If we will it, who can dare stop us from joining the First World?

First, the path to the First World will not be easy. We shall need to make ultimate effort and sacrifice and enjoy no picnics along the way.

Two, we must have precise knowledge of who and where we are. We shall, otherwise, not comprehend just how far we lag behind others, and how badly poverty has compromised our survival.

Three, visionary leaders must lead us to the First World. We’re poor today because our leaders have limped. But who will remove bad leaders — our dream’s Achilles Heel — when voters are captives of their money and negative ethnicity?

To reach the First World, the right leaders must execute land reforms to feed everybody. If a few Kenyans continue to own unused land, Kenyans can forget the First World forever.

It pains me to think that our acceptance of poverty emanates from a sterile religious faith that God in His own good time will take us to the First World. This we must abandon because God has given us the power and freedom to match to the First World or die in our self-made poverty. God suffers no lazy people gladly, however religious.

To open the doors to the First World, we must master technology, industrialise and do everything else to meet this end. We cannot develop by keeping our bad ways of doing things. For our safari to the First World, we must have new leadership, new work ethics, new education and new discipline.

For sure, we have compelling reasons why we must join the First World. We have a right to its comforts. We must prove we are no lesser human beings. Depending on others for our survival is unacceptable.

Mr Wamwere is the author of ‘Towards Genocide In Kenya: The Curse Of Negative Ethnicity’ and chair of CCM party.