The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
Nairobi residents flock at Uhuru park to usher in a new year on Jan 1, 2025.[Edward Kiplimo, Standard]
When a community goes through a moment of turmoil, it is very easy to lose sight of the societal aspect and get embroiled only with the negatives in the political-economic facet of our lives. Sometimes, the bitterness can even make us lose hope, abandoning ourselves to the thought that all is lost. Kenya is still reeling from the events of June 2024, and amidst the political happenings, many citizens seem to have lost all faith in our ability to rise as a country.
A casual glance at the news items in both mainstream and social media might give you the impression that Kenya is irredeemably lost as a nation. But if you look at the same news again, this time more deliberately, you begin to come across some very encouraging stories.
Consider the following, all reported within the last few weeks: James Mwangi of Equity Bank, a Kenyan, was appointed to the highly coveted World Bank Advisory Council. A Kenyan teacher, Dominic Orina, has been nominated for the prestigious Global Teacher Award. Eliud Kipchoge, a Kenyan athlete, is among those tipped to clinch the London Marathon title. On a lighter note, David Rudisha, another Kenyan athlete, got engaged to the love of his life.
Do you see it? This was still reported in our media. How we miss these stories and only choose to see the political fires baffles me. Let me persuade you that everything is not lost for Kenya despite the current political-economic meltdown.
For starters, there is still something good in this country. Here is food for thought: When Jesus Christ was looking for His first disciples, one man who heard of this new Rabbi in town was Nathaniel. His first obstacle was believing anything good could come out of Nazareth, a city known for many bad things. After interacting with this Nazarene, Nathaniel discovered that not all news about Nazareth was terrible.
Kenya is still a good country because it remains our only future. Never lose faith in humanity, even when some societal elements have messed up. The other day, I forgot my tablet in a public matatu, but I still got it back the next day. Not all Kenyans are looters, murderers, extortionists, and all the rest of the evils happening around us. There is you and me, and we are still Kenyans, aren’t we?
The moment we lose faith in ourselves as a society, we tear each other down because of the anger bottled up inside. That is how we end up demonising each other instead of standing shoulder-high amid our homemade troubles.
Let me ask you a sincere question: What happens when you go through that list of Kenyans who have clinched something of international ranking? Do you feel proud, or is your first instinct to check the tribal, political, or other affiliation of the individual? When you see people fighting each other in external matters, it is evidence of a society quickly giving up on itself. Case in point: The candidature of Raila Odinga for the Chairperson of AUC.
Just because we have our differences at home, do we begin to send email to the World Bank, London Marathon, etc, protesting the inclusion of our own simply because they are Kenyans and Kenya has trouble at the moment?
In the book 'Why Nations Fail', the writers have this to say about the decline of the Roman Republic: “During the Republic, Rome had dealt with much more organised and threatening opponents, such as the Carthaginians. The decline of Rome was very similar to that of the Maya city-states. Rome’s increasingly extractive political and economic institutions generated its demise because they caused infighting and civil war.”
Rome withstood an invasion from foreign armies but then crumbled when they began to fight each other internally. We have not lost the battle until we fight each other as Kenyans. All is not lost. Yes, we are in trouble on many fronts as a nation. Many things aren’t working as they should. Institutions may have crumbled; systems may have failed. But let us not lose hope in ourselves as a society.
Rev Mutua is Senior Pastor of Gospel Outreach Church, Egerton. mutuacn@gmail.com
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The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
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