Kenya is still miles ahead of Tanzania
Dear my friends Tanzanians, I salute you all.
The report about Kenya competitive capacity has attracted my attention. I am in Kenya right now, and I have stayed here for five years consecutively. It is true that some few Kenyans are very rich, but majority are poor, even poorer then we are. It is true then that in the cities especially Nairobi city is richer then many of our cities such Dar, Arusha or Mwanza. But majority of the towns and villages in Kenya are poorer then most of our villages in Tanzania. People are beggars every where you go, but no one is taking care of his/her brother or sister. People are dying with hunger, waiting for the red cross to help them. such a thing will be very really find in Tz.
Nairobi is the beautiful city, but it has more then five slums around it, and the first biggest slum in Africa (Kibera) is found in Nairobi city. Most of you my friends you don't know what slum mean or looks like. Just to give you a mental picture; in a slum like kibera, it is hardly to get a toilet. If you like have your "ramble", a plastic bag. After you finish keep it until night to throw our in Nairobi River. That is development.
It is true also that Nairobi or Kenya has many industries compared to Tz. But try to investigate; whose those industries? who own them? Not Kenyans but either British, Indians, Americans, and other business people from abroad who have invested in Kenya. Kenyans are just managers, workers and producers. or they do share some potions in those big companies, hospitals, schools, industries, etc.
It is true again that Kenya has very good climate which attract investors and tourists. When you talk about Kenya, then we talking about Nairobi and some few town pockets. The rest of the northern Kenya is as if it is not Kenya. No passable roads, no water, no food, electricity, generally no life, but the same Kenya, that is fun, eh!!!!
Our big problem we Tanzanians, though most of us don't like to see and agree with this that we are like in "cocoon", we are just for ourselves. We can not dear to compete with the rest of the world. Why? One of the reason is that we are limited in communication with others, our language is the barrier when we want to express ourselves to others who are not like ourselves. Swahili is good, it is ours, but is it domesticated language. It will take us much time to universalize our language. The fact is that when we prepare ourselves, the global village is running very fast to over take us. That is why we a legging behind, not the Kenyans, but to the global village.
We have many good things, yes. But they are undeveloped, unharvested to the maximum. Why? one of the reason is poor technology and skills. We fair to transfare or transmit the already existing knowledge and the newly invented ones. I see the way Kenyans struggling to imitate us Tanzanians in many spheres of life e.g. in bongo flava, in religious songs, even in Swahili language. But it will take them some time to catchup with us in such fields.
Another thing which hinders us is size of our country. It is wide with semi arid areas. So we need good plan and planners who can implement the planning efficiently. Let us leave dirty politics of Kenyans, let us concentrate on development of people and things. Let us construct infrastructures, not only to the towns, but wherever needed. infrastructures like feeder road, water, electricity, telephones, etc. It is true that Kenyans have most of these things, but to whom and where? It is for the rich and it is only in town. No electricity, water, roads etc at Kibera slum though it is within the city whereby there are million of people living there.
Let us compete in games and sports. We are no longer in the map of other nations. Why? I just hear Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and so one. Where are the Taifa stars, Simba, Yanga and the rest? We are so used ourselves and we fear and hide ourselves before the global village. We are so used to the village life, we can not dare to go in town fearing noise of cars, lights and tall building that they fall on us. Come up, they are human beings like use. Let us transform ourselves from crowing to flying. It is true that Kenyans are prepared to take off, what about us. We should go the international sports, market, business, global educational standards. Come out and see the sun. Do not thing whatever we see in dark places is the source of light. It is just a kindle, lamp, star or just a moon. Come out and see the sun, the source of knowledge, the real naked truth.
My time is over and I am rushing. But I wish you all by brothers and sisters Tanzanians, a pleasant stay, enjoy your peace which is really felt somewhere else.
Amani Nyoni.