"WE ARE A VERY YOUNG COUNTRY, A COUNTRY WITH IDEALS ,STAMINA ENERGY , DRIVE AND VISION . WE ARE OPTIMISTIC ,POLITICALLY MATURE , MICRO-ECONOMICALLY SOUND , SECURE AND REALISTIC" Gerald Mahinda INTRODUCTION We were viewing citizen tv which brings JK live on Wednesday night at 9 pm. They are discussing the state of politics in Kenya . According to my observation ,the people who vie for elections year in ,year out are the same . Twenty years from now the list of the top politicians wouldn't have changed much. The same corrupt and incompetent leaders who enrich themselves and their families at the expense of the youth and the Kenyan people . I sit down and wonder where are right minded and honest people not elected. I wonder? This book is dedicated to all the fighters who fought for our independence and wished for a prosperous country but unfortunately for them , they were betrayed right after independence. The challenges affecting this country were created by our founding fathers in conjunction with our greedy and corrupt politicians. This book is meant to address our past ,present and future and to encourage the youth it's time to fight for our country . Time to fight against impunity ,corruption ,ethnicity , poverty , police brutality and incompetent leaders. we are tired of watching negative news daily , of witnessing brother kill brother due to land injustices . It's time for us to rise and shine . As P.L.O Lumumba says 'change starts with the mind' we as a nation need and ought to decolonize our minds on how we want to transform this great nation of ours. "THERE IS A LOT MORE THAN WE CAN DO IF WE SET OUR MINDS IN TRULY DEVELOPING KENYA" THE PAST We cannot address the future and the present without addressing the past. We got to know and comprehend how it all started , where did we go wrong as a nation .We all pledge our loyalty to our nation but our deeds speak otherwise . I often ask myself before independence , the mau-mau fighters hide themselves in the forest to fight for us , they starved ,most of them were wounded and injured as they chased Europeans out of their land . They fought as one and they did not betray their partners when one got arrested . Their suffering day after day , week after week , month after month, year after year and they did not give up until they saw that the white men were chased away . They believed that their fellow Africans would lead them since they know the problems and challenges that they grow through daily. Their dream was for us to rule ourselves and make the country prosperous . But around 55 years later , Kenyans are suffering , most of them are unable to access quality healthcare , some are dying of poverty and hunger in some parts of Kenya. But not everyone is suffering , some are enjoying and partying daily in Nairobi not caring about their fellow citizen. Back in the colonial days , those Kenyans did their best and sacrificed their lives for a prosperous Kenya . Stories are told and books have been written about those days and tales of the mau-mau and other freedom fighters will be told to generation to come but let me give you a view about how this young men and women did on our behalf . THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT A great deal have been written about the racial background of Kenyan politics before independence. The existence of immigrant , economically differentiated racial communities to whom the government alienated land , resulted in a situation in which racial categories provided ,'the decisive divisions' in the colonial situations . The European settler minority entrenched in the white "highland" enjoyed the dominant influence until the late fifties. After the second world war , the kikuyu sense of social and economically grievances led to the growth of the militant " mau-mau" movement and to the outbreak of violence in 1952.The dominant political influence of the entrenched European settler minority was shattered by violence. Although the government proved itself able to contain the kikuyu movement in the forests ,it was forced to concede the need for constitutional reform.in this respect the mau-mau certainly hastened the independence. The fundamental constitutional change was finally conceded by the British government at the Lancaster house conference in 1960 ,when the secretary of state imposed the principle of majority rule and ultimate independence for Kenya as an African not a 'white man's' country. The battle had been won by 1960 although full executive power did not pass into African hands until independence . The national movement that swept Kenya into independence had overwhelming popular support. With many different organization and trade union's , Kenyatta unifying role was crucial in attaining of independence . His long years in detention had established him as the undoubted father-figure of the nationalist movement. His dominance among the kikuyu was recognized . He was the only man with sufficient authority to unite KANU. While he was in detention , his distant influence was not enough to keep the leaders together . After he returned, however, and more so after he accepted the leadership of KANU, he was able to enforce co-operation among his warring factions. He could not hold the Kamba leader Paul Ngei ,who for a time took that tribe into a separate party . But he assert himself over the rest ,to lead them into victory in the 1963 elections and so to full power. Kenyatta then went in the first year to impose unity on KANU and KADU . The acquiescence in 1964 of all groups in the republic and the move to a de facto one party state , testified to his ability at the stage , to act as an inspirational leader who could bridge gaps of tribe and race . Nevertheless , the fact that neither personal rivalries nor the existing social ,economic and political division had been overcome become clear in 1965 and 1966 when new party groupings emerged and the Kenyan people become divided into tribal groups. KENYATTA STATEMENT AFTER INDEPENDENCE "On this great day in the history of our nation I pledge that the KANU government which is about to take office will be guided in its task by the principles of democratic African socialism. We shall build a country where every citizen may develop his talents to the full capacity ,restricted only by the larger aim of building a fair society . The rights of all and their property will be fully protected .There will be no privileges' for any minority. Equally ,we shall see that no member of any group undergoes discrimination or oppression in the hands of the majority. The African people of Kenya have suffer under the yoke of colonialism , but now we are throwing off that burden , we do not look to the past - the racial bitterness , the denial of fundamental rights , the suppression of our culture . let us look instead to the new Kenya we are to create , where men and women of all colors , tastes and creed will work joyfully together in unity . Let the experience of the past warn us of the misery of a land in which people are not free , but let there be forgiveness. We shall build one nation in which every group will make it's contribution to the creation of our Kenya identity. I have been heartened by the recent narrowing of the gap between the racial communities . This coming together has been particularly noticeable in the political sphere. Asian and African supporters have worked hard in KANU's election campaign and have played an important part in the achievement of our victory. Only by creating a sense of national unity shall we be able to harness the efforts of all our people to make a success of our independence . If we are to win the confidence and respect of the world at large , we must demonstrate we are a united nation . Whatever differences we may have must be subordinated in the task of national building . The government will give dynamic leadership in this undertaking , but we shall need the hard work of everyone if we are to succeed. I would suggest we use the Kiswahili word "HARAMBEE" to express the mood we want to create . This word is used by workers when they have a joint task to perform such as pulling a log or pushing a wagon .It means ,"Let's all work together. Get up and go." "The failed state index 2013 ranked Kenya as the 17'th most failed state in the world .While I neither agree with the philosophy and methodology of this index nor accept it as a measure of the health of Kenya, I accept we have not done as well as we should have" ..Peter Kenneth " WHAT HAPPENNED SO MANY YEARS LATER?" "obviously the missing log in our political wheel has been the lack of authentic leaders and visionaries . my experience from the inside has taught me that the solutions are quite simple . Unless the top leadership in the country wants to set the country on a new path for growth , it takes a very short time for the entire country to revert back to old bad habits. A STORY THROUGH MY EYES This is a story that many will relate to as I rewind that this great country of ours has undergone .As a child I recall the sensations and feelings I experienced at every twist and turn . Life was not explained and neither did we have the luxury of discussing things openly in the 60's ,70's, 80's and 90's Following independence , children were born expected to follow the trail of previous generation and be seen and not hard . The city under the sun ,Nairobi was a haven on the surface. Traffic was non- existence and there was definitely some order post mau-mau. This was the picture that was seen on the surface while most of the population went about their submissive lives underneath the surface , unspoken tensions gripped many who stealthily looked for ways towards greater freedoms following the hostile colonization era. My life , as that of many children was a bitter-sweet trek . I remember clearly how we were told not to mingle outside of our communities . The innumerable realities were understood only by the stern looks from the adults and caution of the dangers of 'mixing'. This was blatant 'racism' and there was no discussions around why our world was so very segregated . As I grew , I realized that there were innumerable layers to this outer picture. Whenever one went , it was to meet people from the same group . The cliques were clearly marked with physical territories as well. Generationally , the elders made sure their younger offshoot followed their tracks to avoid losing any of their lambs to another flock. School were clearly created to fit into these ideologies , as well places of prayer and social meeting spaces. In my mind's eye , there seemed to be something very uncanny about the landscape I called my country and home . I questioned everything that was acceptable as it felt that not many have the courage to disagree . I wanted to know why I could not speak with those I was a fellow Kenyan to? Why I could not attend schools that were not under the 'brown' boundaries? Why did I have to dress in a particular way and keep myself covered figurine dancing to a diminutive audience? And the list of endless questions remained unanswered not only by those in power and authority in my sphere but even those outside. My frustration grew immensely as I headed towards my teenage years where i would become one big hormone! How many can relate to that time of life when nothing feels , seems or is right? Where one is constantly misunderstood even as one grappled with the changes of becoming a young adult . The confusion of being human, understanding one's own sexuality , religious - racial -tribal beliefs all seemed too much to handle . As I watched my peers , it was indeed a kaleidoscope or a crisscrossed quilt. No-one was wiser than the next and neither was there any input or direction from those who were supposedly more experienced or better informed. The cycles seemed to be superimposed similar to the way carbon paper was used in the old days to create numerous copies of the same document. Mini 'ME's of the older versions were launched into the world like missiles at war. It was evident that very few were interested in creating a free and equal world for our people. There seemed to be a serious underground movement as well as an over-ground movement both bent to destroy the other. The political scenario had become synonymous to that of any country where dictatorship rule reigned. The silent corruption now become loud and incessant like a ruthless cancer taking over the splendid lush healthy parts of the body we call Kenya. As this disease spread like wildfire , it was evident that anyone and everyone willing to put any sense of self away could become a player in the polygamous courting of thievery and looting. All aspect of what we called ' The rule of law' become 'The rule of the rich and powerful.' Those who preached their sermons from pedestals of high standing had their messages focused on creating division that would last decades . The corrosion that ensued during the 80's and 90's caused unquantifiable havoc within the linings of the intestinal walls of our society. Doom, gloom and imposed rules govern the daily lives of Kenyans .The poor got poorer and the rich fatter with their coffers bursting out of proportion .Life as a Kenyan become about who to blame and who was at fault for all the poverty, corruption and inequality. The result of this divides was to create tribalism to ensure that the 'divide and rule' motto reigned . Tribalism become the excuse of the rich to keep disempowerment alive. Let us drop the façade and call this what it really is - the war between the rich and the poor. To be honest we have created umpteen biases under the guise of tribalism. The reality is that we have only two tribes in Kenya these are the ' haves' and the 'have-nots'!! The percentage cannot be disputed , 65% of our population lives in slums and dire conditions , 23% in various middle class ranges and rulers classified in the upper crust of 12%. Now ,is this really fair or acceptable? As this concept expanded there were more relentlessness and anger. To add to this madness , we become a nation that had our begging bowls out of any coin that would resuscitate and bring oxygen to the living causes through aid . What we seemed to have lost is our dignity and pride in the process of gaining independence. The morality that we ought to have instilled in ourselves seemed to have vanished with the wave of the status wand. The richer an individual the more they were revered , regardless of how they acquired their wealth . Unashamed inequality and injustice ruled the land of honey and milk. Values were not taught nor understood , which resulted in the lack of human rights and basic needs of every life. However ' human right' become the call of the day. The more things become corroded , the bigger the begging bowls, bringing the new profession of 'human rights and NGO's into existence. The lifestyle created through this outlet become a competitive arena for who who could get more of the chunk dished out. The donors thrived on paying out millions of dollars but to no avail as the landscape of poverty became majority . Where did the 'human' in human rights get swallowed up ? As we headed towards a multiparty rule , there were suddenly a glimmer of light . Could we seriously actualize this miracle that would set us free? Was it indeed possible to consider the potentiality of such a future for our nation and generations to come ? As we nervously ventured into forbidden waters and wished upon a shining star , we , as a people started the journey towards a new Kenya. The challenges endured , the fight that was fought towards this goal was absolutely remarkable . Many lost their lives and some other did not put down their ultimate focus to free this country . The slavery of the past had to come to an end. We had been slaves to so many externalities that it was time each Kenyan took control of their destiny and that of the future of the generations to come. Today, we have arrived at a place that was inconceivable a decade ago . We have a new constitution that took the strength of an army to come to fruition .Our stand as a people has gone through a metamorphosis that was unthinkable in days gone by. The 'human' in the human rights seems to be finding it's place in our country today. Why, would one ask ,have we been through such hell on earth? what made this country become the embodiment of all that goes against the grain of this gift we call life? The response is rather simple. Leadership!!! This word that get thrown around like loose change is what was missing in our turbulent battle over the last 5 decades. We were not empowered to understand the real meaning of leadership . Our experience of those in power and authority comes from the gutters of colonized and cruel ruling. This conditioning was transferred to us as an extension to keep the old guard alive . Those in power ruled with an iron fist to ensure power would not be usurped giving us a green light to independence in 1963. We had neither role models nor mentors to guide us to new pastures except those who had colored our world , making us inferior . We operated from that place that was bereft of empathy , community , human care and kindness. Competition was the call of the day and the race become about status . Obviously the missing cog in our political wheel has been the lack of authentic leaders and visionaries . This is by no means a blame deduction , it is what it is. Authentic leadership comes from a deep desire to be better ; to erase the mistake of the past; to give every living being an opportunity to a dignified life. It comes from being able to see 'how' the future can unfold differently . Instilling and living scrupulously as an example and teaching all those in one's direct sphere that there will be no compromises. Humility is a missing ingredient that needs to be breathed life into. Integrity is absolute and cannot be compromised under any circumstances for leaders . Responsibility for one's action and inaction must become the role of thumb for all those in power. We must now reposition our expectation for those who lead. They must now earn their position as leaders and not because of status and who they know in high places. They must held accountable and removed if their performance does not match the anticipated outcome. There is no better time than now to transform this country that is paradise for some and a hellhole for the majority! YEARS OF BLOODSHED AND BETRAYAL The story of Kenya can be likened to the story of South Africa especially when one draws a parallel between the life of Jomo Muigai Kenyatta and Nelson Madiba Mandela .Both statesmen become leaders after serving long jail terms in colonial jails with Mandela doing four times the duration of Northern Kenya . Whereas the two statesmen were revered by their respective countrymen , Kenyatta had to change his ideology and literally the struggle of Africa and the ideals that made Kenyans elect him as prime minister in 1963. The trappings of power and wealth blinded him to the plight of millions of Kenyans soon after he assumed power. Whereas Mandela had to rule South Africa 31 years after Kenya independence and 16 years after Kenyatta's demise, Madiba chose to rule South Africa for a single five-year term and retired from politics . He was not keen on dying in office like many Africa first generation leaders would prefer. Let us give to Jomo Kenyatta , this son of Kenya was a great nationalist and pan-Africanist at the beginning . At the height of his greatness he could convince kikuyu peasant to collect money for his trips to London under the pretext that he would petition the colonial government over their land which the colonial farmers had grabbed. While in London , his lifestyle saw him get broke time and time again and took up manual labor in English farms .When he finally come back in Kenya , he teamed up with true nationalist like Achieng Oneko ,Bildad Kaggai ,Kungu Karumba ,Fred Kubai and Paul Ngei to suffer seven years in jail. At the kapenguria trial , he denied Dedan Kimathi and the mau-mau movement three times , pleading his innocence that he was a victim of malicious perjury . Yes, Jomo Kenyatta went to prison for crimes he did not commit yet years later we would hail him as the father of the nation who had sacrificed his life for Kenya's independence. Between 1952 and 1960 , Kenyatta become the most celebrated pre-independence prisoner not because of his heroic deeds but rather because of his innocence of crimes he was alleged to have committed . Stories during the rounds at the time had more to do with Kenyatta the victim of colonial injustices rather than Jomo Kenyatta the defiant hero and freedom fighter going to jail in clenched fists. It was more to do with a common criminal being bribed by the colonial system to commit perjury for the sole purpose of getting Kenyatta convicted. And with Kenyatta's conviction , the rest of the kapenguria six were equally quilt as charged. For his dubious role in the freedom struggle, Kenyatta's gods were always with him. At a time when the colonial government wanted him to remain and rot in prison , he got the most important support from the most unlikely quarter .That quarter was Jaramogi Oginga Odinga who declined to form a government on the eve of independence unless Kenyatta was freed first . Jaramogi's argument was pedestrian in terms of todays politics Had he known better , he would not have bothered with Kenyatta. Had he known better , he would have listened to the true kikuyu heroes of independence struggle who more often than not branded Kenyatta a traitor and home-guard. For his dubious role in the struggle of independence . Kenyatta become the first and only prime minister before transforming himself into an imperial president for 15 good years without bothering to ask Kenyans if they wanted their Lancaster constitution changed! And as cunning as the fox , he detailed several henchmen to spearhead his project . He wanted to be the imperial president of the young Kenyan nation . How did he do this? First, he convinced Daniel Arap Moi and KADU legislators to dissolve their opposition party and join KANU the ruling party. For their efforts, he rewarded Moi and Ronald Ngala with cabinet portfolios convincing them that a one party state would unite Kenyans more as a young nation . Next , he moved quickly to abolish the two chambers of parliament , regional assemblies and posts of the regional governors , much what Kenya has reintroduced in the new constitution . After ruling for 15 years with an iron fists , the break from the Kenyatta regime occurred in 1978 when Moi took over for another 24 years. During Kenyatta's regime , there were moments of celebration and moments of tears. It was the era when the term assassination entered into our national vocabulary . It was difficult to understand how a man that Kenyans looked up to for guidance, the light of the nation could fail to order through investigations when members of the ruling party were assassinated one by one. It started with the shooting to death of Pio Gama Pinto on the doorsteps of his apartment in Parklands. The investigator that followed were a mere ploy to cover up the real killers. The assumed killer who was initially sentenced to death was eventually released after 30 years in jail. The reckless murder of Pio Gama Pinto brought it with it serious political upheavals and realignment that even the planners of his death could never have imagined . It was the first sign that there would be a serious fallout within the ruling party that would haunt Kenyatta and KANU for the better part of the first decades of the new state .Fifty years later ,opinion is still divided who might have authored the elimination of Pinto , the only Guan nationalist in the ruling party . However, what has not been lost on political observers of the time was that Pinto was a close confident of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga , a major force in Kenyatta's early government . He was equally close to Joseph Murumbi , Kenya's then foreign minister and later successor of Jaramogi following the fallout in KANU in early 1966. The tumultuous events of Kenyan politics moved fast at the time . In three short years following independence , many drastic changes become inevitable if Kenyatta was to have his way as the political supremo of the young nation. After scuttling the only opposition party KADU, Kenyatta turned his guns on perceived political rivals within KANU. At that time the most potential thread to his power were two Luo's who were also influential in their own rights both inside and outside Kenya. Tom Mboya , a young and influential trade unionist had spread his wings with powerful connections in Africa, western Europe and the U.S.A with direct contacts in the house lords , commons and the American Congress including the occupants of the white house at the time - the Kennedy clan. Tom was particularly in good books with powerful black Americans at the time that included Martin Luther King JR . Within his influence come resources that enabled him to send hundreds of young Kenyans to American colleges in preparation of Kenya's self rule .As Tom Mboya was having a grip on the western capitalist countries , Jaramogi saw the need to look at the eastern communist block. Just like Tom . he managed to cultivate effective relations with the then USSR and communist china . Two years later after the murder of Pio Gama Pinto , the stage was set for the struggle for power within KANU . In the scheme of things , Kenyatta was acutely aware that the two Luo's he dreaded most were also the most ambitious politicians of his regime . Mboya and Odinga rivalry had taken center stage a gift that Kenyatta had been salivating for. At least on the ideological front , Kenyatta pretended to share with Tom Mboya , the western capitalist economy , where free enterprises was the name of the game . For this reason , Kenyatta readily recruited Tom Mboya to clip Jaramogi Odinga's wing within KANU as it had been apparent that Jaramogi could not get along with Jomo Kenyatta especially as the vice president of KANU and government. In Mboya's mind , it was not a bad idea neutralizing Jaramogi's influence in KANU. After all, Mboya wanted to position himself as the automatic successor of the aging president who was in his late 70's and ailing. The strategy to get Jaramogi out of succession politics was successfully executed on march 13 1966 when Tom Mboya the KANU secretary general convened a special delegates conference in Limuru with one item in the agenda. It was to ' reorganize , strengthen and stream line KANU and to make it a stronger and more efficient.' When Tom Mboya rose to move the agenda of the day , he conveyed the desire of the executive committee that needed to expand the democratic space now KADU had joined the ruling party. He proposed that the post of the single vice-president be abolished and instead create the post of each vice-president for the seven provinces except Nairobi. The new party line up was as follows Jomo Kenyatta President Joseph T.Mboya secretary general Ronald Ngala vice- president Coast Muhamed Jabat vice-president North-eastern Jeremiah Nyagah vice-president Eastern Mwai Kibaki vice-president Nairobi James Gichuru vice-president Central Daniel Moi vice-president Rift-valley Eric khasakhala vice-president Nyanza Lawrence Sogina vice-president Nyanza Besides representing the provinces , the party vice presidents represented specific ethnic groups. Interestingly , the Gikuyu's community got the lion's share of the party positions . The fact that Kenyatta viewed the Gikuyu academic elite and the ex-mau-mau and their offspring as a threat to his reign probably calculating this arrangement . When Jaramogi saw that the proposal was adopted unanimously , he knew the die had been cast . He stormed out of the meeting and in a few hours announced that he would form another party to oppose KANU. This was the one act that sent Jaramogi Oginga Odinga into political oblivion for the better part of his life only able to return to elective politics after 28 years . Mboya thought he had pulled a masterstroke against his fellow Luo rival , he was wrong . Soon after Odinga was out of his way , plotters turned their gun on him and at 13.00pm on July 5 1969 three year later , he was gunned down by one Isaack Njenga Njoroge while buying medicine in a local pharmacy along government road now Moi avenue. The assassination of Tom Mboya in July 1969 was not the only calamity to befall Kenya that year , CMG Argwings Kadhek , another Luo cabinet minister had met his maker in Hurlingham along the current argwings kodhek road in January that year . Ironically it was Tom Joseph Odhiambo Mboya who read his eulogy in Gem, Siaya hardly knowing that six month later ,it would be his turn. The anger that followed Mboya's assassination was unpresented and shook Kenyatta's confidence to the born. The funeral mass at Holy Family Basilica was as dramatic as it could be . Kenyatta attended the service amid jeers and abuses from grieving Kenyans . However, he knew what to expect and strolled into the Basilica under tight security. Of all the kikuyu and other cabinet minister's , none of them attended Mboya's burial in Rusinga island except JM Kariuki who braved the anger of the Luo's to be at his friend's final resting place. TJ's final journey from Nairobi to Rusinga island through Kisumu was one hell of a mass. Multitudes lined up that road all the way to Kisumu and from Kisumu to Homabay and Mbita before crossing the ferry to Rusinga island . In the process , many innocent kikuyu's lost their lives due to the renewed ethnic animosity between them and Luo's . Many more Luo's equally lost their lives in Nairobi , Kikuyu dominated areas and even as far as ahero and Kisumu when they tried to block Mboya's motorcade . Three weeks later , Jomo Kenyatta had to face the wrath of Luo's in Kisumu when hu came to open the Russian built New Nyanza General Hospital . Old Jomo's public spat with Jaramogi at the hospital ended up in a free for all affair when the commotion forced Kenyatta's bodyguard to open fire on civilian. This incident has always been referred to as the Kisumu massacre. A few hours later , Jaramogi's political party was banned and the six Luo's MPs that belonged to K.P.U were detained among them Ramogi Achieng' Oneko , one of Kenyatta's kapenguria six comrades in Lodwar prison. The only KANU parliamentarian that had to carry the burden of criticizing the Kenyatta regime after Mboya's death was renegade JM Kariuki , the maverick kikuyu leader who defied the house of Mumbi to attend Mboya's funeral. During the next six years , JM traversed the country preaching against inequality that was growing at an alarming rate in Kenya. His observation was simple, Kenya is a land of 10 millionaires and 10,000 beggars . This analogy , angered Kenyatta that during the 1974 election , the security apparatus barred JM from holding any political rally , He was not even allowed to campaign in his Nyandarua constituency . However , despite the hurdles , JM won the seat with a landslide . Two months later on march 3 1975 , his mutilated body was found dumbed in Ngong forest while the government chose to mislead the nation that he was in Zambia on a business trip! If Kenyans thought that Kenyatta's Kleptocracy would end with his death in August 1978, they were wrong. Bad governance , negative ethnicity and general incarceration of political dissidents would continue unabated by the regime of Daniel Arap Moi. If anything all Moi did as he swore to follow in the Mzee's footsteps was to replace Kikuyu's with Kalenjin's and a few sycophants from selected communities in strategic political and economic positions in his administrations . And for the 24 years that he ruled Kenya , he ran down the economy , jailed more people , detained others and finally Dr. Robert Ouko, his fluent foreign minister was found murdered in got Alila near his koru home in Nyanza. When KADU joined KANU in 1966 and K.P.U proscribed in 1969 , Jomo Kenyatta ruled undisturbed until his death in 1978. This status Quo remained well into four years of Moi's rule. However the Kenya Air Force attempt coup that tippled Moi's government for at least 18 years become his wake-up call. The event so shattered Moi's self esteemed that intelligence sources have leaked information how he ran away from his kabarak home to hide in the maize plantations of the sprawling kabarak farm. He only resurfaced after military helicopters traced him and assured him that the plotters had been Quelled. What followed after this coup attempt is still fresh in the minds of many Kenyans. Loyalist soldiers went on rampage shooting rebels and civilians alike. Many lives were lost , coup leaders were finally sent to the gallows while others received long jail terms. Among coup leaders who who spent years in detention was Raila Odinga who finally become the longest serving political detainee in Kenya's history even longer than Kenyatta's seven year in Northern Province district. After the 1982 coup , Moi moved first to consolidate his powers. He got the attorney general Charles Njonjo and vice president Mwai Kibaki to table a motion in parliament that would eventually turn the country into a de jure one party state as opposed to the defacto one party state under Jomo Kenyatta. The motion was passed in minutes giving Moi the absolute authority to rule Kenya like a family enterprise. The next ten years of anguish and gnawing of teeth for whoever was perceived to be opposed to the government of Daniel Arap Moi . The scenario came to haunt its own architect's. Njonjo was removed as AG in1983 and actually tried for clandestine activities against Moi. Though found 'guilty' by justice miller's tribunal , Moi chose to forgive him to his advanced age . Njonjo political career came to a political oblivion for the rest of his life. Four year later 1988, it was the turn of at least three more kikuyu leaders to be humiliated by Moi's antics . These were his vice president Mwai Kibaki , Ken Matiba the health minister and Charles Rubia the local government minister among others. These blatant actions swelled opposition to Moi's government . The opposition was no longer preserved for the Luo community as previously believed . For this reason, the old guard joined hands with another crop of Kenyans called the young Turks mainly from the civil society to agitate for genuine reforms before the 1992 general elections. It eventually came to pass that when pressure from the local and international community become too much for KANU , the ruling party caved in and repealed section 2a of the 1963 constitution paving the way for a return to multiparty democracy . This was the election that returned Jaramogi Odinga to the August house together with Kenneth Madiba , George Anyona , Achieng' Oneko and several politicians that had been outlawed by the KANU regime. However , even after section 2a was removed , Moi had perfected the art of rigging the the elections for the next decade . Only after the election law was substantially revised did Moi retire from politics in 2002. What was interesting was Moi's cunning attempt to choose his successor in the person of Uhuru Kenyatta at the end of the end of his term who at that time was not an elected M.P . Had the Uhuru project not been scattered by the rebellion in KANU in 2002 , Moi would have unashamedly handed power back to the Kenyatta family. Be that as it may , the latter political deals concluded between Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta after Kibaki's first term and most probably brokered by Daniel Arap Moi , all pointed in one direction , that Moi's dream of seeing his mentor's son rule Kenya could only be realized through Mwai Kibaki ;another Jomo Kenyatta subordinate during Jomo's time. Yet this was the legacy that hold guards like Simon Nyachae and Daniel Arap Moi would ready kill for. This was the legacy that made the real tribalist like Simon Nyachae despite being a cabinet minister in the Kibaki government could throw away all pretenses to civilization , aim his tribesmen with guns, spears , arrows and any other crude weapons to unleash terror on his political opponents in broad daylight in the full glare of the province security and the police. worse still he had the nerve to go in front of cameras to confirm that he was truly behind this ghastly hooliganisms and political thuggery of the basest order. Yet Nyachae's behavior in Kisii one Friday during the 2007 elections was a stark reminder of John Michuki's shameful comment soon after the standard media house raid a year earlier when he told Kenyans fond of rattling snakes to be ready for the snake bite. we all know what happened after the 2007 elections, how many Kenyans lost their lives due to post elections violence. Come 2018 , the impossible happened ,after Raila Odinga lost the election to Uhuru Kenyatta , he went ahead and sworn himself in broad daylight in front of the army and million of Kenyans. He committed treason but was not arrested instead welcomed to the state with both hands and become the president partner. what a joke !! It is the sad story of the Kenya we live in and are proud of. A BRIGHT FUTURE You have probably experienced a series none descript pain at some point in your life. On the first day of your experience , one such reaction would be to use a painkiller to get better . If the condition deteriorates , the next decision given sufficient funds would be to seek medical advise . Initially , the painkillers may help you feel better . However, without taking any steps to address the root cause of the problem your wellbeing and performance will decline inhibiting your full potential. When I think of Kenya , I see beautiful landscapes , exquisite wildlife , exotic beaches , diverse cultures and athletic champion. Kenya is an amazing country , blessed with captivating natural resources that draw over a million people annually from around the world . As I write this book , we have already discovered natural gas near Malindi and oil in Turkana . Nevertheless, the beauty of these positive attributes is meddled by the unattractive rates of unemployment , poverty, corruption and crime. Unemployment rate stands at more than 40% , meaning that almost everyone is aware of at least one jobless person . Few employment opportunities and a rapidly growing population , reveals that the little income earned by breadwinners each year must be shared amongst a growing number of people . The result is increased poverty and desperation precipitating the conditions in which corruption , crime and insecurity thrive. Poverty and the resulting crime and insecurity similar to the nondescript pain, represent symptoms of larger problem . Imprisoning thieves , creating commissions of enquiry into reducing corruption and improving the security forces are mere painkillers to these symptoms . These measures help to reduce the effect of those symptoms for a period but unless the root of the problems is adequately addressed , an increasing number will continue to believe that a life in crime pays . Unfortunately as crime and insecurity rise , investment activities decline - resulting in slower economic growth and a reduction in economic available to ions. I believe that the Kenyan youth are probably one of the largest asset the nation will have going into the next 100 years. They possess the greatest power to drive the nation into greatness and prosperity. I am fully aware that to succeed in improving the standard of living many solutions must be adopted . However, just like the incessant common pain whose origin will eventually require specialized attention , we too must focus and address the genesis of our poverty and crime rates before we can realize our full potential. I have been inspired and believed in Kenya's Vision 2030 . However to take advantage of the opportunities it present , we need a paradigm shift. The shift I envision can be implemented through changing the way we educate our youth . I refer to the formal and informal education sectors and the nurturing we receive from our parents/guardians , the media and society at large. Children learn what it is expected from observing adults , listening to their teachers and interacting with various forms of media . One grave misconception that continues to hold us back is the notion I refer to as , 'THE 1-2-3 of a successful adult life ." This prescribed mindset state that STEP1 : finish your education ( go to primary school , pass and proceed to high school then go to college/ campus (excel)) STEP 2: Apply for jobs and get employed STEP3 : Live happily ever after , remember to marry and have some children. however, this mindset is crowded with numerous challenges which include " how does one become successful after they fall of the staircase of one of the three stages? These statistics do not acknowledge those who will do enough to proceed the next stage of education but lack the required fees. The statistics also only cover the occurrences of one school year. The question remains , how many more talented people do we lose annually on this path that turns nightmarish for those who do not succeed? How many of those who successfully compete college and end up unemployed , waiting for the ever-exclusive white-collar jobs? It is time we realized that we are sitting on a ticking time bomb or precious goldmine . The youth have a great amount of energy , which if well managed can easily drive our nations growth . Nevertheless, if this energy is neglected or this energy is not directed into constructive use, it can easily destabilize any prospects for progress. Now I will not claim to have all the answers but certainly I have some suggestions. Every year approximately 400,00 boys and girls below legal working age are released into the labor market . Some of these will be absorbed as casual laborer's on farms and in middle class homes . What about those who do not get jobs , what is their future? Ignoring this question would be a reckless move as a country . One with the potential to catastrophically run any attempt at economic development. To raise the standard of living for everyone , we must increase our gross domestic product and ensure that there is equal distribution of wealth without a good plan , we risk creating extremely desperate conditions for an increasing larger portion of the nations total population annually and inadvertently increasing the chances of increasing criminal behavior in the long term. The government and educational private sector should prioritize the expansion of the nation's high school intake over and above any investments in technological advancements . The government should also incentivize the development of private school to ensure that classrooms get built. Let us prioritize the needs of the 400,000 teenagers to avoid wasting their potential. All Kenyans youth should get an opportunity to receive training and mature after high school . Additionally , the skills they receive during high schools should also prepare them for the wide range of possibilities they may encounter upon completion of their studies. As the statistics show, the process of getting into University is even more competitive . one unintended consequence of the current scenario , being a role system is that students are not taught how to utilize and assimilate the information they receive - but how to pass exams . Consequently , cramming material for examination purpose was and remains a common practice in many of our learning institution. The present system, as is ,does not encourage critical thinking sufficiently. In the event that they fail at any stage , these in a davening of the current system make it difficult for many to figure out how to disentangle themselves from the quagmire without turning to crime or giving in to despondency . This is detrimental to our economy because we cut off an entire range of lucrative professional careers , which may not necessarily require excellence in the 8-4-4 system . Not everyone needs to excel academically to be successful in life. It is time we showed our children this. More importantly scoring an A grade and being able to use it , are two different abilities . It is my hypothesis that Kenya probably fails to innovate significantly because of the failure to differentiate between these two mindset. My parents would probably tell you that I loved understanding how things worked . I was that children that would insist on going to class even while sick because I did not want to miss anything the teacher taught . I exerted myself to appreciate how my lessons would apply to my daily life., much to the chagrin of my teachers . I was however also that children that kept asking "Teacher!Teacher!!" how does this work? These skills turns out to be useful where innovative research is the order of the day. This narrative highlights two things . First that life has numerous exams, with no short notes to memorize to ' pass' - to succeed one has to think , innovate, understand and adapt . Real life comes without a script . We must begin to teach children materials that will set them up for life, even if the only formal education they will get is the government sponsored primary and secondary education. We shall teach the youth how to think so that , when life does not work out as planned , they can improvise . Not everyone was destined to become a doctor , lawyer , engineer or accountant. Parents should encourage their children to follow their destinies . Allow them to be creative , but continue to encourage them to focus , work diligently and create economic value out of their passions. our youth have a diverse set of skills ; some may one day become world-class athletes , artist, actors , musicians , yet other may become the farmers who will develop our capabilities as a regional breadbasket. some may become designers and tailors that may make Nairobi a global fashion capital , others the entrepreneurs that will set up the small and medium-sized enterprises that will create employment for thousands , some may become programmers that will develop the start-up that will change the face of IT internationally. However, to arrive at this juncture , the youth also need to realize that they all have within them the potential to create their own solutions . They no longer have to wait for white-collar jobs . Many young people have incessantly clung to the belief that the most lucrative future lie in exclusive white collar jobs in large multi-nationals , but it is indeed time to change this mindset and learn to create this value for ourselves using our own youthful creativity That multi-national was after all once just an idea to an individual or group of individual that decided to pursue some niche- it is time we chased this niche too. I suggest that an important and compulsory part of high school should include life skills program . The curriculum should incorporate projects that encourage students to innovate solutions for those challenges faced by their local communities . This insertion to the current syllabus should include best practice studies on real successful people from similar communities who have succeeded in their different professionals and students should explore the different career paths that prefaced these professional's successes. The program should also highlight the power of entrepreneurship , students should be encouraged to explore and discuss their passions. This program should also be used to integrate ideas from previous classes to attempt to show where the material learned can be applied . Students should be taught how to present themselves , how to present their ideas and learn ways in which they can profit from their innovations or their skills. The intention is to embolden students to maximize their potential after K.C.S.E , to reduce panic and hopelessness if the do not get into college and show them that they have power to change their circumstances . The Kenya National Student Congress on Science and Technology is another avenue where students can develop products and procedures using locally sourced materials to solve numerous scientific challenges . The benefit of the congress have largely gone unrecognized . If company X decided to provide a four-year University scholarship or cover the remaining highschool fees for the winner of the various prices and private marketing groups offered to market and develop the products brands - more students would strive to create solutions . We can come up with inexpensive , collaborative measures to increase our innovative self-esteem as a country. I look forward to a Kenya where these innovations can be featured in media, effective marketing ensured and where public and private sponsorship celebrate the winners competitively . I look forward to a time where more Kenyans appreciate that we no longer have to wait for products designed and manufactured in the west to solve our challenges . It is indeed possible to create localized low cost and readily available solutions. In conclusion , I appreciate that not everyone will have the capital to start a business right out of high school as many may have to begin with low-paying jobs . I also appreciate that not everyone will become an engineer or doctor or lawyer . However , our education system should train us in the art of saving , investing , innovating , branding , talent-development , attracting capital and entrepreneurship . Lessons in all subjects be laced with relevant take-home messages aimed at preparing us for life in the real world . At the very least , we should always be challenged to think through our passions and visions and what it would take us to get us there , so that in the event one fails , we can always remember that we have options. Let us remind ourselves that the resources and the manpower to develop ourselves are available . Let us reverse that perpetual negative feedback , cycle that currently holds us back and embrace our youthful and creative forces to propel the nation into economic prosperity . Let us educate our youth by encouraging their creativity and allow it to breathe life into innovations , breathe to increase national productivity. Let the resultant wealth provide sufficient resources to educate future generations of Kenyans who will perpetuate this positive energy and mindset. Let us make Kenya a great nation together!