Social Security – Kenyan Style

Some of us have watched so many Hollywood movies that we feel more American than Americans themselves. We have a parallel culture with identical facets to those found in America. It is not unusual to hear Kenyan Laymen use with abandon such words as FBI and IRS. Many also refer vehicle boots and bonnets as trunks and hoods and are also spelling words with “Z” instead of “S”. This fake Americanisation is however unable to ensure that base systems are in place for us to consider ourselves in the league of the only remaining super power (sic).

Good Neighbourliness

The above is a grim picture of how far we are from becoming like America. The good news is that all is not lost. We may not have the elaborate Social Security System that ensures jobless and retired people can eat and have a place to sleep like the Americans. What we have is our very own version of a functioning social security system. It is based purely on good neighbourliness, brotherhood, and respect.

It is a known fact that we are grappling with the effects of negative ethnicity. While this is a growing problem, there is a small glimmer of hope. There are people all over this beautiful country who have overcome the animal that is tribalism. I observed this interesting phenomenon when I lived and worked in Kisumu. Being a Kikuyu myself, I was apprehensive to move to the heart of Luoland barely two years after the dreadful post-election violence.

I discovered that I had absolutely nothing to be afraid of. I was shown some property belonging to a Kikuyu man and was told that it had not been touched during the violence. If anything, the neighbours had defended it fiercely from vandalism. On asking how that was possible, I was told, “He lived well with us and treated us with respect. He was more than a good neighbour, he was a brother.” I was told he later moved away due to his personal discomfort of being the only Kikuyu in a hundred mile radius (all others had been chased or run away).

It was interesting to learn that even our dreaded tribalism can be overcome by treating each other with respect irrespective of tribe. It is what I like to call Social Security, Kenyan version.

Equal Status

Theft is in many ways like the flow of a river. This is because it entails the movement of goods from a high gradient to a low one. Most thieves steal from those who they perceive to have more than them. This is why a poor person feels completely safe living in some of the most dangerous slums in the country. The simple explanation is that there is no gradient of wealth between the slum resident and thug. Both are of equal status and therefore secure in each other’s company.

Speaking to People’s Conscience

There are many anti-hijack training programmes in our country owing to the sharp rise in the vice in recent years. A common teaching in all of them is that if you are accosted by hijackers, you should cooperate with them and give in to their demands without resistance. The idea here is to speak to their consciences (apparently, everybody has one).

Retirement Plan

Old people in Kenya are taken of by their children. Parents are therefore advised to be nice to their growing children because they will one day be the only available retirement plan. The idea of old peoples’ homes has not caught on. Besides, very few can afford it.

Education Plan

Woe to you if you are the first born in a big family. Those little brothers and sisters who are born when you already eating githeri will be your responsibility before you can think of getting your own children. You will pay for their secondary and college education. You will also ensure they get jobs by taking to anybody who might know someone who is somebody.

Health Plan

I heard somebody say that you can’t afford to fall sick in this country. This is unless you are one of the privileged few whose employer has taken out a medical cover for you. The rest of Kenyans have to conduct harambees (fund raisers) at great strain to all involved. That is Kenyan social security for you.