The Kenyan Future: Business, Trade, Commerce and the Search for Direction

Dear Mr. President: The whole purpose, of this, document, is in many ways, to attempt, to explain, the, search, by Kenyans, for, a higher ground, they can, aspire to. When one speaks, of taking, Kenya, to, a higher level, what, do they really mean, by this? Are these Visions, that some, development experts, speak off, visible, to each and, every Kenyan, out there? Or are they, just, the visions, and dreams, of, a few, individuals, who believe, they know, whats best, for all. In this document, we shall, attempt, to explain, the various, Development Initiatives, that Kenya, has seen through, the times, and ages, with, the latest, being, the, Kenya Vision 2030, proposal. We shall attempt, to show, why, these Development Initiatives, never, truly ever, do, fulfill, their goals and outcomes as, in many ways, they, never truly, do, take the, solitary Kenyan at heart, and mind. That in all, when most, Kenyans, do see any, of these, proposals, they wonder whom they are within them, and in general, the implications held, for the lives they have come, to enjoy, and even, probably, worked hard to attain. This document, will also, attempt, to explain, from, a psychological, perspective, what it is, that, actually drives, Civilizations, to, greater heights. That in all, most Kenyans, are, simply, not driven in Life due mainly, to, their inability to, envision, a higher ground other than, that, of simply, succeeding, on ones own <meaning that, there are many, unhappy, Kenyan millionaires>. This document too, will in all also attempt, to unite all the other, documents, written before by showing, that, the average Kenyan in their total lives, are today, shaped, by the above, four forces of, Business, Trade, Commerce, and, a Search for Direction. Business, as with, enjoying life really; Trade, as with, survival issues, Commerce, as with dealing with all, forms, of problems, and finally, a Search for Direction as with, giving really, meaning, to ones, life in general. Many proposals have been put forward, on how in general, Kenya, should develop as with regards really, to inspiring people, to get up early and get straight, to working. Most though have often, failed due really to, not clearly, identifying the, ordinary average Kenyan, within, these proposals. We shall present here, these, various proposals <put forward, through, the ages>, so as to give a clear picture, of the attempts, by, Kenya, to develop <as with, reaching a higher ground>, and why in all they have, mainly failed. The Delamere Group: The first of these proposals, put forward in helping, develop Kenya were based around, Lord Delamere, and the creation, of, the Kenyan Parliament. In most ways this Group, believed, in developing, Kenya, highly based on, Lifestyles

attained and their Maintenance, regulated in all, by, Parliament itself. A way of taking, Kenya, to greater heights that did, work in all, but failed really due to, the fact that, it required, rather creative Individuals, to be part of it all. Individuals in all not afraid, to take control of their lives, in all sectors too, seeking out help only, when it was, really required. As a summary, the attempt, by Lord Delamere and his cohorts, to create, a way of life in Kenya, enviable, to the rest of the world. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Communal Development: Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, while portrayed often as, a Communist, did however attempt, to develop, Kenya <via a proposal mainly>, based around, Communal Development, and, especially that, associated with, Maendeleo ya Wanawake. A way of life and development centered around, mainly, the structures of Family, Language and, Integrationist Policies <featuring, Africa mostly> of all kinds. In many ways, his proposal was further, expounded on, in the Kenyan Development Initiatives email, sent to your Office. In most ways really, Jaramogis Ideology does fail eventually, because, it is highly centered around, the Tribe, and not, the problem facing <cultural> individual Kenyan, and the, world, of Commerce. Paul Ngei and Cultural Development: Paul Ngei, did put forth, a development proposal on how, to take Kenya, to greater heights, based totally around the idea, of, Cultural Development which, in many ways, did refer to the attempts, to Westernize Kenya, as especially through, Education <and having, Kenyans of all kinds, caught up, in a frenzy of, attaining, a Western Education>. In many ways, his proposal did give birth, in Kenya to, the world, of migrant labour <and the accompanying, brain drain>, and a culture, too, of money remittances <and a culture, of dependence by many, on a few individuals, who earned a lot>. In all really, his proposal was heavily centered around, City Development, but fails finally, due really to its, rather high dependence, on Economic trends <work and jobs>, to work, rather than depending, on the Skills and Aptitudes, of, Kenyan workers. This dependence on, Economic trends, leads to a, Kenya, with many expatriate workers, foreign ownership of Kenyas Assets, and even, the economic condition/problem, of Regional Economic Development. Jomo Kenyatta and Maendeleo ya Jamii: The first President, of Kenya, did put, forth, a working proposal, on how, to take Kenya, to greater levels, of, attainment, based largely on, attempting, to develop, Kenya, based highly on, defining, what, Nation, Country and, Tribe, really meant in all. Although believed to be, a Kikuyu Nationalist, he actually believed in, development, highly based around, the Family unit <and perhaps his only, Nationalist views, were the beliefs that, the Kenyattas, were Monarchy within, the Kikuyu Tribe>. His ideology fails for most <other than the Kikuyus>, that while, it does speak, of, development, based around, the Family unit, it did work rather well on development, based around the, solitary Kenyan Individual <and giving rise, to talk, of, Kikuyu Individualism, and Isolationism>.

Daniel Toroitich arap Moi and the Nyayo Philosophy: Daniel Toroitich arap Moi, comes into power after, the death, of President Jomo Kenyatta, and in all making him, the defacto, second President, of Kenya. In a Kenya heavily centered, around the Kikuyu <and Kikuyu success>, President Moi attempts, to elevate the rest of the actually suffering masses, to, greater heights. In all ways, Moi does envision, a Kenya of Kenyans, having all sorts, of problems which, can be resolved believingly, at the very least, via, Kenyan Aid Initiatives, especially those, associated with, Kenyan slogans such as, Harambee. In many ways Mois Kenya, was one of, Individual Rights <especially centered around, Personal Convenience and Liberty issues>, but fails really due to, the fact that, the Individual and Individual Rights, are not, properly defined <one finds that, with time, individual problems are turned, by the Government into, group problems, with an attempt really to end, all forms, of, discriminative behaviour, and especially, Tribalism>. President Mwai Kibaki and the Kenya Vision 2030: This is the newest, of proposals, that sits probably in, a shelf, or on top, of, the desk, in your Office Mr. President, as it very much, does bear your, name on it. A proposal on, how to develop, Kenya, in alignment with, properly seeing Kenyans, very well as, sole Individuals <out to attain personal success>, and in all too, centered strongly around, defining, what, Democratic Republic, really means, to, the masses. A proposal that many, believe will work, but some <such as myself>, do not, really believe so as it, leaves, the task of, looking for Resources and basic Assets, to, the solitary, Kenyan, Individual. In many ways too, one does find a, new kind, of, Tribalism, based around, Elitism <as with school attended>, breaking out as avenues <as with knowledge required>, towards success are, blocked, to many who do not, know, the right people, who know how to, go about, attaining, the success sought out. In many ways a proposal, that will eventually, put alot, of the power in Kenya, under the control of, the Banks who appear, to be, the only group <in Kenya>, rejoicing, and even probably, making the most money. KENYAN SOCIALIST ECONOMICAL INITIATIVES: The use of the term, Socialist here, should not be interpreted, from the European perspective, but more, from the Islamic <and not, African either>. From the European perspective, it does speak of, moderating, human behaviour, while, from the African perspective, it speaks of, uniting, different people/groups. However, from the Islamic view of it all, it speaks of, developing, the sole Individual <as mainly, via, outlook in life, and even, human drive>, and not, developing, groups/communities. All this, is mentioned because one, does find that, development in Kenya, best takes the, approach, based highly on Individual Development, rather than, Group/Communal Development.

One does find too that, the most, developed of Regions, in the World do take, the approach of Development, from an, Individual perspective, rather than, from, a Group/Communal perspective. When one though, does speak of, Individual based Development, one must wonder too what, is it, that actually, drives, such Individuals to, greater heights, of achievement as compared, to, Group/Communal Development, highly based, around, the acquiring, of, the three, basic Needs, of Food, Shelter and, Clothing. What forces in nature <or History even>, drive, the Individual, to aspire for, greater heights <a rather common problem, as one does find that, even, with a Country attaining success, for all its people this, success, can very well, stagnate, if one does not, really know what is it that, drives, Individuals or Civilization even, to, greater heights>. In Europe, they have traditionally been, driven, by forces, associated with, Culture, Love and, Symbolism. In America, they have traditionally been, driven by, forces, based on, Freedom, Liberty, and Rights <that in all, attaining personal success, bequeaths one, to, greater levels, of these>. In Japan, they have been driven by forces, ascribing too, Honour, Loyalty and, Respect <all virtues, now, rather heavily ingrained, in the average Japanese, due mainly, to, forces, associated with, History, and Religion>. And what of Africa <and especially Kenya>, what is it, that drives the, average Individual, other than, forces, associated with, fear, survival <or security>, and, greed <or corruption>? In this section will be proposed, a new way of looking, at the sole Individual Kenyan, driven in all, by, forces, rather perhaps, African in nature, and have driven, at the very least, South Africa, to its attaining, great Individual successes, as that, seen, with, the Oppenheimer family. Forces, while appearing, Colonial in nature, are rather, old in fact and, can be, summarized, as seeing, the sole Individual, as primarily, driven by, the forces, of, Commerce, Christianity, Civilization, and Conquest. That by Commerce, we refer to, Individuals, seeking to solve, all kinds of problems faced, based in many ways, on the forces that, regulate, Commerce itself. That by Christianity, it is referred to holding, certain beliefs and values, steadfastly, that in totality, make for, rather, strong headed, moral and upright, individuals, driven in succeeding, by all forms, of Ethics <whether they be, Islamic, Buddhist, Traditional African Religion etc.>. By Civilization, we refer to, any form of, Community building, that is in all, envied, by, the rest of humanity <an example, being, Cape Town, South Africa>. And finally, by Conquest we refer to, the belief that, Africa, as a continent best moves, forward, based, very much on, the forces, of, Conquest <intellectual in nature, and not, that of warfare really, associated strongly, with, the rise, and fall of, African Kingdoms>. If we believe the above, four, to highly, drive, the individual Kenyan in attaining, all forms, of success, then, we can see, how, all forms, of issues <political, social, economic and even, religious>, can be dealt with, through, Trade, Business, Commerce, and finally, the accumulation, of Knowledge. That it can be seen, whenever, any Kenyan attempts to, achieve success of all kinds, then, the forces, of Trade, Business, Commerce, and Knowledge accumulation, are called upon, to

aid, in these pursuits. The problem though Mr. President, is that, these four areas, of Activity, are today, in Kenya, highly, controlled by, a few, and in all, locking Kenya, with regards to, Resources and Asset bases, and with regards also to, general, problem solving. One finds in Kenya today that, Trade, is highly regulated by, the Government <and inefficiently too>, Business, by, prominent families <and Elitist by name>, Commerce, by the, struggling Mwananchi, and finally, Knowledge access, by, Colour <skin> barriers <foreigners in all, are in control, of, alot, of Knowledge, dealing with, and even, about, Kenya itself>. What is proposed here Mr. President, in dealing with this, rather troubling, problem, as it is at the, heart, of all, forms of, stagnation in Kenya today is, a change, in formation, to the, following: Trade, by Prominent Families <as with, controlling too, sea ports>, Business by, the local Mwananchi, Commerce, by, the Government <which also, includes, setting up, Business parks>, and finally, Knowledge Access by, various Institutions <and probably, a subscription, of a kind, to them>. In a further attempt, to moderate all this as with, putting out, all forms, of ideas to, in general, stir up in one, the civilizing forces, of, Commerce, Christianity, Civilization and, Conquest, will be, a culture of, writings, all really based on, attempting, to inspire, Kenyan Individuals to, attain, greater heights based, mainly on, putting out, ideas, of all kinds and forms. A way of development that was, in the past, associated with, making, the Sultanate of Oman, and Oman itself, a highly, successful, Nation. To also fully, deal with this matter adequately, of Kenyans, in general, locked out, of life due really, to having, all sorts, of, personal issues <political, social, economic and religious in kind>, and all, irresolvable really, due, for instance, to, technical difficulties, associated today mainly with, Trade, Business, Commerce and, Knowledge access <as in, the overpricing, of, many a commodity, on, the Kenyan markets>, it is best, seen probably that, the Government, change, the following below, Political Formations, to those, also, mentioned, below:

1. Trade: Instead of Trade, between, Kenya and Egypt, let there instead, be,
Trade, between, Kenya and Israel.

2. Business: Instead of, Business between, Kenya and Germany, let there, be,
Business, between, Kenya, Oman, and, the UAE. 3. Commerce: Instead of, Commerce, as driven today, by, the Mwananchi, and between, Kenya and the World <and making, Kenyans, move/live all over, in a, similar nature, to Nigerians>, let there, instead, be, Commerce, driven by, the Government, between, Kenya and France. 4. Knowledge Access: When dealing really, with the, issue mainly, of, Specialized Knowledge, and, all kinds, of, Knowledge workers, let not, this, Knowledge flow, and creation, be, between, Kenya and the Western world <Governments>, but between, Kenya, and, all kinds, of, Worldly Institutions <some private, as, with the example, of, the Rockefeller Foundation>.

Alan Gicheru