Good song for today... Winyo Odongo

Change of behavior among the youth

For long there has been a cry for increased immoral behavior, insecurity and drug abuse. Various complains  and articles have been written on these vices and still there is no corrective measure which has been taken by society or government to curb this negative change to societal values. These happenings are recent and new and I believe there is a point in time when our society lost its way and allowed gaps for infiltration of these vices. Society should trace back its steps in time, investigate and identify this turning point for it to make a long-lasting correction.      

                     

I believe that one of the ways in which we came to this undesirable state is through the media. The movies aired, songs played, music videos played  and presenters of the different media stations portray a different culture and style so alien to our societal state. These actions have placed our ethics and codes of conduct governing our cohesion as a community  at risk. A bigger percentage of movies, music and videos  presented to media consumers contain immoral scenes for example nudity, drug abuse, violence, sex e.t.c.

These are so much on our radios television, laptops and other media playing gadgets such that the youth whom for the better part of their time spend on media, have taken these as normal and usual in life. The youth have decided now try and practice what they see and hear from the media for they look at them as  part and parcel of life and some have also taken it as a fashionable style of life.

Acts such as homosexuality was never an African problem but today in most conversations on morality, we have to have it as part of the discussion topics. This shows where our society is heading to; more worse state.

For well being of our society and protection of our heritage, we cannot afford to allow the continuity of these acts in our society . Different groups such as the church, government, civil societies and institutions should come together and investigate solutions to these problems.

Quick Solution To Mau Forest Saga, or Else, Time Bomb We’ve been sitting on is soon Blowing

Mau Forest menace is something we have been assuming for so long, and the more we are doing that the more its effect is increasing and very soon exploding.  Our politicians are myopic to this aspect, not ready to act on it because they know the consequences that come by touching the issue- Look at what happened to Raila Odinga in 2009. As the deputy president stated, It is a concept of political tool, something you can use to win or gain election, as it revealed in the 2013 elections. But what we must ask ourselves as Kenyans is that, where is it finally going to end? What is going to be left to our environment after all the trees have been cut down? We have a cause to worry after seeing what happened in Lamu county in the recent past.

The recent documentary dubbed Mau Tragedy revealed a lot of issues, matters which are grievous and should be given first priority in any government sitting. Logging, favoritism in resettlement, tension among other communities of their land being taken away from them and increased encroachment still by other communities. These are issues which require maximum attention, but instead, our politicians have not taken this with the demanded urgency, they have turned it a subject of political war, insults and accusations. This is evident in what happened in Narok rally between Ruto and Duale. We cannot continue banking on postponement of solutions for political power, days are over for that.

With the poor living standards, high crime rate, high unemployment, we cannot afford to include a civil war on top. We need a quick remedy, one taken by a bold Kenyan who not only wants to serve the interest of the living, but also of the unborn. Solving Mau problem means getting of the comfort of pampering issues and removing all the illegal dwellers of the Kenya’s forest. This would require at times force but for the good of the future, it is worth it. I choose the route of evicting by force because I do not see an alternative, the DP (during Mara Rally) proposed a method which include saving the forest and settlement, I do not see a space for that. Which formula are we going to tame the ever growing population?  The method is also subject to a lot of disputes for which criteria are we going to select who to remain and who to go? Is that not also a cause for chaos and corruption we are preventing?

For the first time in Kenya, one leader (not a politician) should rise and save Kenya for a better tomorrow. He may loose popularity among some, but I guarantee the history books will judge him/her very fairly. A name never to be forgotten any time.

By Brian Mala - Nairobi