Story by: LUKOYE ATWOLI
Publication Date: 1/3/2008
AFTER PROTRACTED TALLYing following the December 27 General Election, the Electoral Commission finally pronounced a winner in the closest presidential race in Kenya’s history. Opinion polls preceding the vote had predicted a tight race, but not even the pollsters could predict just how close it would be. Predictably, there are protests by those claiming the poll was rigged in favour of the incumbent, and people are spilling into the streets to express disappointment. The merits or demerits of these allegations cannot be fully examined in this article.
A more worrying development, however, is the widespread violence, looting and destruction of property across the country. As the American ambassador said in an interview, violence has no place in a democratic society. After an election, however flawed, the winners must be magnanimous and reach out to those who have not won, while the losers must be measured in expressing their disagreement with the result.
HARMING OTHERS AND DAMAGING property does not change the outcome of an election, and it does very little to further the cause of the protesters. All legitimate avenues of protest must be explored and pursued to their logical conclusion.
It has always been clear that the perpetrators of violence are common criminals looking for an opportunity to loot and get away with it. The looters seen on national TV carrying away cookers, TV sets and carpets from a supermarket could not have been expressing any political opinions through their acts.
As we digest the implications of the election result and the resultant reactions, we must seek to understand the issues that threaten to tear apart the fabric of our republic if left unattended. These issues include negative ethnicity, paucity of leadership, and enduring dishonesty among key segments of our population.
The spectre of negative ethnicity has been illuminated through statements and opinions expressed by many Kenyans, politicians and common citizens. Some questioned the legitimacy of leaders elected with the support of only one tribe, while others questioned the credentials of some leaders on the basis of their ethnic origins and traditions. Ethnic stereotyping took on monstrous proportions, and to a large extent, became a key issue in deciding the election.
As the country impatiently waited for the results to be released, a great opportunity existed for the emergence of leaders who would appeal to the people’s best instincts and encourage patience and peaceful coexistence.
Sadly, this opportunity went begging. Our ‘‘leaders’’, instead, chose to engage in accusations and counter-accusations in the full glare of the media, thus inflaming passions among their supporters and tacitly encouraging them to seek alternative outlets for their frustrations.
As the violence spread, politicians appealed for peace with their mouths but projected belligerence with their body language. Key politicians remained silent, as though nothing was happening.
A final problem with our society is the dishonesty with which we handle important matters in our national life. We have refused to acknowledge and deal with serious historical and current crises in our country. We chatter in bars, marketplaces and street corners and then go home and perpetuate the same vices we decry. We have refused to deal with issues, and preferred to link our destiny to individuals. We have refused to build enduring institutions, instead leaving the affairs of state to the whims of those that represent our ‘‘community’’ interests.
EVERYONE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT equitable sharing of the ‘‘national cake’’, as though the nation is separate from us and our ethnic communities. Our fixation with free things is symptomatic of our national psyche. We demand free education, free healthcare and even cash handouts for the unemployed. The amounts of money involved in the collapsed pyramid schemes illustrate our collective propensity for ‘‘free’’ material gains. We don’t understand that building a nation is hard work: Sweat, tears and even blood such as that shed in the struggle for independence.
The country stands on the brink of a precipice. The choice is ours: Do we jump off and become yet another statistic in the crowded galaxy of failed African states?
Or do we take a deep searching look at the consequences of our actions and speech, and turn back to the more important business of building some semblance of nationhood?
Dr Atwoli is a consultant psychiatrist operating in Eldoret
© 2005 NationMediaGroup All Rights Reserved
03/01/2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Stop the Killings!
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!
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!
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?
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