Waste of resources

It pains me whenever the media has all these mercy missions trying to raise funds to aid some village in Pokot or some place in Makueni who are being ravaged by drought and famine. And it always seems by coincidence that this takes place in January or February when the dry season is at it's zenith. Like all human beings, most of us relate to the here and now. If it is hot and you talk of drought or famine, I will simply look at the sky..Yup the bloody sun is hot, check the thermometer dial..check!..38 degrees and counting! We seem to quickly forget that it was not more than two months or so before this that we were all complaining that the rainfall was too much, or that it was too cold. Food security projections chuck and we are all told how there will be a deficit in the food needed to feed the nation...palease!...maize does not grow and whither in a month! I feel that there is usually some scheme by some very smart fellas to use the prevailing conditions to hoodwink most of us...that is unless of course the other hypothesis below holds any water. I also saw tomato farmers in Nakuru experiencing a glut, and reducing prices of their produce by 25%..so where is this famine? The blind belief that maize is the only food we can eat as Kenyans is also silly to some extent. When we had a "famine" last time, and had to import maize, world wheat prices were far much lower than maize..why didn't we import wheat instead of maize?

I am also tempted to think that we as Kenyans never learn from past mistakes and experiences and are too lazy to make an attempt to make things right. For instance. Just last year when the rains were pounding the country, our reservoirs were full spilling water everywhere. There was talk of expanding them, dredging the damn things (no pun intended) and then when we get the chance, we remain comfortable, do nothing about it and then we'll complain of low water levels and the need for power rationing. Our planning is at best pathetic. There is also the issue of livestock...it is a case of "bitten many times, never shy!". Kwani every year you will have your livestock dying and you don't do anything to avoid the same next time?This thing of "tunaomba serikali itusaidie" should stop, we should suggest solutions not seek assistance each and every time!

I was once in Lusaka (I would equate it to Naks), and there was one thing they were doing that really jazzed me and I was wondering why we have never thought in such lines...It was around August, just before their rainy season, and the council workers were busy clearing the drainage systems around the city. "You don't want the drains blocked when the rains come....Lusaka is pretty flat, so we make sure all waterways are clear of any debris." I was told. When I came back to good ol' Nairobbery, I could see the way soil, leaves, and all forms of debris was choking our drainage. I may not be an authority on this subject, but from observation, most roads get spoiled whenever they flood. All manner of junk gets onto the road, and the grinding effect scours away the tarmac with much more ease...i.e. in summary, blocked drainage=lower road life. If we had maybe 3 out of ten in our public service units where such critical foresight and action is required, believe me we'd be better of. In our current crop of politicians, there are only two leaders I can sieve out of the chaff...note the deliberate use of the terms "politicians" and "leaders"...Stand up and be counted Mr. Peter Kenneth (please run for president I vote for you!) and one Mr Johnson Muthama of Kangundo (pays his taxes)...

We also tend to be comfortable with the status quo....but we are all too aware of what may happen if the middle class had enough like Tunisians and Egyptians.

Signing off on my angry note!