Let’s change narratives, celebrate our milestones
Sandra Ochola
We all experienced year 2019 differently. For some, it was filled with happy moments while others experienced pain and turmoil.
While some complained about lack and strife, there are those who recorded an improvement in their standards of living.
There are also those who made great strides as others stagnated in careers and personal lives.
At a national and global level, there are countries that went to war, while others flourished within their democratic bounds.
In some countries, the citizens’ sense of patriotism increased while in others, their governments and leadership were criticised or brought down.
What is evident thus, is that we each experience life differently and that we cannot tell someone else’s story without first living it.
Our perceptions about the political, social and economic goings-on are likewise equally different.
The government’s implementation of the Big Four agenda, for example, is still viewed differently.
Those directly benefiting from the projects admit the Big Four plan, in which the government has prioritised manufacturing, universal healthcare, affordable housing, and food security, is changing lives across the country.
Mothers who have given birth for free, traders whose transport costs have reduced, farmers who can access farm input at subsidised price, et al, have a different story to tell.
In the same breath however, there are those who view the ongoing developmental projects as a waste of time and resources. They see the pitfalls and challenges therein.
The same logic applies to the ongoing fight against corruption. The optimistic ones acknowledge the gains in our anti-corruption crusade.
They can comprehend the present and future trends that will change the course of our fight against graft.
But there are also those who see nothing good in the endeavoures. Institutions are doing little to right the wrongs.
Worst case scenarios within this group is the perception that corruption in Kenya, in its existing scale, will never be eradicated and that we should instead fold our hands and let fate deal with the wrongdoers.
As we move closer to the beginning of a new political regime, sentiments both of doom and bliss are being peddled across the country.
The Building Bridges Initiative is viewed with both jubilation and disdain. There are those, perhaps eager to start a new national journey, who are more optimistic about the initiative than most.
For them, the BBI report and its related activities herald a promising journey for the country.
But there are those, who find the whole building bridges initiative an irritation. They don’t care about, haven’t read it and have no intention of getting involved in the processes pertaining to its implementation.
The gist of the above contradictions cannot be understated. First, is that it is possible to thrive within the sad situation of, damned-if-you-do and damned-if-you-don’t.
The service industry is pretty fickle and it is not everyday that what one provides will be taken up with open hands.
There are days that initiatives will be criticised and downplayed, regardless of the efforts and resources invested into them.
Secondly, in spite of the harsh receptions, it is important those charged with the responsibility of providing these services package and lead the narratives around their initiatives.
The Big Four agenda, for instance, has numerous stories that must be told. The women, children and youth who continue to benefit from them must be given an opportunity to share their successes with the rest of the world.
Reporting on and celebrating our anti-corruption milestones should be more proactive if we are to win over the doubting Thomases.
How we package information on our healing and reconciliation initiatives will also matter as we head towards the next election.
The vehicles for such communication will also matter so that each group is getting the information they need, in a language that they understand and relate with.
This year promises to be an exciting year. May we package and share our stories in the best ways possible. — The writer is Advocate of the High Court and writes on topical issues
