NAIROBI: A number of counties have been in the news lately for building costly gates. They are following a well-beaten path: building gates has become the in-thing in our institutions and real estate developments.

One of our status symbols is living in a gated community (the others are hyphenating your name, particularly for ladies married to foreigners, and being a dual citizen). Gated communities restrict access to a chosen few.

Why are we so obsessed with grandiose gates and walls?

But gates are not everywhere. In fact, the first thing I noticed when I visited Western Kenya, Rwanda and North America is the lack of gates and fences around homes. Such walls and gates were rare when I came to the city as a school boy.

Gates and walls around houses might be seen as a sign of economic growth: the bigger the gate, the more affluent and powerful you ought to be. Manned gates add power and awe. Never mind that gates cost a fortune. Who is making Nigerian gates along Thika Road? In Nairobi, walls are getting higher, topped with razor wire or electric fences.

Most Kenyans will quickly add that such gates and walls are necessary because of insecurity. But does anyone have evidence that building such structures makes you more secure?

Gates and walls reflect our national psyche, insecurity and desire to be exclusive, to keep away ‘others’. Yet, that contradicts our traditional societies where class was less clear cut, and peace and harmony were plenty. If you grew up in the rural areas, you may recall borrowing salt, a spade or paraffin from your neighbours.

Gated communities contradict capitalism, which we embraced without understanding. In most cities in North America, exclusion is frowned upon. In fact, most municipalities or cities have by-laws that demand that in a new real estate development, you cannot build uniform houses; you must ensure people of different socio-economic classes can afford to live there. This ensures economic diversity, and makes it hard to discriminate in the provision of social services, including schools.

Diversity is a national asset; it creates competition, which drives innovation and entrepreneurship. Why else does US offer diversity visas?

BIGGEST LOSERS

Others see gates as a symptom of our desire to impress, to show off; the big gate might signify that what is inside is better and bigger. Not always. It is no different from our attire. We wear suits, but what is beneath the suits (and dresses) might surprise many. It may be that gates are meant to cover our inadequacies, and have a bigger psychological than physical effect.

Gated communities, including institutions, restrict freedom of movement and thought. And we all pay the price of that restriction. My visits to institutions in North America indicated that they are part of the societies; roads pass through them and unless you see the signboards, usually very small, you would not know you are in a revered school. This allows the free flow and exchange of ideas.

Some of the biggest losers in gated communities are our children. They grow up in an artificial environment, sheltered from the realities of economic differences and diversity. If you see your child refusing to leave home after getting a job, do not be surprised.

Ever wondered by lots of men and women from rural areas and Eastlands (hustlers) tend to thrive even abroad? They enjoyed freedom when growing up; they visited everyone and everywhere. That is not possible in gated communities. And even if you are affluent enough to visit national parks, they are still gated.

Most of our national and even personal problems are created by gated thinking. We are not concerned about what happens outside our gates.

If the Government and teachers’ union opened their mental gates, there would have been no strike. Academics have their intellectual gates, which guard narrow specialisations, often ensuring tired ideas live longer and are passed on to hapless youngsters. If couples opened their mental gates, there would be fewer divorces.

Gates disallow interaction. Primary schools rarely interact with high schools, which rarely interact with universities, which rarely interact with the business community. Even counties are gated, and governors rarely explore how to work with their neighbours.

Some could argue that I am Utopian and nostalgic about creation day, when freedom flowed like a river and everything was in its natural place. Far from it. I am calling for a balance; too much exclusion threatens diversity of thought and genetics, and the economic benefits that come with these.

We value privacy, but we have taken it to the extreme in Kenya. Those who have travelled abroad, please speak up....

The popularity of gated communities is driven by fear, which is an enemy of economic growth. Why should we be celebrating the Constitution, yet we are running away from each other, secluding ourselves behind razor wires? Gated communities reflect our failure to come to terms with our differences. I doubt they make economic sense.

The writer is senior lecturer, University of Nairobi School of Business. [email protected]

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