calebmuchungu
23rd May 2006, 12:49
By Caleb Muchungu
Are Kenyan intellectuals falling into pettiness trap?
When I look at the works of many Kenyan commentators, most of whom are intellectuals worth their salt, I am sometimes saddened by an merging trend – a move towards engaging in the pettiness of politicians’ agendas.
What do I mean by that? Well, it is clear and simple. Look at any internet discussion forum frequented by these well-read people and chances are that you will find that they are always discussing what Kalonzo Musyoka, Kivutha Kibwana or Raila Odinga or any other politician for that matter has said over the week. In short, we have become the chorus boys (and girls) of politicians – them setting the agenda and us following in the mimic. Is this what we expect of our great minds? I say a big NO. This only makes us look like empty debes that have nothing substantial to contribute to the world.
If Kenyans are to move forward, I think it is time that we set up the agenda instead of engaging in parochial debates based on what politicians have said. Those kind of debates are better left to the market place. Ours should be a duty to discuss more substantial issues in a sober and incisive manner – not joining in the cacophony of politicians that has now become legend in Kenya.
There are very many important issues that we need to explore and discuss. For instance, rather than just repeat what Raila or Kibwana are saying over the constitution, it is our duty to engage our people on the merits and demerits of certain clauses in the document. We must be able to point out the different constitutions throughout the world and how they have worked or not worked for their people.
Currently, over two million people in Kenya face starvation, the country is reeling under corruption and misuse of public resources. These are issues that we need to discuss. We need to empower our people so that they can forget about petty debates on the Kalonzo’s, Koigi’s and Raila’s of this world and instead think about these more important issues. Our people must understand that often more than not, tussles by politicians are just about their own greed but they entice us to cheer from the sidelines. It is time that we came out of that cycle – we must stop being the cheerleaders.
I have always been irked by a situation where politicians set the agenda for all of us. I am a journalist but one of the most annoying things I have encountered is the way politicians set the agenda in the media. They cough and the media rushes to print whatever they have said. Our discussion forums must act as an alternative. We must, instead set the agenda. Let us leave the utterances of politicians aside and instead concentrate on substantial issues.
Caleb Muchungu is a Kenyan journalist based in Malawi
Are Kenyan intellectuals falling into pettiness trap?
When I look at the works of many Kenyan commentators, most of whom are intellectuals worth their salt, I am sometimes saddened by an merging trend – a move towards engaging in the pettiness of politicians’ agendas.
What do I mean by that? Well, it is clear and simple. Look at any internet discussion forum frequented by these well-read people and chances are that you will find that they are always discussing what Kalonzo Musyoka, Kivutha Kibwana or Raila Odinga or any other politician for that matter has said over the week. In short, we have become the chorus boys (and girls) of politicians – them setting the agenda and us following in the mimic. Is this what we expect of our great minds? I say a big NO. This only makes us look like empty debes that have nothing substantial to contribute to the world.
If Kenyans are to move forward, I think it is time that we set up the agenda instead of engaging in parochial debates based on what politicians have said. Those kind of debates are better left to the market place. Ours should be a duty to discuss more substantial issues in a sober and incisive manner – not joining in the cacophony of politicians that has now become legend in Kenya.
There are very many important issues that we need to explore and discuss. For instance, rather than just repeat what Raila or Kibwana are saying over the constitution, it is our duty to engage our people on the merits and demerits of certain clauses in the document. We must be able to point out the different constitutions throughout the world and how they have worked or not worked for their people.
Currently, over two million people in Kenya face starvation, the country is reeling under corruption and misuse of public resources. These are issues that we need to discuss. We need to empower our people so that they can forget about petty debates on the Kalonzo’s, Koigi’s and Raila’s of this world and instead think about these more important issues. Our people must understand that often more than not, tussles by politicians are just about their own greed but they entice us to cheer from the sidelines. It is time that we came out of that cycle – we must stop being the cheerleaders.
I have always been irked by a situation where politicians set the agenda for all of us. I am a journalist but one of the most annoying things I have encountered is the way politicians set the agenda in the media. They cough and the media rushes to print whatever they have said. Our discussion forums must act as an alternative. We must, instead set the agenda. Let us leave the utterances of politicians aside and instead concentrate on substantial issues.
Caleb Muchungu is a Kenyan journalist based in Malawi