Let’s
talk about two things. Teachers’ strike, and about that expose NTV aired last
night trending under the hash tag #ServeAndSuffer.
Of teachers
strike.
A friend of
mine is convinced that teachers should not get a penny more on their pay slips
because apparently, they have not shown the cause for such increase. While this
argument is premised on good faith and sounds ethical, it is fallacious in form
and substance. No one would want the current impasse to last a day longer but
truth be told, there’s no better time to demand for what is rightfully theirs
than today. The government needs to sit
back and cut excess pilferage and wastage of resources because that’s what they
are mandated for. Tie the noose on those
plundering the economy under your noses.
It is
embarrassing to look at what those noble professionals make in a month vis a
vis our most hardworking legislators and commissioners in public offices who
are very quick to convince the masses how ‘broke’ the government is and how we
have to finance mega development projects-as a matter of priority- if only to
transform our loving nation into a newly industrializing, middle-income country
providing a high quality life to all its citizens. Have you checked how ‘under
paid’ the Salaries and Remuneration Commissioners are? Care to know how much
they bag per month? What about the perks that go with the job. There are barely
surviving because the love they have for this country cannot be fathomed. How can teachers ask to be paid while our County
budgets can only afford carcinogenic wheelbarrows? The normal wheel barrows don’t cut it anymore.
Where can we get all that money to buy ordinary wheelbarrows? We must be a
considerate nation that does not ask for money at a time when Facebook accounts
for our beloved governors have to be ‘opened’ right from Silicon Valley.
Problem is
that we have a bunch of leaders who are not in touch with reality. The purchasing
power of money is ever dynamic. You do not need to have stepped in any
economics class to know that there will always be persistent increase in
general price levels and the subsequent fall in the purchasing power of money.
Even the most stable nations in the world have to deal with inflation at some
level which is almost impossible to eliminate. Now, back to teachers. If say a
P1 teacher used to earn X amount of money as her gross income a decade ago, it
implies therefore that now she should be earning X+n, where n is the relative
component of inflation added to cushion the subject. That increase does not in
any way constitute to a pay increase.
Teachers,
don’t buy that tired line that “there is no money!”
Are the
leaders aware of what the hell development means? The process of making the
world more humane. How many people work in hospitals they can’t afford to get
sick in? How many people work in schools they can’t afford to get educated in? How
many people work in entertainment joints they can’t afford to party in?
Of police
spokesman
Ever heard
someone talk and felt an intense urge to clap their face with a chair? That
sensation hit me last night as I listened to Larry Madowo interviewing the
police spokesman. I didn’t know whether to be mad or sad, or both.
That guy has
the worst job description. Probably there is a line that goes like; ’the ideal
candidate must have the ability to shut off practical reason from time to time
in order to maintain the image of the police force.’
On the
fringes of Boni Forest, brave Kenyan officers fight to protect us despite great
odds. The shocking bit was during question time. I was waiting for the usual PR
but the man in question could not hide the fury and agitation he got from officers
who are supposed to be so patriotic as to survive without food and water. Nothing
seemed to work. What with the broken down police vehicle? Faulty communication equipment.
The tired typewriter working way past the manufacturers had intended.
The
spokesman kept repeating how we are not a developed country. Couldn’t help but draw parallels with operation
red wings which was conceived by the U.S. Marine corps and utilized special
operations forces units and assets. It is true that we cannot compare to that
but surely we can do better logistically than what was aired last night.
Owino (police
spokesman) beat Pastor Ng’ang’a by answering questions that were not asked. Actually,
Owino ran the show. He asked more questions than he answered.
Sample this:
Larry: Did
you see that typewriter?
Owino: Do
they have power?
Those
gallant soldiers earn 600 bob hardship allowance. 20K salary. There isn’t a
better description of disgrace.
The
problem lies with us, the citizenry. Why? Because come 2017, we will elect the
same guys back to office by 6am. Who is the fool?
You
tell me.
