This archive report was first published on 22 December 2019.
On December 22, 2019, the United Nations Development Programme launched the 2019 World Development Report at the University of Nairobi, highlighting the extent of inequality in the world, beyond economic inequality, including politics, academics, and gender.
Kenya's diversity is rarely celebrated, instead, it's a point of tension and disagreements. The country's education system and cultural practices contribute to the persistence of inequality.
Collins Odote, a writer, attended a lecture for law students, where a guest speaker investigated the different facets of inequality and the importance of tackling them. The speaker emphasized that unless we are honest about bridging the inequality divide, we cannot create a progressive and developed society.
Three areas that the conversations around diversity and inequality brought to Odote's mind are those of education, culture, and devolution. He argues that the education system needs to produce human beings who can challenge the causes of inequality and design policy options to deal with them fundamentally.
Odote also highlights the importance of culture in addressing inequality. He welcomes the Cabinet's decision to seek Parliament's intervention in amending the Public Holidays Act to rename Boxing Day to Utamaduni Day, which aims to provide a day where Kenyans celebrate their diverse cultures.
