INSPIRED COMMUNITY CHANGE

The Tiania people are known for their sincerity, loyalty and fearlessness. Of course like all other Merus, their temperament is anything but subdued particularly when provoked. And like all other Kenyan people they don't believe in "homes" in towns and therefore have to do social functions like marriages and burials in the village close to their ancestors. This is good because a large proportion of our population still live in the villages which means any development plan cannot ignore this critical mass. However, due to hunger, poverty and insecurity in Tiania, you will notice that all the gleaming limousines that brought people to whatever social function, will troop back to Meru town for the night stop-over before going back to the towns where the owners reside and earn a living. You could say that nothing is the matter here. But I think that if these people who reside in far away towns had more time, perhaps say, spend an evening around the fire place, there is the likelihood that they could share some experiences which are likely to inspire these rural folks to come up with ideas that may make them get out of the trap of poverty. Hon Kiraitu Murungi, the South Imenti MP, has a unique way of managing the affairs of his constituency by regularly meeting community leaders and intellectuals at Kaguru Agricultural Center where problems are discussed and solutions suggested. This to me is the inspired leadership that is lacking particularly in Tiania and we should not be ashamed to borrow a leaf from our cousins in South Imenti instead of totally re-inventing the wheel. This is why I feel we have a duty to inspire change in our communities so as to reduce poverty and insecurity if we plan for regular forums in the villages where we came from.