Sometimes, and many are those times do is sit and reflect on those things that would build on peace, solve conflicts and construct new relationships. Then i look at my neighborhood.
I live in a small poor urban settlement in Kisumu town; actually I live in Manyatta (a Swahili term for slum or informal settlement). And if you would let me, I will describe the life here.
Most families live compose of six to eight members. They would often live in small single or two roomed shelters; mostly they live in single rooms. I live in a solitary room as well and am complaining. In such shelters, only the farther has some kind of work, habitually informal, they either work as unskilled industrial labourers or ‘shamba’ garden boys mostly on the Indians and wealthy African icons. They offer long hours labour with low pay. The conditions are unfavourable and they are unable to satisfactorily fend and sustain their families.
The women, mothers of the innocent children sit at home, taking care of the children, cleaning their small shelters, fetching water and wasting the rest of the free times maybe chatting or dreaming of better future. They can’t dress pleasantly due to lack of resources, they feed but it’s not adequate and sometimes, many at times, the women would engage in commercial sex just to raise some money feed, clothe and take care of their children but still, this is not enough. I have not forgotten how risky this must be especially when I look at the young HIV/Aids orphans.
Then there are the children, the innocent creatures, and the world. Those whose parents are hopeful would send then to school but still the school requiem’s fees and other facilities are not ample to meet educational needs of these children. The other group of children would stay at home play by the stagnant sewage waters, trashes and dangerous soils. Quite often they get injuries, which lead to loss of blood, infections and even death.
When the poor urban children grow up reality of life dawns on them; the inability to create employment for themselves, lack of jobs and practically class designation meets them frontally. It is then that the desperations, frustrations and confrontations shape the toll.
The energy giants, yet economic dwarfs- the youth are left to nothing better than abuse of drugs, irresponsible sexual behaviours, crime and related issues. This marks the globular phase, the life cycle and relationship between poverty and security.
For stable peace, fairness in terms of resource distribution, equal opportunities for all, relevant education and its access, sound policies to address plights of the poor, sustainable development programmes, enhancement of peoples especially the youth talents, good governance and leadership MUST be guaranteed.
Until then, sustainable peace….beyond borders will be just a dream. For all the background perception that the rich and powerful “eateth” the poor is far falling………however invisible it may be or have been, the people have discerned. Onwards
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