Mungiki & Kenya’s Changing Demographics
Someone’s going to have to deal with this rising problem: angry, unemployed, youthful men.
You can’t kill them all. That doesn’t work. It hasn’t worked for the Israeli’s in Palestine and it won’t work with the police in Kenya. The more death you create, the more anger you breed and the more anger you breed, the more recruits you create.
I’d like to talk about the changing demographics in Kenya and the problems that might create for the future of the country. Is anyone familiar with the demographic numbers? What percentage of the population is now under 30?
Moi used to manipulate the census numbers (tribally), but I think at this point, a more honest and thorough census may be in order. What is the real population of kenya today? How fast is it growing and is the country going to be able to support this rising tide of young people?
Does anyone see a ticking time bomb here?
KE,
0-14 years: 42.2% (male 8,065,789/female 7,953,077)
15-64 years: 55.2% (male 10,498,468/female 10,434,764)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 457,886/female 543,854) (2008 est.)
You see the Kibaki administration has decided to bury their head in sand.
Any person who becomes a leader in Kenya will have a very hard time to deal with the under forty population. Every Indicators show that Kenyan economy is on a serious Freefall. Unemployment is a 40%+.
I have said on this forum before- Kenyans need to check their population.
The situation is Alarming- Sooner or later there is going to some serious disease which will kill too many people there.
KE, honestly even the United states needs to jump in and force some sense in this country.
I want you to remember this post. And I am not trying to predict doom for Kenyans. But All indicators are showing Kenyans will face serious hardships.
This time its not about where we went wrong. We are too deep in a hole we dug ourselves in to-We can’t even ask ourselves such a stupid question anymore. The question that remains now is What is going to go wrong ? Whatever it is- I can almost certainly bet that it will claim a lot of Kenyan lives.
KE,
Just a side question.
You always recommend the China model to Kenya. I see you charging that the Kenya police use too much Force. I thought that’s the approach that the China model follows. I mean can you take one stand instead of taking contradictory stands ?
I agree with sufuri on population control i.e. cut down on population growth. Of course, I have been blasted on this issue when I said that Kenya is ‘over-populated’ in relation to its wealth, productivity & economic growth.
Mungiki need to help themselves. There is no something for nothing. How does burning matatus help?
And many of the mungiki are on drugs including miraa. The mungiki are a form a mafia.
I sometimes doubt whether Mungiki exists. Or even if exists it is as strong as it is said to be.
I have heard dark rumours of a third force – whatever that means.
Kei O: Do you live in Kenya?
mungiki exists. I know someone who was forced (at pangapoint) to swear allegiance.
No idea about the 3rd force.
Sufuri Bin Sufuri: You always recommend the China model to Kenya. I see you charging that the Kenya police use too much Force. I thought that’s the approach that the China model follows. I mean can you take one stand instead of taking contradictory stands ?
I’ve recommended the Singaporean model, which does not involve extra-judicial killings, but is based on a system of laws whereby you focus intensely on building the economy in order to forestall future problems like crime, ethnic riots, etc, etc….
The problem with Kibaki is that he is refusing to enforce the rule of law and also refusing to keep a lid on the security situation (& by security, I mean using intelligence services to find out what these groups are about and trying to dismantle them internally throught bribery or whatever) — killing them indiscriminately is not going to work because the group is made up of unemployed young kikuyu men and they could be anyone.
CT
That is precisely the point. The fact that someone was forced to swear allegiance at panga point does not necessarily mean that those who forced him are Mungiki. They could be anyone masquerading as Mungiki.
There is a rumour going round that there is a third force masquerading as Mungiki – I do not know for what purpose.
Kenyan politics is too murky for me.
Keep safe. I will not lose my life for people who will then vote imbeciles into parliament in 2012. No Way Jose!
Cannot find the source now, but read somewhere that 80% of Kenya’s population is below the age of 35 years.
Comparisons of Kenya with other African countries can be found here: http://www.aphrc.org/documents.....et2008.pdf.
The fastest growing segment of the population are the poorest – there are statistics that during the Bush years there was limited funding for contraception, and poor married couples especially in the slums experienced an explosion of unplanned births. Search US state dept sites too – notice the new US administration has restored funding and therefore contraceptives will begin to be distributed in the slums again.
The economist, in an article titled “opportunity knocks” also states violence was a matter of time given Kenya’s demographics and new found freedoms of expression: http://www.economist.com/world.....d=12376610
Enjoy.
Ke et al,
A times I wonder why people like you spend time blogging about Kenya- The country full of jokers.
You people keep going on and on with all these rants that never end. Kenya is a simple problem. Dismantle the powers that be.
To change Kenya the “powers that be” must be dismantled- this is not hard. Its very easy. Thats the only way. They’re the people keeping the status quo and holding the country by th nuts.
Kibaki has been unable to do it. This is very clear.
Kei O: CTThat is precisely the point.The fact that someone was forced to swear allegiance at panga point does not necessarily mean that those who forced him are Mungiki.
Trust me… they were mungiki. And even if they were not… I support their elimination. Kenya is NOT the only country with high levels of poverty but the violence is deplorable.
And why do the mungiki (or 3rd force) target the wananchi? I say they should go for the big mboys… and they will be hailed as heroes.
Killing a mama mboga, farmer or matatu driver (though… sometimes…) does not help Kenyans…
Ke and others,
I have a question for you guys,
What do you think about Dr. Bonny Khalwale and his motions to fight corruption ?
Do you believe Dr. Khalwale is Genuine ? If not Why…
Which steps can the constitutional review team take in addressing corruption in parliament by parliamentarians ?
Most politically correct politicians always get past censure motions with a overwhelming support- What steps can address this vacuum of leadership in parliament ?
Why do parliamentarians fear to come out openly against their corrupt fellow parliamentarians ?
I just kept asking asking my self these questions and thought that maybe I would get some answers from you guys. Because I personally think if corruption can be ended in parliament then the rest will follow. I also find that i admire Bonny Khalwale who I see is putting himself at tremendous risk by opting to go against the corruption tide in parliament.
Lastly, I know a lot of you will say that the reason corruption is rampant is because their is NO opposition. But I hope everybody still remembers that even when we had opposition corruption in parliament was a serious problem. We heard stories of Mp’s being bought on the floor and pursuing own personal goals with no real understanding of what moral implications such a move would have on the integrity of the house.
I don’t know but a times I think we need an Ethics committee with teeth to pursue such kind of immoral parliamentarians.
What say you ?
Cross check: cannot find the source now, but read somewhere that 80% of Kenya’s population is below the age of 35 years.
If this statistic is correct, then it is not a ticking time bomb. It’s an explosion about to happen.
The best thing is eliminate the current thieves who are there in the name of ‘leaders’by whatever means.They are so useless,they just care about themselves,may the devil take them.