Kenya@50 could be a misplaced celebration
Even as Kenyans wait to celebrate the 50 years of independence , the hope of living to some, is just but a dream due to the high rate of poverty and the ever rising prices of commodities. To date, more than half of the country’s population still lives and survives in poverty. They are unemployed and earn ‘peanuts’ from the daily work they do.
But even as the country aims to transform from a third world
country, to a middle world one, there are still certain things that remain
unaddressed. The high rate of unemployment, insecurity and poor health, just
make it almost impossible for one to think that the country will even match the
likes of South Africa that have made already a great step within the first few
years since their independence.
With 50 years clocking, since independence, I think the
celebration dubbed Kentya@50, is just but a misplaced priority starting from
the cost that is to be used to mark the one day celebration. Its quite ambiguous
to use millions of shillings in a day to celebrate and yet most citizens live
in abject poverty.
The celebration that is to commemorate the struggles the
Kenyans have undergone in this half a century however is more surprising that it doesn’t make any
mention of authors who helped construct this nation. The likes of Ngugi wa
Thiongo haven’t featured anywhere despite winning honorary degrees in his
artistic writing.
With the country leaders facing cases against humanity at
the Hague- Netherland based courts, the country hopes to acquire justice for
the 2007/2008 post-election violence however there have been efforts to
criticize the efforts by our two leaders and even as the nation prepares to
celebrate the Kenya@50, the victims of the violence will still be in pain hoping
to get justice that the constitution stands for but will they?
The greatest achievement that possibly the nation will
celebrate on this day, is the acquisition of the new constitution 2010 . This
was a great landmark in the country’s walk towards democracy and development
but however, the efforts are being frustrated.
The Kenya@50
celebrations is however in top gear and the treasury has already released the
funds that have been loaned for the celebration despite the need for the funds
in development , but was it really necessary? If Yes, at that cost?
