Kenya News Online Today : Kenya as seen through my eyes

A commentary on things Kenyan and other pertinent global issues

Monday, January 09, 2006

Development is the responsibility of all

There are many things that people are fond of. Chief among them is a comfortable existence and a stress free surrounding. That is why we whine and whinge any time we feel that services by government and even family are not at expected levels. Equally, many people work hard to make sure that at the end of the day they not only have enough for themselves but also can help others. There are times when even the most hardworking person stares at a blank plate and reaps little or nothing for his effort. But at least he tried. Even if he seeks support from his government, he knows that he deserves respect and not a feeling of shame.

However, there are those of us who major in listlessness, laziness and total inefficacy. They procrastinate and hang around hoping to lick from the pearly drops of state support. They have shown utter contempt for hard work and hold little respect for enterprise. These are the people who like to reap where they have not sown. They make a sizeable majority of those siphoning benefits from the welfare state. They brazenly cling to socialism threads and moo, neigh and bray the loudest about the government not doing this or that. The government has a duty to deliver services to all and sundry.

But the populace has to meets its share of the bargain. People have to pay their rightful taxes on time and vote in the correct leadership and leaders. They must not let the threadbare but sentimental film of ethnicity envelope their judgement of developing issues in the country. They must make sure their voices are heard and respected when it matters. And most important of all, they must play their part in making continued development a reality.