In 1963, The Union Jack was lowered and
the Kenyan flag with its magical colours was hoisted. This marked the
end of external rule and ushered in a new African revolution. She
looked a promising country with enterprising citizens. Just after
independence, the country has struggled under poor leadership and
mega corruption scandals which have left the country reeling under
the precipice of a failing economy.
This year alone
has seen the country’s main currency, Kenya shilling, and trade at
a high of 107 Kenya shillings per dollar. This is a little bit
arm-twisting on a country whose imports ($4.49 billion 2009
estimates) exceed exports ($9.215 billion 2009 estimates). The stable
level of the Dollar is Kshs.75 to the dollar. Given that the
country’s estimated stands at a magnanimous 7.729 billion Dollars
the common mwanainchi has had a pinch not to mention.
The pinch
mentioned above and the skyrocketing food and fuel prices have
sparked massive protests from the public. This has seen a number of
civil servants stage strikes to cry foul on their poor pay that can
hardly sustain their life.
The strikes
started earlier on by teachers and lecturers and later the Kenya
Power And lighting company workers said enough was enough. Other
minor strikes were also felt as the bite really showed its bite.
The latest and
most dreaded is the doctors’ strike. Not only are the medics crying
foul over their pay but also poor working conditions. No medical
equipment and those that are, have deteriorated to nobody knows what.
Despite the hospitals deplorable condition, they also have strained
human resource.
Unless the govt acts on this, the situation in the country is going
on a standstill. While we are taking in all this, we are waiting for
that dreaded moment when the Kenya Defense Forces will down their
ammunitions, quit fighting the Al-shabab and with banners shout, “HAKI YETU!”
“HAKI YETU!”A common Kenyan slogan to mean, “we want our
rights.”
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