tycho wrote:
@Alba, what you're recommending is worse politics than the one being played now. The citizens don't get mugged because police are ill equipped, but because they live in 'prisons'. The slum dwellers don't need a government that builds them houses, they need confidence and leadership that will allow them to build their own homes or afford decent housing. 'We' don't need roads built just because there's money but because active engagement of the citizen creates opportunities and income that can build and sustain infrastructure.
I get the feeling that the more we complain about our government and country the worse we get because we stick to status quo ideas of 'serikali' being the source of all good things just like it happened in 'animal farm'.
We need a different political paradigm.
You are dead wrong:
1. Poorly equipped and outnumbered police force emboldens criminals. There is one police station serving all of Kibera a slum with 500,000 people. No wonder criminals are so brazen.
You can make Nairobi safer by via more street lights , more police stations and police posts, CCTV cameras, more police patrols, better trained policemen, databases to track criminals etc. In some cases policemen do not even have petrol to go after thieves.
2. Every responsible government builds low cost housing, be it the USA or UK or wherever.
It is laughable for you to say all they need is confidence to build their own homes. You must be one of those that was born with a silver spoon. Most Kenyan middle class types cant even build their own homes and you think slum dwellers can build homes ? Reality please !
3. Serikali is not the source of all good things. But it must get its priorities right.
Instead of palatial homes, why not build better infrastructure to enhance economic activity ? So much Productivity is lost in constant traffic jams. So much productivity is lost due to power outages.
Why not invest in making Kenya more secure ? This will bring more tourists.
Why not build social halls , basketball courts, football fields for the youth ? This will keep them busy and away from crime. Some of them might become good enough to earn a living from sports.
The colonial masters saw it fit to build housing for the poor and football fields for the youth. And even social halls. Kenya's best boxers were products of social halls like Muthurwa aka Dallas. Now such social hall are grabbed by bigwigs and Kenya is no longer good at boxing.
Virtually all the stadiums and football grounds in Kenya were built by the colonialists. The only exceptions are Nyayo and Kasarani. Sports can be a good source of revenue and employment. Yet instead of building sports facilities were are building palatial homes.
How is it possible that the colonial masters were kinder to Kenyans than our own leaders ?