This archive report was first published on 11 October 2019.
As I reflect on the current state of affairs in our country, I am reminded of the powerful reggae song 'Nothing To Smile About' by Morgan Heritage. The song's chorus, which I know by heart, goes like this: 'Do you see anything fi smile bout?'
Looking at the conditions of our police stations, the state of our education system, and the struggles of our people, it's hard to find anything to smile about. The song's message is a poignant commentary on the state of our nation, and it's a question that we must ask ourselves: how can a nation believe in this way?
Two weeks ago, I saw a video that brought tears to my eyes. A young woman, probably in her early 30s, had just lost her job and was sharing her story with the world. She spoke of the pain of joblessness, of the dignity-stripping experience that robs you of your self-esteem and self-confidence. She spoke of the struggles of sending out her CV to an array of companies only to get regret letters, of the agony of feeling unworthy and doomed.
Her story sparked a serious debate on the state of joblessness in the country, especially amongst young people. Many people began to share their stories on how they lost their jobs and the depths of despair they have sunk to because of unemployment. The government might try to sugar-coat its achievements, but the ugly truth is we are having a highly educated but jobless young population that is increasingly getting angry and desperate at a government that seems to have forgotten them.
As we celebrate Moi Day, it's hard to find something to celebrate in this country. Companies like East African Portland Cement, Telkom Kenya, Stanbic Bank of Kenya, SportPesa, and East African Breweries have announced plans to retrench thousands of Kenyans who will most certainly not find jobs in the near future. When Kenyans got a well-deserved break on Thursday, apart from the discussion on whether the former dictator deserves recognition, they were finding it difficult to locate something to celebrate in this country.
I don't mean to be an agent of negativity, but when you live in a country where the government plays games on its young population, it's difficult to find something to smile about. As the song says, 'Do you see anything fi smile bout?'
Ms. Chege is the director of the Innovation Centre at Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications.
