It’s time for intellectuals to step forward

When Kenyans read in their newspapers that “A Harambee Stars player was paid millions to let in goals,” they wonder and ask a pithily question: “Are we living in the times of the apocalypse? Who else is paid millions to let in goals from our enemies?” Yes, goals from criminals, poverty, ignorance, diseases, national disunity, unpatriotism, wastages, inefficiencies, and all other forms of tidal corruption in public and private sectors.

Any nation is in trouble when many of its high-IQ intelligentsia risk takers don’t lead in front and instead become part of the social problems. One American businessman, Lee Iacocca, wrote of the US, “The most famous business leaders are not innovators, but the guys in handcuffs”. He then asked a fundamental question. “Where have all the leaders gone? You can’t call yourself a patriot if you’re not outraged.”  Kenyans too are asking, are our famous professionals, elites and business people the guys who let in goals, clean dirty money in exchange for millions? Where have all our intellectuals-intelligentsia, warrior leaders gone?