I interacted with some few youth in Loitokitok on my trip to the place and delved into what they do, what plans they have etc. In some of my talks with them, I asked what they make of those who are in town, those whose lives they envy. The result to my question was shocking and was perplexed by what they had to say.
First they mentioned that those in Nairobi are not people but rather robots manipulated by the lifestyle of living in town. They are no longer people, no longer brothers nor sisters but a bunch of wolves who care less about where they came from. They told me that once someone gets a good job in Nairobi the first thing they do is to change their accent, their dressing and how they relate to people. They also said that they complain a lot about the sun, the dust and the boredom at home, “Kwani walizaliwa wapi?” They remarked.
Some complained about isolation especially during the festivities. They said that those from Nairobi congregate together in clubs and would not humbly greet you because he/she thinks the next thing you are going to ask from him/her is a bottle of beer. “I remember on a normal warm sunny day when my long childhood friend sneered me simply because I was full of oil when I was repairing a motorcycle. I felt so embarrassed when he acted like he never knew me!” Said a guy who repairs motorcycles in Loitokitok town.
On the other hand guys from ‘uptown’ and students in campuses away from home say that the youth at home are radical, negative and have no growth at all, all they focus on is getting drunk and getting comfortable. Most say that they don’t give themselves challenges no wonder they marry at a very young age, get some little wealth and settle indefinitely. This mentality they say they try to get off their peers but conflict arises, accused of bringing the ‘town mentality’ to them to show them how learned and smart they are.
I got the picture of two dissatisfied parties one trying to fit and another trying to oppose. Who will rift this gap? Is it the parents who are so much occupied with daily parental efforts and politics? Is it the church that doesn’t unite us at all but a show off? Is it the society that teaches us that you become a somebody after owning that car, that house, that herd etc? Or is it we the youth to organize rallies that will create a bond amongst us? Should I see my illiterate childhood friend as a lesser person simply because I have that degree and should I be jealous that my sibling made it and I din’t?
Two wrongs don’t make a right no wonder the society has got no growth! Conflict cannot be resolved by the level of thinking that created it and so does togetherness, it doesn’t come from social networking, it doesn’t come by creating those Facebook and Whatsapp groups and sharing the funniest of jokes. It comes from sharing the time, the talk and the moment we all once shared while we were kids. Who wouldn’t want to see a decent Diner in Loitokitok? Who wouldn’t want to boast of having a waterworld in their home? So funny that we don’t even have a swimming pool! Who is even proud to say he/she comes from a society that hasn’t grown for over 30years? Same old buildings, same old structure?
Everyone would want their kids to be proud of their home. Everyone would want to tell stories of how old things were before and now there is change but Lo! This is not achieved through conflict of interests and creating social classes in the society! We want growth for once. Let us grow up guys! We want fun, we want the world to see change in us!