The capitalist state is a parasitic, bureaucratic enterprise. It is stupid. And our state is not only stupid; it is also broke. It can hear us saying as much. It knows we don't trust the government. It badly needs an infusion of trust.
Where to get the trust from? I'll tell you.
Where to get the trust from? I'll tell you.
There are many outstanding voices in the public sphere who have garnered the trust of the people. But those voices are still young. They have not had time to mature and to get enough political education to process the roots of the mess we are in.
So what will GoK do?
So what will GoK do?
Co-opt them. Give them posts and consultancies with the promise that they can use their wonderful ideas to "change the system from within." Fly them to across the world to wine and dine with power brokers and persuade the power brokers to change things for the good of the people.
Such is the nature of capitalism. It's a parasite. It cannot create anything new, so it needs those who do.
But it's not only ideas GoK wants. It also wants credibility. Youthfulness, reputation and public trust have now become a commodity the powerful are willing to pay for.
But it's not only ideas GoK wants. It also wants credibility. Youthfulness, reputation and public trust have now become a commodity the powerful are willing to pay for.
But the other reason gava is successful is because of the education we get in school. Our school system is designed to train bureaucrats. You are not told that at all. In fact, most of the time you are told not to expect a job in gava.
But the fact that you are told that is evidence that you are being trained for bureaucracy. You are trained for it, but told not to expect a job.
And how are we trained for GoK civil service? By being trained in a bureacratic worldview.
And how are we trained for GoK civil service? By being trained in a bureacratic worldview.
We're taught about policies and law, the teachers read the rules, we have no arts education, and critical thinking is punished with insults like "wewe ni mjuaji ." Or "what's your solution?" And we have a passive agressive, anti-thinking national culture.
There is also public culture. The only people media talk about are those with institutional posts. The only people you read about in history are politicians and in the news are celebs and CEOs. Eventually, there's no other form of social progression you envision for yourself.
So when GoK comes knocking with an offer, you accept.
That's why, in these troubled times, expect people to sway from one position to another. Many things are working against us. Poor education. Lack of intellectual rigor. A Eurocentric Christianized worldview.
That's why, in these troubled times, expect people to sway from one position to another. Many things are working against us. Poor education. Lack of intellectual rigor. A Eurocentric Christianized worldview.
Lack of job opportunities and lack or a diverse social advancement that incoprates people without titles or cash into Kenya's public consciousness.
So don't get too disappointed with the people you once held high esteem.
So don't get too disappointed with the people you once held high esteem.
When they make decisions that surprise you, it is alright to express your disappointment if you are disappointed. But also understand that this is why we desperately need revolution. It's not just who is president that we need to change.
We also need to change the values which guide what we appreciate, how we love and why we admire whomever we admire.
We need diverse heroes in our public consciousness.
We need diverse heroes in our public consciousness.
That's why the fact that the same name is carried by 2 universities, one national referal hospital, one major avenue, the biggest airport, the major conference, just to name a few, is a big, BIG intellectual problem. It gives us so little to aspire for, so we settle for little.
Poleni sana. Keep the faith. You'll be fine. Get some consolation from listening to Anand Giridharadas talk about his experience at Aspen. You'll be consoled to hear that the problem is not only in Kenya.
theguardian.com/us-news/2018/d…
theguardian.com/us-news/2018/d…
And this system of co-option will also not last too long. The government cannot sustain the weight of all those it has to pay for these reputational and credibility services, especially those services cannot provide concrete services for the people.
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