scrutiny, I joined them in calling for the “right person for the job.” Glue to my set, I supported the new found love for competence in public positions. 

Little did I know, these people were just playing on my stupidity. 

I thought the same measures would be applied equally to all. But there is one big difference, all meant us, the rest of Kenyans; but they would get a different set of rules to govern their game.

They call it a dirty game, yes dirty! But that’s just a name they have given it, so that they can mess the game as they wish –and stupid me, I accepted. So that they can change the rules when their jobs are on the line.

Competence is not what is needed now, previous performance is not important. What is important is “our man.” Yes, they want you to think they are your “man.” This is the only good qualification they have.

They have joined, ganged up! Previous foes now good friends, but the blood still cries the wounds yet to heal. And they have already set us up for another blood bath. 

They have set the stage, it’s us against them.

But wait a minute, wasn’t this the same stage five years ago? When ‘them against us’ lead to mass massacre? When neighbors, friends, and even spouses “spontaneously” turned against each other?

How can we be so stupid? Now we round up in their rallies, shout when they announce union of tribes. Unions meant to win against other tribes. 

Do you Kenyans really read? Do you have such short memory? I call you Stupid because it’s the only word that I can give such behavior. 

Seated on my couch, a thought just crossed mind –this country will only be as good as our unreasonable Kenyans. The far we go and the position we take in the community of nations is determined by our own stupidity and the ability of our leaders to use it.

So I have concluded, my fellow stupid Kenyan, we have competent leaders. Some are very competent in using our stupidity for their own gain while others have used the same for the benefit of the nation.

We are given one chance in five years, to show whether we have woken from our stupid slumber. One chance to make the next five years different. One chance to choose between love and hate.

We are yet to make that choice. 

All I ask is for us to ask for competence; competence in whatever we dim as the best measures that can be applied to all. 

The only difference between developing nations and developed nations is the level of stupidity among the populace and how leaders choose to use it.

We have a chance to make amends.

Our stupidity will determine where we take the country.

I’m still seated on my couch, glued to my television set, waiting for my stupid Kenyans to make their stupid choices. And as leaders use it as they wish.

I pray “Mjinga aerevuke”