Why Kenyans are the most hardworking people but still fail

Kenyans are the most hardworking people I have ever met in all the places I have been both locally and abroad. I truly acknowledge the tenacity and the mojo Kenyans have to make things happen. Nothing is too difficult for a Kenyan-I mean nothing!

To name a few traits we exhibit, Kenyans are innovative, friendly, welcoming and forgiving. We are an example of a model citizenry every country in the world would wish to have. However, we do suffer from an African Disease of being “reactive”; we react to happenings even when its obvious prior planning was necessary.

This disease has mostly affected our leaders, government, and private sector all the way down to our citizens in all our villages. If we are to reach the ambitious goals of vision 2030, then it’s imperative this disease is eliminated just like we have done with Polio and are doing with Malaria. The onus is on all of us as Kenyans to come up with initiatives to fight and completely eliminate reactive mentality in our thinking and behavior.

For example, you do not have to be a prophet to predict there will be increased traffic congestion clogging our bypasses, roads and streets in all our 47 counties. It’s a fact Kenyans love their toys you know? And each and every one of us is either buying or plan to buy their own toys. Meaning in the next few years we shall have over 100% increase in the number of vehicles on our roads. Japanese and Germans have already seen this coming and are planning to reap big with expected business opportunities. They planning to build factories to assemble VW’s in Thika and Toyota plants in Nairobi/Machakos area is enough proof.

We also have the issues of disaster management which we have continuously failed to improve on even after falling victims in the past. We know very well of perennial fires in our slums and estates but our county governments have failed to enforce local penal codes to open up the roads and the streets, it’s a fact fire engines have trouble accessing target areas due to inaccessibility’s. The authorities concerned need to clear the roads of land grabbers, business people encroaching on the roads and strategically build fire engine stations next to where people live and work. Should we have to wait for the next disaster to act? Should our politicians wait till lives are lost to act?

To start with we already have friends to help us in the fight against a reactive mind-set and replace with proactivity; USA, Israel, Germany and Japan to name a few, I am sure they are ready and willing to assist. Let’s borrow the idea of having a “think tank” and create a group composed of smart Kenyans from all sectors of our economy. Their main task will be to always think of the next big thing, come up with plans to solve problems of the future, Plans to safeguard our hard earned wealth, our people, our towns and our constitution. Just like President Moi, Kenyans must embrace the “Giraffe Mentality” seeing far and wide and planning for tomorrows eventualities good or bad.

The group’s findings will help come up with policies of the future to be enacted into law in coordination with national and county governments. This will guarantee continued pace in our progress to become a fully-fledged middle income economy in all developmental indicators by the year 2030.