Dear villagers, don’t victimize Nairobians this festive season

It is that seasons when many people have traveled to their villages to reunite with their kinsmen. However, as celebrations go on in villages, Nairobians or those who stay in the urban will be an exceptional lot. Exception in the sense that all their actions and moves will be closely monitored by villagers. If you happen to carry bottled water they will accuse you of looking down on them yet you grew together drinking from the swamp. Woe unto you a Nairobian if you happen to have diet issues recommended by your doctor, for you will be called out for being choosy. 

In the past, Nairobians have come under a deluge of attacks for their perceived indifference to the plight of their kinsmen in the villages. Critics have often found Nairobians guilty of turning their backs on the villagers some of whom may have directly or indirectly contributed to their current fortunate lives. Many argue that Nairobians disappear into the city only to emerge at end of the year without much justification for their long and silent stay in the city.

While I don’t object to the fact that those who the society considers successful have a moral duty to help their communities, villagers have failed to seek clarification from these poor souls and what they go through while in the city.

But leaving aside the question of why Nairobians behave the way they do, what is the duty of Nairobians as members of the society? What do they owe the society? Is the standard measure of duty applied equally on both villagers and Nairobians? We might think of this as "common sense" view of the matter. But it is not.

To answer the above questions, we must exhaustively explore the moral duty of any successful member of the society.

It is assumed that we have a moral duty to other people -and not merely duties we make, such as pledges to fundraise for a local church or a promise to employ a relative We have “natural" duties to others simply because they are our brothers, we grew together, we schooled together or we were initiated together with them.

However, everyone irrespective of their station in life is required to be concerned about neighbors’ welfare and close relatives.

Why then does the society appear to demand too much from Nairobians? Why does society expect too much from a security guard working in Nairobi and very little from a graduate teacher working in a local school in the village? 

It has become an unwritten law that Nairobians are the ones required to finance outdated rites of passage and cultural practices as well as many unnecessary fundraisings. However, this insatiable craving for Nairobians' hard earned money is not accompanied by a commensurate level of appreciation and loyalty.

The very villagers who accuse Nairobians of being stingy are the first to accuse them of being attention seekers whenever they engage in philanthropic activities.

This has made me conclude that perhaps, villagers might have moved on without Nairobians and therefore the only link that still holds the two together is the financial assistance the latter offers Nairobians are a hated lot.They are never consulted on which part of the compound a grave ought to be dug for a deceased relative. Neither is their opinion sought on cultural matters like marriage, dowry, and divorce.

There is a false sense of entitlement and monopoly of cultural ideas from those who reside in villages. They believe they are the custodian of traditional and cultural practices. My age mates whom I grew together with but never left the village believe they know much about our heritage more than I do. That is not the case.