By XN Iraki
Hopefully, Vision 2030 and the new Constitution are the twin tools that will transform this country into a developed country. It is hope the two will catalyse the country’s economic growth and help raise the standards of living.
Optimistic observers say the country is already showing symptoms of a developed country, perhaps a sign of the golden future, long before the two policy documents have been fully implemented. Here is a preview of the symptoms and not in any order.
Conspicuous consumption: It was Thorstein Veblen, an economics professor at the University of Wisconsin who popularised the term in his book ‘The Theory of the Leisure Class’ (1899).
Through such consumption, we buy certain goods and services not for basic survival but for "show off".
That has caught up with Kenyans of all classes. In the past, such consumption was reserved for the aristocrats. Can you think of services and goods you have bought recently, how many of them were necessary? Conspicuous consumption is more common in developed countries driven by advertising blitz and easy availability of liquidity including debt.
Love ebbs
Short attention span: Have you noted how Kenyans have become impatient with events, with each other and even themselves? This is common in developed countries, not because people are rude but time becomes a resource.
Besides there are so many things demanding our attention from peers, friends, parents, media and so on. Have you noted how fast news age? Who hears of Osama, Ocampo or royal wedding?
Depersonalisation: As we develop, we seem to pay less attention to each other, appearing cold, and aloof. This results from too much demand on our senses. Some argue this depersonalisation could be the cause of increasing depression and anxiety. Try taking stock of bizarre incidents from suicides and homicides. This also partly explains increasing cases of divorce as love ebbs.
Obsession with showbiz, music, beauty contests and other soft issues: This could be a sign of rising affluence and expectations. After satisfying the physical needs, we now focus on emotional issues. Ask students in high school about their ambitions in life and the number intending to be actors and musicians will surprise you. Developed countries have thriving entertainment industries from Hollywood to Disneyland. We are trying to nurture Riverwood. This also reflects the power of the fourth estate.
Class consciousness and new status symbols: Kenyans have become very class conscious and want to stand out often through conspicuous consumption. The status symbols that differentiate you from the crowd includes residence, a fact that is driving up the price of houses in certain residential places, cars, schools, churches and another symbol that is very hard to copy — interracial marriages.
Developed countries have their class structures, some coded. In Kenya, each class seems to be trying to ring fence itself to keep its privileges, a source of social tensions.
Interest groups
Democracy and the rise of interest groups: The presidential appointment of the CJ and AG let lose a horde of interests groups, some we had never heard of before. Such interest groups — be they NGOs or advocacy groups seems to have a life and power of their own despite not meeting the voters in the ballot box.
Some argue they act as a countervailing force to the excesses of the government, while others think they peddle influence and pursue personal and idealistic interests disguised as national interests. But such pressure groups seem a permanent feature of developed countries, but never overshadow the government.
Technology: This is everywhere, from our kitchens to work places. Advances that we only dreamt about in the past are real from paying using M-Pesa to travelling to space. We have taken a step further and even enslaved technology, may be the reason we have more time to pursue soft issues like music and other forms of entertainment.
Social changes: From women marrying women to men marrying men. The other silent social change is the "defanging of men" so that they no longer have the power and authority they used to.
In developed countries, men look subdued, from an African perspective. The subjugation is through legal and economic process. They pay child support and affirmative action tilt economic opportunities from them. We are almost there.
Other symptoms include sadly diseases of development from cancer to heart diseases and diabetes as we adopt the lifestyles of the developed countries.
Interestingly, these diseases are accompanied by rise in popularity of golf with more Kenyans professing their love for the game. Real estate developers are cashing on that wave by designing residences with golf courses from Migaa to Thika Green. The number of golf courses per person can be a good proxy for affluence.
We are becoming a creditor nation. Seen how banks are hawking loans? In developed countries, living beyond your means is not unusual, credit is easily available. Credit cards are a common place and owning a debt is no longer frowned on.
Takeover by "foreigners": Note how foreigners have prospered in Kenya? It is common in developed countries. In UK and US, foreign investors have poured billions.
In Kenya, we are seeing the same, not unusual because you are more objective and bolder after leaving the comfort of your village.
One unusual symptom is "the end of thinking" as we prefer to study less taxing courses, away from sciences, mathematics and technology. The number of foreigners in US and other developed countries studying "hard courses" is very high.
Finally, we have romanticised death through movies and names: We get promoted to glory or "celebrate life." As in the developed countries, death seems to be losing its sting.
You could add other symptoms, but unfortunately the symptoms afflict the elite, the hoi polloi are still stuck in the old ways leading to increased inequality.
If we could implement the Vision 2030 and the new Constitution, the hoi polloi could experience the life of a developed country.
—XN Iraki is aecturer at University of Nairobi Business School
