A Failed Model
This picture says everything about a political system that has completely and utterly failed.
No country has ever achieved real economic growth without first achieving food security for it’s citizens. India and China both achieved food security in the 1970′s. Africa is the only continent left, that has yet to achieve this.
You can talk about the stock exchange all you want or real estate investments or whatever, but when you have people (in a country) that are at risk of death, due to starvation, the model has failed and eventually, most failed models do become dangerous for the country, either in terms of higher crime rates, coups, civil wars, or other things.
I was talking to a friend this weekend who said that the country won’t blow up because it has a middle class that won’t join in. So what do you think? How long can a government continue to fail before the people say enough? Remember, Mugabe is still there.
** While people are starving, the “industrialization” mumbler minister is divulging the government’s plans to improve things
:
“With a vision of being a leader in catalyzing a diversified, globally, competitive and sustainable industrial sector in Kenya, the role of the plan is clearly defined. Through a vigorous consultation process this plan is aimed at improving the current status of things. We will utilise all the local capacities to achieve products and qualities accepted to the international standards,” said Industrialisation minister, Henry Kosgey, at the KICC launch”.
Oh…Henry, Henry, Henry…….
Oiy…
Bloodshed – is that the best option you can come up with? Who pays you to write this garbage?
It’s an opinion Anonymous.
It’s like an ass hole, everyone has one.
That woman looks like a scare crow.
Let me be the devils advocate here. How can a community never learn from the previous period of hunger/ food shortage?
This communities do have a responsibility to themselves. I see squirrels burying nuts all summer. They know winters is coming. I remember even dogs used to bury extra food for tough days.
This probably sounds cold but I think you need to evaluate your options. From birth control to better ways of farming. The Govt can assist and should assist but the people who should take the majority of this requirements would be the people directly affected.
Nuff said
Annonymous:
I’m not advocating blooshed. I am saying that this disparity between the rich and the poor is dangerous — just look at Africa’s history for evidence of this. It HAS been defined by coups and civil wars and these things HAVE been created by the extreme poverty, the hunger and the corruption. Besides, didn’t the country witness some of that bloodshed during the post-election violence?
It’s inevitable that in Kenya, if this hunger continues, there is going to be a rise in crime rates (or worse).
There seems to be a total disconnect about what the people are going through and what it’s leaders are doing to them (with the people’s money, I might add!!).
For sure, there’s going to be a rise in crime if this hunger and inflation in food prices continues.
At some point, these political leaders need to realize that their model of governance is just not working and if these disparities in wealth continue, it will destroy any sense of social cohesion.
It’s not garbage, it’s reality.
Kinoo:
Personal responsibility is always good and I know why you said that — it’s because you grew up in a place that has good land and plenty of rainfall, but for the rest of the country that doesn’t have that, what should they do?
The government does have some responsibility here, especially when they are paid enormously well by the taxpayers and when they have received billions of dollars in aid over the years.
You can’t steal my money, steal the money from foreign aid that was meant to help me and then, when I have nothing, tell me….”oh well….it’s your own fault for being hungry”.
KE..
I believe you need to appreciate that there is a poverty trap that exists in Kenya…
Why do I say this …
1- In a government run by decree … farmers have become demoralized and have most have no incentive for large local consumption..
2- Most farmers have moved to cash crops which are bought by Multinational companies here in the west …
3. The government undermines food security by over emphasizing growing food for export …
4- The government undermines food security by patronizing the grain boards and further worsens the situation by allowing cartels to run the grain business … we all know cartel don’t care about the food security..
5- The food producer has lost faith in the grain boards and other food institutions who have consistently mismanaged the trade …
6- Politicians have used hunger as a political weapon to control people… They buy up big chunks of land and let them sit idle or buy out the best lands in their constituency from already demoralized farmers who are TRAPPED in a limbo and don’t even understand how to get out of this Problem..
So … the truth is Kenya can attain food security … But food INSECURITY has a direct relation with POVERTY…..
Our politicians think they’re helping the people by giving them handouts … but they’re are actually pouring kerosene on a house on fire…
The donors think they’re helping Kenyans by giving a corrupt government money.. bu they’re are actually pouring kerosene on a house on fire…
So what are the solutions….
After reading what I have said above .. Its easy find them…
People should have thought through the consequences of their violence and displacement of farmers and burning granneries last year. It’s now time to pay the piper. Even as we wring our hands about people starving, let us not forget that it is for the most part, a situation created by intolerance and jealousy and a failure to think clearly about what next, in the de facto majimboism that was instituted (and continues to be done quietly through intimidation) last year. Meanwhile, the saviors of democracy (on whose behalf all the heinous acts were committed) are ‘building the nation’ and seeing doctors for ailments associated with overeating, while their “tools” are busy starving.
Another issue (in Kenya and in Zimbabwe as well) is the obsession with maize. You ask people why they don’t eat anything else and they say, “maize is our staple”, or they start telling you what a man should eat, ati anything other than ugali is a snack. Good luck with that attitude. You think people eat spam ’cause it’s delicious? It’s ’cause they went through war and rationing and learnt to innovate in times of scarcity.
When people fail to realize that their actions and attitudes have consequences, they will continue to be at the mercy of darwinian principles. And now those without conscience are busy claiming that GMOs will solve a problem that we ourselves created. The issue is not so much the type of plants as it is the incentives farmers have been given (or not given in this case). These GMOs will not plant themselves! Call it a cold assessment, but it’s the truth and someone needs to say it.
But there is no problem about having enough grain to keep us alive. According to a nation article earlier this week, though there is a global shortage of white maize, yellow maize (which is used as animal feed) is on the way! We shall live to mess ourselves up another day! We just never learn, mainly because we (the young) have no respect for history and its lessons. Don’t know how many of you were around in the 80s when the much reviled yellow maize made its debut in Kenya (ask your parents or older siblings about it). Politicians come round and tell us to kill and displace for certain ideals and we just blindly follow them, without asking why the models they are suggesting did not work in the first place.
Guess it all goes back to KE’s assessment of the consequences of not having a reading (or independent thinking) culture.
I am going to use India as my primary example since it is
a) 3rd world country (in spite of or despite the IT folks/prowess)
b) Has a humongous population (1.2 bn people)
c) Land is scarce especially in the ‘fertile’ parts of the country
d) Has 100s of ‘tribes’, 100s of languages, and the caste system
e) Has nasty/unfriendly neighbours i.e. China & Pakistan.
f) Has a complex majimbo political system
1) India has never had a coup (or an attempt at one) that I know of since 1947 yet they now have 1.2 billion people who (15-60 years ago) were not as well-off as they seem today. Why? There are by far ‘truer’ democracy than Kenya is. Governments in India change at almost every election. I am not saying that is the best option but it sort of keeps politicians honest. Well, more so than Kenya.
Are there lessons here?
2) Kenyans expect the government to do too much for them. Why? Every Kenyan kid should be taught the story of the grasshopper & the ant. Now there may be sections or conditions that can wipe out someone’s stores, wealth, savings BUT we have a serious famine in Kenya every 3-4 years. Why?
Kenyans do NOT save. Why don’t we hear that 30% of China’s or India’s populations are starving YET they are also ‘under-developed’ compared to Japan or USA? India remains a 3rd world country.
Savings is ENCOURAGED in India. You think the Mhindis in Kenya built their empires by not saving. Mhindis have multi-generational businesses. Chandarias (of Comcraft fame – check the website) come to mind. The current business was started by Manu Chandaria’s father & now his grandkids are in it!
For all their current problems I see Ambani as another family that is growing its wealth by leaps & bounds.
Tata Group has been in existence since the 1800s. Look at it now! They build cars, railway equipment, started Air India, built the magnificent Taj Hotel to spite the racist Brits!
Then I see Francis Thuo – according to Daily Nation – was run down by the son. The closest ‘success’ is Kenyatta family lakini we know babake was a land-robbing baron.
(Exceptions may be Tusky’s but not sure how many generations. Please quote other examples BUT not robbers akina moi & biwott)
So Kenyans need to SAVE. Not spend it all on Nyama Choma & beer.
3) There is ZERO accountability in Kenya for politicians. Look at kimunya or murungaru or saitoti or….
I am not sure about India but certainly it seems politicians are not always recycled there. Current PM was an apolitical Finance Minister who opened up the economy.
Riaga:
Why do Kenyans (after 45 years of independence) think serikali is ‘baba na mama’?
I have been branded ‘unpatriotic’ by many for criticizing the government. At a cost to my personal safety. My logic about less government falls on deaf ears.
When the government left the banking industry to private folks e.g. Equity, Family & even the multinationals or local banks… look at the explosive growth!
KCB & NBK could have never done it. The gaps left by BBK were immediately filled by Equity. The mid-market has excellent banks like I&M Bank, Diamond Trust & NIC Bank. All private.
KCB is showing signs of life AFTER the government’s involvement dropped. NBK is still struggling.
So the same for farming: The weak will die off. Plant what is sustainable. Teach people. Regulate safety but get out of farming… Yes, have a safety net but use the safety net too many times & people FORGET to farm! And the net grows huge holes (the maize scams)…
What makes this situation laughable as cold as that may seem – is that farmers in Nyandarua are at this very moment feeding CABBAGE, POTATOES and CARROTS to their cows because there is a GLUT.
Why can’t the government buy the produce from the Nyandarua farmers and distribute to the starving?
The other interesting situation is that farmers in the Rift Valley are HOARDING maize as they anticipate higher prices!
Again, why can’t the government forcefully buy the maize from the HOARDERS and distribute it to the starving?
It is quite a disgrace!!!!!
CT
I disagree with you on this one.
Food security should be a national security issue and the government should be fully involved. It may not necessarily have farms but it should have enforceable laws in place that allow it to intervene in times of crisis.
There should also be emergency reserves protected by under national security.
If a government cannot provide food for its people or guarantee the means by which the people can produce food for themselves, then that government has abdicated its cardinal responsibility.
Can you imagine a Kenyan in Turkana dying of hunger while Cabbages and Potatoes are fed to cows just 6 hours drive away in Nyandarua?
The government cannot buy food for its citizens because they are busy paying themselves and their relatives huge salaries.
Shame on them!
KeiO
True 15M bags of maize alone is in N Rift…(Eldoret area)….So the food shortage got nothing to do with PEV
The problem with KENYA is theft & Tribalism..
Because the Gov does NOT want to buy maize from Kalenjins (to punish them and justify pev caused famine)..Gok wants to buy maize locally at Kes1900 same time import & kes 4000. So its better to hoard or feed it to your cow
I have said earlier ITS A REVOLUTION that will straighten this country…..Others are saying the same in some ways now
#
Even if food was available in NRB Kenyans would still starve as distribution is virtualy non existent and the theft down the chain reduces any food reaching the farmished to morsels.
KE
If it rains as from April Kenyans will
1) go to CHURCH and thank & Kibaki & Raila & God (see order)
2) Instantly Forget the past famine
3) Steal all the food that had been donoted or bought for the 10M plus
4) Cry over Budalangi & Ksm Mbs Floods
5) Condemn Mungiki masacres in Central
6) Drink silly towards Xmass
The cycle continues
Thats a description of this country…
Soon this Cycle will SNAP and consequence will be very good after a settlement is REACHED
Now that its OFFICIAL
..Gok Terminated any Investigation into Triton Boss Devani….
This is something new..Kibaki is no longer interested in hiding anything
…or any form of HYPOCRISY
He JUST STEALS
If there is plenty of cabbage in Nyadarua, why can’t all the NGO with their deep pockets buy the cabbage and distribute it to the hungey? I would think this would make their missions noble. Invite some press to shame the Govt.
But yet again this is Kenya. Everyone for themselves
As for where I grew up, there is no land people utilize the little they have efficiently and effectively. Someones has a chicken farm when the other grows cabbage etc The starving people all tend to do one thing, follow their livestock around hours end to nowhere.
@ Lord, we will have gone very far the day we admit that it’s not just an individual who is responsible for the mess. Admit that ALL WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF RELEVANT MINISTRIES are RESPONSIBLE. Otherwise, we are setting ourselves up for more disappointments when we vote in a “new” president or “new” leaders.
Lord
I do not agree with your idea of a revolution.
I believe in evolution NOT revolution.
Kenyans need to EVOLVE and not REVOLVE.
I also do not buy the conspiracy theory that the government is out to punish Kalenjins – that is nonsense.
If the government is not buying from them, why can they not sell it to private individuals in the open market.
The truth is that they have misadvised to HOARD the maize in the expectation of higher prices.
Government should forcefully buy the maize and distribute it.
#Pysd off
All the leaders …YES ALL …From all communities
are UNITED in that ONE thing called THEFT
KeIO#
The Gok just agreed today to buy @2500….Many farmers will rush to SELL(many are very desperate)…..Understand that because of farm INPUTS what they make as profit is just pitance
Many (the rich ones) like in Nyandarua have decided to feed maize meal to livestock
*******
I think & believe Ruto FED on the maize..Ruto i basicaly a thief and his career bears testimony to it….I think he did give bags to so many (ODM & PNU) leaders to compromise them…..Well the Gok side his weak too because it was caught RED handed in Triton saga
Like a friend put it this way…..
They have eaten all the MAIZE and washed them down with OIL
India achieved food security in the 1970′s when the government embarked on a program in many parts of rural India, that taught farmers new techniques that would help them increase their yields. However, in addition to these new teaching methods, which were introduced, the government also provided these farmers with seeds, fertilizers and tools.
So, when you people keep saying that Kenyans need to become more personally responsible, I am saying that it is much more difficult for them to achieve this when the government has been stealing ALL the money that would go into programs like the one’s in India that would eventually make farmers in kenya self-sufficient.
This is why I have said numerous times before that the corruption in Africa is unique in terms of it’s total destruction. Nowhere else in the world, do governments steal like they do in Africa.
At some point, the government needs to account for what they are doing with taxpayer’s money. What are these ministers, permanent secretaries and MP’s being paid for??? none of their work seems to be producing any tangible, practical results.
@ Lord. My, i do believe we are getting somewhere. Yes they are all corrupt and thieves, but so are we for putting them there after listening to their seductive talk. Now we see what comes of a seduction, nothing but disappointment.
Glad the hoarding has been rewarded. And the Nyandarua cows are eating potatoes, carrots and cabbage, not maize. Either way, the loser is the nation while individuals gain. Wacha our debilitating love affair with maize continues…
And as Lord predicted, I bet people are already in church thanking Ruto, Raila, Kibaki and God for opening the maize taps. No one will care about planning until the next episode.
KE …
This time you have really hit a snag being creative. What do u mean India has achieved food security ?
India is far from achieving food security. Where do you get you facts from ?
Stop living in a bubble world you fool ?
India’s agriculture is mainly dependent on climate. The green(rice) revolution is what you are referring to as being food security….
According to the USAID website … food security is ..
Food security for a household means access by all members at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food security includes at a minimum (1) the ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, and (2) an assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways (that is, without resorting to emergency food supplies, scavenging, stealing, or other coping strategies). (USDA)
So does India really have a food security….
Guy above with a long ass name:
You’ve just given us a list of definitions of what food security is. You haven’t offered any valid points o evidence to support or disagree with KE’s claim ??
To does india really have food security?:
Yes, they do. The famines that were present in india in the 60′s and part of the 70′s are no more today, you will not hear of indians starving to death in mass hunger.
Now, on to the USAID’s useless definitions:
I’ll make you feel better. Yes, Indians in the rural areas are not eating chicken burgers and french fries and hot dogs and maybe for the USAID, that means they don’t have food security, but for a typical rural Indian, if they are able to get at least one meal a day of rice and dal that is enough to prevent death from starvation and this, India has achieved.
One more thing: when the rains in India don’t come, the government pays the farmers a “wage” (I think it’s about $100 dollars a month) — so that they can purchase food and remain alive until the rains return.
Also, the sikh temples do a very good job of providing one free meal to ANYONE who walks in and wants to eat. Rich, poor or whatever….if you walk into a Sikh temple, you’ll get a meal. Is there any church in Kenya that does that? a country with all these born again christians?
So, in conclusion, nobody in India dies of hunger today and that is food security.
KE,
Please confirm your sources……
India malnourishment rates worse than Africa …. I have a Rueters article that will put you on point….
http://www.expressindia.com/ne.....wsid=81788
I have read the above article and here is a quote from it:
“Schultink said nutrition levels in India were not so much related to lack of food as was the case in many parts of Africa, but because of the frequency and quality of food intake of children, etc, etc”…..
Question is: Did you read this article?
Please pay attention to this difference:
People in Africa are dying from LACK OF FOOD while People in India have food.
Their problem (it seems) is how to diversify their diets so that they include more protein sources. This doesn’t surprise me, especially in a country where many people are strict vegetarians. If you don’t eat meat, you need to make sure that you are getting your protein from other sources like beans, cheese and eggs.
I don’t know if you are kenyan or not, but I’ll give you a kenyan example.
The traditional Kikuyu diet is largely vegetarian, but it contains lots and lots of proteins. A dish like githeri is 50% beans and it contains those red kidney beans which are so rich in iron and protein; Or even iriyo, which is 25% peas, 25% maize and 25% potatoes (& occasionally they may put in pumpkin leaf’s) — all these ingredients are good sources of protein and so actually, if you didn’t care about taste and just wanted to become a vegetarian, this diet would be very good for you (& there’s no fat because everything is boiled).
KE….
I don’t really think you know what it is going on in India …. India does not have a food security which you seem to believe …… Please lets not argue about this. We will look like fools…
What do you mean… India hunger is worse that Kenya…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7670229.stm
What’s wrong with you- have you ever visited India – do you really understand how many people die of hunger and Malnutrition in India alone !!
Please save us your ignorance – a times am forced to believe you are the personified propaganda machine- You eat propaganda and spread it to whomever you can – Lets not talk about India having Food Security – Please KE- This is the highest peak of Ignorance I have seen from your assessments.
KE,
Who said IRIO has no taste? Store it overnight and then fry it with onions the following day. Add a stew of meat on top…..mmmh…can’t beat that!
RUTOSPEAK…..Last week he says no higher prices for maize, WHY? coz farmers might claim for the same next year. Is this guy retarded? TODAY…He raises the prices to Kshs.2300 a bag WHY? Its good to motivate farmers……oh well he just woke up and realized that?
Who gonna save us from these juggernuts that just milk us like we are stupid cows. Yes we are!
IN OTHER KENYAN “LEADERS” NEWS…All former MPS dead or Alive (1963 to present) will receive 1 million each for….aaaaah…..just being former Waheshimiwas…..Somebody shoot me please!
STARVATION WILL CEASE TO EXIST IN KENYA the day we all realize how much plenty we are blessed with beyond MAIZE. Just to give you an example….we can package wild fruits during rainy season (even for export), beef jerky is good for any season and don’t need fridge for storage ( What are all those goats and cows for anyways in Turkana region).Any more…?
India, etc, etc, etc…
Okay. Your first link didn’t work and now you have provided a second. Okay.
However, I read the introductory paragraph to the second link you provided, which states the following about what the list includes. It includes countries that have the following:
“under-nourishment, prevalence of child malnutrition and rates of child mortality”.
Like I said before, I would not be surprised if many children in india had malnutrition. I attributed some of this to a strict vegetarian diet that may not be diversified enough, but let’s say some of it is also because of poverty.
The point remains though, that they at least have access to one meal a day and with that, they will not die from starvation.
In Kenya today, people are dying from starvation and this is a problem of lack of food. They’re not under-nourished or suffering from malnutrition. They literally don’t have food!
Malnutrition can be fixed with the right dietary education.
I suppose I don’t understand why you’re not getting the difference between malnutrition and starvation — faced with the two, which would you rather have?
What is your standard of food security? 3 square meals a day with chicken burgers, fries and milkshake?
Dee:
Traditional Kikuyu food is horrid. If you ever opened a restaurant and served that kind of food, your only clients would be invalids who were on strict dietary restrictions from their doctors.
I thought you first said India has achieved Food Security !!!
Don’t try and use double speak here- Ati I suppose you don’t understand the difference between Starvation and Malnutrition ??????
You are the one who said India has Food Security !!!
India has super poverty – and poverty and Food Insecurity are bedfellows – So for you to say India has Food Insecurity after me showing you the Full Global Hunger Index-
Shows you have the same behaviors as the Kenyan member of parliament – The are embrace lies with their hearts and live in a propaganda bubble world !!
Anyway- Since I cannot chase away you Ignorance- I will leave you to live in your propaganda !!
KE
Go to hell. I enjoy githeri daily and i work 16 hrs a day!!
India
It boils again to a figures mind…..
First
malnutrition=Bad feeding habits (lack of some essentails)..many Rich Kenyans are malnurished…(choma & alcohol) 24*7
Starvation=Lack of food for long periods (over 30hrs)
10M kenyans are starving thats= 26% of the population
10 M Indians starve=0.1 % of the pouplation
Indian food security=260 times better that Kenyas
or put this way they feed their 99.9% most of the time
Let us not go to AIDS statistics and you will cry….
Its all about a figures mind which is exteemely deficient in Africa more than food
#QUESTION
#DEE & ALL
The cost of education especially in the WEST is very expensive ~20000 USD a year in some good University
I remember ministry of Education saying over 10000(ten thousand) kenyans leave the country annualy….The cost of this is stagering
say on avarrage=10000* 10000=100M USD !!!! (tuition only)
NOW i do not think poor people can afford this
THEORY
Most of Kenyas Diaspora (in colleges) are children of very RICH persons(MPS & Bussinessmen)
Why do you bite the hand that fed you ?
The hand of course is Corruption
Since you can never afford those fees if
Your dadMum was not….
an Mp
allocated that Plot by Kenyatta or Moi
Robber
Maize scammer
Oil Dealer
Worked for Patni
Conman
City/Council Fathher
Sugar importer
Managing Director scamming the state
Anglo fleecer
Faith healer
Abortinist
Most of you are worse than Kibaki or Ruto
but again there those on scolarships…thrifty individuals…am not talking about you
OVER to you
Lord:
Where did you get the stat that 10 million Indians are starving?
India, global hunger index, etc, etc, (can’t you use a shorter name? your name is as long as Lisa Bonet’s daughters’ name: Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa).
Anyway, India does have food security, but your definition of food security and my definition of food security are different, but please remember to eat proteins for your own food security. Feel free to have a cheesburger if you like — all that minced meat and cheese is loaded with protein and it’s a global hunger neutralizer, but for the Hindus, you may have to offer a substitute, maybe a kidney bean burger.
KE
were you addressing me above ?!! (are you sleepy)……
I said indias food security is=99.9%
Surely you are with me…..