Comments on: Dependency culture is crippling many

By: Sunny Bindra

Sunny Bindra — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:18:16 +0000

Felix:

Agreed, poverty and inequality are the drivers. But a culture that ‘accepts’ dependency is just as much to blame – it amplifies and propagates the problem. We won’t work our way out of this until we accept that we make our own destiny.

By: felix muli

felix muli — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:15:34 +0000

This has been caused by the unfair distribution of wealth.

By: Kamau Mweru

Kamau Mweru — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:16:58 +0000

Sunny, you are one of my favourit daring writers (dissidents?) in Kenya.

It is one thing to sit in New-York and write.

It is another thing to sit in Kenya and being head of an internationally supported organization. Whether it be news-service or NGOs or Human rights or powerful religious organizations….

You are some kind of an expert on corporate business. But!!!! Mind you, a country or even a family at the low end, does not work according to other laws than “economy” or to be fair and cite the Greek words “oiko nomia” which literally means “the laws of the house”.

No community which is divided against itself will, eventually, persist.

Now we are experiencing a divide in know-how and power. That is the last resort of the powerful to try to escape accountability.

The Germans said: “Wir haben es nicht gewusst!” (We did not know!) Let’s say like this: Manure from bulls will not safeguard your eternity!

When those in power either do not have know-how or deny it by politicizing everything in own interest, and when those with knowledge and stature are allowed to preach but have no menas to implement their GOOD advice, that is when the end is near.

I do realize that this message is controversial. But with 97% of Kenyans loosing faith in the leadership, we are in deeply troubled waters. Anarchy is not the solution!

True leadershiip is where Responsibility, Accountability, Support, Consultation and Information walk hand in hand.

The opposite is wild west politicians shooting at random in order to secure own profit gained by crime which (they believe) will never be punished..

A, well, on Earth, that is. But eternity is inevitable for everyone.

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:45:20 +0000

The mheshimiwa’s should stop handing out cash to all these beggars – especially those who have a car and a job! Then perhaps they would stop expecting hand-outs.

By: Sunny Bindra

Sunny Bindra — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:31:55 +0000

Prousette:

As you observed, the ‘beggar’ mindset is not confined to desperate people! It is a state of mind that is limiting our personal and national ambition.

By: Sunny Bindra

Sunny Bindra — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:30:34 +0000

Brian:

Excellent – the whole point is to stimulate debate, even if we don’t agree. I agree with you that we should not doubt that most people want to work hard if given a chance. Our state is clearly deficient – but my point was that our thinking is also wrong. We are breeding a whole generation that thinks nothing of taking handouts. Actually, it should be a source of shame and only done temporarily. I’m sure you have encountered many ‘career dependants’ who have killed their own initiative by seeing life in the wrong way…

By: Sunny Bindra

Sunny Bindra — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:27:25 +0000

Wamoronjia:

Being a successful Kenyan is a source of immense stress! Many have to ‘lie low’ or engage in deceits…

By: Prousette

Prousette — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:54:38 +0000

Hi Sunny, As I read your article I was reminded of an incident where an acquaintance saw a mheshimiwa stopping at a red light next to him in traffic.The man (who drives his own car and is gainfully employed as far as I know) proceeded to ask for a kitu kidogo from the mheshimiwa. I was mortified because I did not expect such from a man of his standing. I think, we do live in a welfare state we just pretend that we don’t!

By: Brian Mboga

Brian Mboga — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:11:33 +0000

Your comments are not entirely true in my opinion. There are certainly individuals in every society that become dependant on others, but most are actually hard working. In the informal sector, they tend to excist with little to no financial aid from the governemt or financial institutions and are the majority of the working class.
Your friend should instade of paying for the childs fee’s facilitate it in the employees pay so that they can have a form of independence and badget for thr future, instade of taking on a long term goal such as education that requires a conclusion. That’s like a doctor doing half the job for free, then sending you to another expensive one to finish the job. That is why we have so many unfinished social programs driven by MPs who then expolit them poor masses and complain of having to give handouts while there actions create the problem of porverty.
We should work to bring each other up instade of having charity as a solution.
Intresting artical though and has created debate in my house.Great week to you…
brian

By: wamoronjia

wamoronjia — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:29:12 +0000

Hi Sunny
As usual your commentaries are on point.
Even some Kenyans who have been abroad for a while nowadays ‘lie low’ when they visit because most people will imagine they’re minting millions overseas.
If they don’t they risk bursting their budgets as they will be under constant pressure to ‘treat’ their many ‘friends’.
Have a good week.
W