Time to think together or declare this country a national disaster

Kenya is at a crossroads. Almost every sphere and sector of life is in a crisis. Over 10 million people face hunger and starvation. The number is set to increase as the current crop season has failed.

Urban life is facing imminent danger. Water shortages have persisted. Outbreak of water–related diseases is a real threat. Urban transport is degenerating. Rules introduced by former Transport minister John Michuki to rein in matatus are no longer observed. Road carnage is back.

Insecurity has reached alarming levels. Everyone is under threat. Kidnapping, violent robberies, car jacking and other ills reign in our society today. Cases of police brutality and extra-judicial killings abound.

Inter–communal tensions and conflicts continue to rise. Class tensions are beginning to emerge. Militant illegal groups are taking shape. The entire Kenya community is threatened.

External conflicts such as terrorism and national boundary disputes are finding their way into a country beset by her own problems.

Many of our youth have become despondent. We are losing a productive and energetic youth to illicit brews, idleness, drug abuse and illegal groups. Unemployment is a major issue.

Commodity prices are at an all-time high. Most basic goods, such as food, are beyond the reach of many. Agriculture faces collapse. Tea farmers are uprooting their crops. Maize farmers are facing crop failures and poor payments. Other sectors such as coffee and pyrethrum are at lowest levels.

National leadership has become ineffective. People no longer trust their leaders. The Executive has failed to show leadership. Parliament tries, but loses focus too often. The Judiciary is fast losing trust. The spiritual leadership is fast losing credibility.

Families are disintegrating. Cases of fathers raping daughters and other social ills dominate our media outlets. Hundreds of internally displaced people are still in camps.

The health sector is no better. Doctors are now urging the government to declare TB a national disaster. HIV and Aids are wrecking our society.

Swine flu is a looming danger. Malaria, cholera and other preventable diseases are on the rise. Environmental degradation continues to be a hot political subject.

Yet, the country continues to experience extreme weather conditions. Major rivers are drying up. Our forests are fast dwindling. Natural resources are over-exploited.

We need to bring our minds together. The government should declare one week of national reflection. On the first day, families should come together and dialogue on problems facing them and try to come up with possible solutions.

On the second day, residents of sub-locations should form small groups of 5-10 people, discuss issues affecting them and possible solutions.

On the third and fourth days, committees selected at sub-location or location levels should converge at constituency or district level.