Two young people below the age of thirty challenged me to write this article. Thanks for the challenge because evaluating all the (classism, racism, and all the isms’) that are very wrong in Kenya can be exhausting. This is a welcome diversion, particularly at a time like this when factors such as the cost of basic commodities are soaring, and the environmental climate is extremely challenging.
This article does not make light of the urgency to change the social and economic direction in which we are heading as a country. It is simply a reminder that the deepest motivation to highlight what we see going wrong is because we genuinely love our country and refuse to be passive, inactive, and apathetic participants in the state of the nation. I dedicate this to all the youth of Kenya who are about 85percent of the population. I pray that they may emerge from the delays of politically and socially constructed waithood and benefit immensely from what their country has to offer.
The first thing to be hopeful about in Kenya is:
Cosmopolitanism and Transnationalism – Young Kenyans are largely citizens of the world or cosmos. They eagerly appropriate various forms of media and technology, use communicative environments and media affordances in their goal towards the creation of a melting pot of diverse cultural expressions in their country. They are keenly interested in internationalism and what is out there as they are very willing to learn about other cultures. I have written extensively on the negative side of this keen interest in consumption of foreign and Western culture above the acceptance of an African identity or philosophy but in this article I want to focus on the positive side of cosmopolitanism and introduce the more all-inclusive term of transnationalism.
My first PhD supervisor Professor Mirca Madianou is an expert on transnationalism.She conceptualized how families that are disconnected by the physical distance of migration are connected through the proliferation of polymedia environments. This maintenance of long-distance relationships has very many well studied effects. In the case of Kenyans, maintenance of constant contact with their distant others has positive outcomes. The convergence of worlds has eased relational tensions that used to occur when a man or woman migrates to another country and has absolutely no way to maintain constant contact with their family or country of origin. Transnationalism and cosmopolitanism can be harnessed with the express awareness that we need to entice our distant others to participate in the growth and development of Kenya and Africa as a whole. They can be physically distant but let them remain philosophically connected. We also hope for a time when we will not be subjected to endless visa processes in our quest to travel the world as black Africans. I also believe there are many foreigners who are not black in racial descent, but they identify strongly with the idea that Africa must develop and be fully liberated. Distant others can align with Africans in the eventual prosperity of the continent. That is the whole point of cosmopolitanism, the creation of a global unified community.
Another thing to anticipate in Kenya is:
Friendliness and civility
If you have ever lost your way in Nairobi, it is not difficult to find random strangers to guide and direct you. Or simply say hallo and ask how the day is. Sometimes people are so friendly you can view it as an interruption if you are reserved and silent by nature. After several visits to London, I realised that this is a luxury. I never experienced direct hostility from anyone in the UK and I am thankful for my time as a student but there was a clear feeling of distance, and that people were in a hurry. It was not uncommon to see people being ignored after asking for help with directions. So, I do not take the approachable demeanour of most Kenyans for granted. Our tropical climate also puts most people at ease. In the course of travels, people have actually stopped me and asked me if I am Kenyan and narrated optimistic stories about how dynamic and promising our country is.
The third thing is:
Soil
There is something completely magical about Kenyan soil in all parts of this country. Even the regions described as arid and semi-arid have a charm and attraction. Desert tours are increasingly popularized and some young people are farming in spaces previously described as impossible. In the pre- colonial research of Kenyans, it is unequivocally accepted that we are “sons and daughters” of the soil. Africans were in complete harmony with their soil and environment. They never lacked as they were aware of mutual social responsibility. If we can harness this harmony for the complete development and prosperity of all Kenyans and Africans at large we would never depend on foreign nations for aid. Rather than use the soil as a capitalist tool for the satisfaction of global markets without a proper focus on small farmers and their unique cultural and infrastructural challenges. We could provide a cartel free, selfish capitalism free intensive focus on small scale farmers all over Kenya. It is well established that Kenya’s soil has not even arrived at 50percent maximization. We have a long way to go.
Young Kenyans, there is a lot to be hopeful about, way more than three things but a lot of it must be driven by our desire to ensure we have the right leadership with our interests as a nation at heart. We have a clear responsibility in educating ourselves about what we can do to change and improve our country.
God bless Kenya.
