I think its easy for us on this forum to say that kenya is not a failed state. Thats because for us its NOT.However for a majority of Kenyans it is. The fact that you are reading this means that you are among the previledged of the country(even though you feel like a poor hustler) .for the Guy who has to chose between 20 bob fare and dinner for his 4 kids... its a totally different story. For him the government does not supply any services whatsoever or create an enabling environment. He has to fear thugs or be protected by Mungiki and pay for it-or other equivalent vigilantes(where are the police for him?Guarding the MPs?). For the poor kenyan it doesnt matter what the rest of the world thinks,it doesnt even matter what the Middle class(AKA us guys) think. For him things are just not working. There is something we can all do but its not easy. It takes a revolution or lots of patience and jipangaring in the meantime and for the brave trying to do something about it and having minimal impact that makes a difference to a few here and there. Im not sure where ill be after voting in 2012. Might just skip the border and watch what happens from a safe distance(at least i have the fare to reach arusha,most kenyans dont) . After all si its a jipangaring state? Every man for himself and the goverment for the MPs and the rich? On Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 1:03 PM, wesley kiriinya <kiriinya2000@yahoo.com>wrote:
Then has Kenya been always a failed state? If we are a failed state now, when have we not been a failed state?
Kenya might have it's issues but I wouldn't go as far as calling it a failed State. I think a better term is failed institutions, not because of lack of rules and regulations but because of lack of people with vision and integrity. So there's a thin line here.
And if Kenya is a failed state then I would say that it's Kenyans who have failed it. The State is fine but most Kenyans have failed to do what is right for their country.
One of the most sorry things I come across are young people with myopic vision. They sit and wait for things to improve. They can't even clean their environment, things that only cost effort not money.
A second thing is fear. Most Kenyans I have seen are not bold enough to take the right action. They're still looking over their shoulders to check whether there are people who have their back. Suprisingly they are bold when doing the wrong things! China will come and construct our roads coz they are bold and they know the world is their's for the taking.
O_O
--- On *Tue, 7/7/09, Okechukwu <okechukwu@gmail.com>* wrote:
From: Okechukwu <okechukwu@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] OUT-OF-TOPIC: Kenya a Failed State...? To: "Skunkworks forum" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2009, 9:08 AM
I have always maintained that we are surely a failed state. The minute we realize this, then we can wake up and do something about it, but when we continue arguing whether we are a failed state or not, we will remain a failed state. The definition is a country with the following characteristics:
- loss of physical control of its territory, or of the monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly_on_violence>therein (YES) - erosion of legitimate authority to make collective decisions, (YES) - an inability to provide reasonable public services, and (YES) - an inability to interact with other states as a full member of the international community <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_community>. (Maybe)
So we have 3outof4 outright YES, unless someone can give a NO and provide proof.
./Ok3ch
On Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 6:55 AM, saidimu apale <saidimu@gmail.com<http://us.mc347.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=saidimu@gmail.com>
wrote:
True, caring about others' opinions is a natural response, but not necessarily a helpful one.
Again I ask, so what if Tz, Ug, Rw etc notice? As long as we're doing our thing, and doing it right, then "they" can't "capitalise" on "it".
Unfortunately, and this has been my observation for a very long time, Kenyans are too prickly and thin-skinned. We spend way too much time glancing at our neighbours' reactions than on putting out the flames right on our front doorstep. We also spend way too little time taking stock of our strengths and maximizing that.
Just being successful isn't a recipe for being liked either, you may get more envy than approval.
In short, human approval/disapproval is an inexact science, if a science at all. You're better of spending your scarce resources doing the right thing, whatever that may be for you.
On Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 2:19 PM, Tech List Kenya <techlistkenya@gmail.com<http://us.mc347.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=techlistkenya@gmail.com>
wrote:
Saidimu, I will stick my neck out and tell u that it doesn't work that way. Contrary to popular belief, we all care what others think. And Kenya does not live in a vacuum. Its global times we live in and when it is reported that Kenya is a failed state, countries like Tz, ug, rw, etc will notice. And will try to capitalise on it. Meanwhile we bury our heads in the comfort of familiarity because "it works". I cant say I knw how exactly it will affect me. But I am sure you and I will notice the effect(s). Whether or not we acknowledge it is a whole different story
On 7/6/09, saidimu apale <saidimu@gmail.com<http://us.mc347.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=saidimu@gmail.com>> wrote:
How about this: forget about what others think of your country.
The question is: is it working for you? If it isn't, fix it. If it is, who cares what others think?
On Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 11:58 AM, Solomon Mburu <solo.mburu@gmail.com<http://us.mc347.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=solo.mburu@gmail.com>> wrote:
Listers,
I was just going through the Foreign Policy <http://www.foreignpolicy.com>website and in their current newsletter, Failed state Index< http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/06/22/the_2009_failed_states_inde... Kenya is considered as one of the Failed States. Then according to Wikipaedia (Failed States Index< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Failed_States_Index>) Kenya is a country on the verge of being considered a failed state, actually, we are placed on the alert level
I wonder how much patriotic we can to change this state of event!
-- Solomon Mburu P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041
Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the same way to the side of a hill!
AND
It is better to die in dignity than in the ignomity of ambiguous generosity!
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-- Sent from my Voice Recognition Watch© -------------------------------------------------------------------- God is not an excuse for lack of discipline -------------------------------------------------------------------- Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,but that we are powerful beyond measure.It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.As we let our own light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear,our presence automatically liberates others.