The nation lies wounded, bleeding at your feet. The blood of innocents flows torrentially into the Great Rift Valley lakes and rivers. Lake victoria threatens to turn crimson with the blood of people whose only crime was to (presumably) vote differently from us.
Ethnic cleansing is rife in most parts of our beautiful country.
While this continues, we fan the flames by distributing evil emails, sms and messages, unaware that we are initiating yet another chain of bloodletting by inflaming passions one way or the other.
The nation stands on the brink of a precipice. The decision is in our hands- we can jump and join Somalia and other African countries that bloat the pantheon of failed states. Or we can, by our individual efforts, move to stem the bloodshed, by refusing to engage in negative thought, emotions and acts. We can stop our fathers, brothers and sons from wielding those machetes; we can stop them from burning women and children in churches and other sanctuaries.
We can stop and help injured neighbours; we can provide food and shelter to those displaced. We can call our friends and acquaintances and pass on a positive message.
We can believe in the dream of a safer future, free of ethnic jingoism, where everyone is given the opportunity to strive for a better life.
WE CAN SAY NO TO VIOLENCE.
FOR EVIL TO TRIUMPH ALL IT TAKES IS FOR THE GOOD PEOPLE TO DO NOTHING.
STOP THE KILLINGS!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
The Kenyan Politician
Society, they say, gets the leaders it deserves. It may be wise for Kenyans to reflect on this saying especially during this election season. In Kenya, leaders are defined as councillors, MPs, Presidents and aspirants for those positions. We can therefore paraphrase the above aphorism- we get the politicians we deserve.
Some people would say that democracies propel the best in a society into leadership positions. Many more would aver that a democratic process produces what represents the average view of the majority, that leaders in a democracy would reflect the average situation in a society.
I disagree with both positions, especially on the Kenyan political scene. Judging from our political history, it would appear that our democratic process tends to throw up individuals who will not fit into any other area of our social life. Thus many unsuccessful businesspeople turn to politics, as do unsuccessful lawyers, doctors, teachers, professors etc. Politics has turned into a playground for failures and retirees, and it is no wonder that the people into whose hands we leave the affairs of state many times have no idea what to do with the power we hand them.
I also disagree with the earlier assertions partly from a selfish point of view: I believe I am an average Kenyan, and very few of our ‘representatives’ represent what I believe in. If I was to agree that they represent either the best or the average among Kenyans, I would have to agree that the average Kenyan has many obnoxious attributes, a few of which I will enumerate.
Laziness would be the first attribute I would give the average Kenyan based on the behaviour of his representative. They work the fewest hours and waste no opportunity to avoid their responsibilities, but they expect their regular pay check at the end of the month. They perfect the art of procrastination, waiting until the last minute to begin doing what they must do, taking the maximum allowed time, and them asking for more.
Greed and hankering after quick wealth would have to compete for honours with laziness. For our politicians, leadership positions are opportunities to enrich oneself, their family and friends. They will steal, blackmail, grab, and use all means at their disposal to become as rich as possible in the shortest possible time.
Dishonesty would follow as a key attribute of the average Kenyan. Our representatives have no compunction singing the praises of one individual or idea today and without batting an eyelid change their tune the next day. This change would not be motivated by any amount of deep soul-searching, but would result from some such personal misfortune as defeat in nominations, or the offer or promise of a position in government, or even an exchange of some sum of money or property. Our ‘leaders’ will paint each other as monsters in daylight, while dining together in the evening and laughing at their daytime theatrics.
A final attribute I would reluctantly bestow on the average Kenyan would be either low intelligence or plain ignorance. People who sprout profound wisdom when not in politics suddenly start saying the most ridiculous things in public and expecting everyone to believe them. The tragedy is not that they say such things, but that a large segment of the population actually believes them and takes them seriously.
Because I am reluctant to accept that the average Kenyan possesses the attributes enumerated above, I disagree with the precept that our politicians represent the attributes of the best or the average Kenyan. I think we take politicians far too seriously in our country, and end up expecting too much from them. Politics and elections are a matter of life and death to politicians, for that is where they earn their living from. But they are not, and must not be made matters of life and death for the average Kenyan.
This is why it puzzles me that we are quick to take up machetes and hack our neighbours to death during election seasons, and then turn and blame politicians for inciting us. We run into streets and brave police bullets while stoning strangers on behalf of politicians who wouldn’t care less if we live or die.
If we agree that politicians do not represent the best, or even the ‘average’ among us, then we must behave a bit more responsibly and put politicians squarely in their place. We must treat them with the indulgence we would give a person who cannot take responsibility for his actions. We should give them very little responsibility, watch them carefully every step of the way and refrain from blaming them for ruining things, for that is what is expected of them.
The alternative would be to accept that we are all like our politicians, God forbid!
Some people would say that democracies propel the best in a society into leadership positions. Many more would aver that a democratic process produces what represents the average view of the majority, that leaders in a democracy would reflect the average situation in a society.
I disagree with both positions, especially on the Kenyan political scene. Judging from our political history, it would appear that our democratic process tends to throw up individuals who will not fit into any other area of our social life. Thus many unsuccessful businesspeople turn to politics, as do unsuccessful lawyers, doctors, teachers, professors etc. Politics has turned into a playground for failures and retirees, and it is no wonder that the people into whose hands we leave the affairs of state many times have no idea what to do with the power we hand them.
I also disagree with the earlier assertions partly from a selfish point of view: I believe I am an average Kenyan, and very few of our ‘representatives’ represent what I believe in. If I was to agree that they represent either the best or the average among Kenyans, I would have to agree that the average Kenyan has many obnoxious attributes, a few of which I will enumerate.
Laziness would be the first attribute I would give the average Kenyan based on the behaviour of his representative. They work the fewest hours and waste no opportunity to avoid their responsibilities, but they expect their regular pay check at the end of the month. They perfect the art of procrastination, waiting until the last minute to begin doing what they must do, taking the maximum allowed time, and them asking for more.
Greed and hankering after quick wealth would have to compete for honours with laziness. For our politicians, leadership positions are opportunities to enrich oneself, their family and friends. They will steal, blackmail, grab, and use all means at their disposal to become as rich as possible in the shortest possible time.
Dishonesty would follow as a key attribute of the average Kenyan. Our representatives have no compunction singing the praises of one individual or idea today and without batting an eyelid change their tune the next day. This change would not be motivated by any amount of deep soul-searching, but would result from some such personal misfortune as defeat in nominations, or the offer or promise of a position in government, or even an exchange of some sum of money or property. Our ‘leaders’ will paint each other as monsters in daylight, while dining together in the evening and laughing at their daytime theatrics.
A final attribute I would reluctantly bestow on the average Kenyan would be either low intelligence or plain ignorance. People who sprout profound wisdom when not in politics suddenly start saying the most ridiculous things in public and expecting everyone to believe them. The tragedy is not that they say such things, but that a large segment of the population actually believes them and takes them seriously.
Because I am reluctant to accept that the average Kenyan possesses the attributes enumerated above, I disagree with the precept that our politicians represent the attributes of the best or the average Kenyan. I think we take politicians far too seriously in our country, and end up expecting too much from them. Politics and elections are a matter of life and death to politicians, for that is where they earn their living from. But they are not, and must not be made matters of life and death for the average Kenyan.
This is why it puzzles me that we are quick to take up machetes and hack our neighbours to death during election seasons, and then turn and blame politicians for inciting us. We run into streets and brave police bullets while stoning strangers on behalf of politicians who wouldn’t care less if we live or die.
If we agree that politicians do not represent the best, or even the ‘average’ among us, then we must behave a bit more responsibly and put politicians squarely in their place. We must treat them with the indulgence we would give a person who cannot take responsibility for his actions. We should give them very little responsibility, watch them carefully every step of the way and refrain from blaming them for ruining things, for that is what is expected of them.
The alternative would be to accept that we are all like our politicians, God forbid!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Young Psychiatrists Meet in Dar!
There will be a meeting of Eastern African Young Psychiatrists in Dar es Salaam from 2nd to 4th November 2007. The theme this year will be about Collaboration in research and clinical practice in the region.
Please contact the President of the Association Dr Lukoye Atwoli on lukoye@gmail.com, tel. +254 722 943397 for more information. You may also contact the publicity secretary Dr Pamela Kaduri on tel +255 754 285565, pkaduri@yahoo.com.
All interested in mental health in our region are welcome!
Please contact the President of the Association Dr Lukoye Atwoli on lukoye@gmail.com, tel. +254 722 943397 for more information. You may also contact the publicity secretary Dr Pamela Kaduri on tel +255 754 285565, pkaduri@yahoo.com.
All interested in mental health in our region are welcome!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Abortion in Kenya
Lately abortion has become a hot topic in Kenya. Everybody is talking about legalisation (or otherwise) of abortion in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality among women who currently seek those services in backstreet quack clinics.
I want to burst their bubble today by suggesting that abortion is legal in Kenya! All it would take is for two (or more) specialist doctors to agree that an abortion is necessary due to risk to the life of the mother or baby, and it would be done! I doubt that those now arguing loudest are ignorant of this fact.
On the contrary, I think the argument is about something totally different, the demedicalisation of abortion. This would mean removing doctors and medical professionals from the decision-making process on whether an abortion is necessary or not! Supposedly this is in pursuit of empowerment of women. Why anyone would want abortions to be ordered over the counter, as it were, baffles me.
Another argument being advanced is that abortion is a women's issue and men should not be involved. Without trivialising the argument, I wonder since when did women start impregnating themselves without the assistance of the male of the species! Men must be involved in this decision too!
Let's tackle the real issues, and stop skirting around them by concentrating on non-issues like legalisation of abortion!
I wonder what you think?
I want to burst their bubble today by suggesting that abortion is legal in Kenya! All it would take is for two (or more) specialist doctors to agree that an abortion is necessary due to risk to the life of the mother or baby, and it would be done! I doubt that those now arguing loudest are ignorant of this fact.
On the contrary, I think the argument is about something totally different, the demedicalisation of abortion. This would mean removing doctors and medical professionals from the decision-making process on whether an abortion is necessary or not! Supposedly this is in pursuit of empowerment of women. Why anyone would want abortions to be ordered over the counter, as it were, baffles me.
Another argument being advanced is that abortion is a women's issue and men should not be involved. Without trivialising the argument, I wonder since when did women start impregnating themselves without the assistance of the male of the species! Men must be involved in this decision too!
Let's tackle the real issues, and stop skirting around them by concentrating on non-issues like legalisation of abortion!
I wonder what you think?
Substance Related Problems in Eldoret
Today we will talk about substance use, especially alcohol dependence and abuse, in Eldoret. It is becoming increasingly clear that the people of Eldoret in the North Rift love their tipple. This is resulting in many people ending up with alcohol related disorders including nutritional deficiencies, memory impairment and other physical and mental illnesses.
I think it is time we started tackling this issue with all seriousness. It is indeed an indictment of the mental health community in Western Kenya that there is no substance rehabilitation programme in the entire region, despite the high prevalence of these problems.
I am now calling on concerned persions to help set up such a unit, and to interest mental health and other medical practitioners to work towards controlling this problem.
Any takers?
I think it is time we started tackling this issue with all seriousness. It is indeed an indictment of the mental health community in Western Kenya that there is no substance rehabilitation programme in the entire region, despite the high prevalence of these problems.
I am now calling on concerned persions to help set up such a unit, and to interest mental health and other medical practitioners to work towards controlling this problem.
Any takers?
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