Dear Sir/Madam,
During his weekly programme titled “Culture Talk” which was aired by the KBC radio between 2002-2004, Professor Egara Kabaji lamented the pathetic reading culture among the Kenyan citizenry. In his estimation, many an educated people stop reading as soon as they graduate from universities and other middle level colleges. Many increasingly become straw men who know little if any of their civic duties. This is in spite of the fact that no democratic government can function effectively if its citizenry is not literate enough to make informed political choices.
Today, the country is sadly sopping with many lockstep professionals bereft of ideas outside their profession. Many medical doctors read nothing other than that which is essential to medicine. Many lecturers and teachers read nothing other than that which informs their subject area. So do accountants and many other professionals. Their capacity to effectively function in issues of national importance such as the constitution making process is greatly impaired. This is despite the fact that the Committee of Experts (CoE) realizing that the August plebiscite is beleaguered by lack of a sufficient reading culture made great efforts at simplifying the proposed constitution besides coming up with a striking advertisement, “Katiba, Jisomee, Jiamulie.” Still, not many have been inspired into reading this document.
It is no wonder that listening to many a professional discussing the proposed constitution one sees the degree to which many of them are too ignorant. They simply have not read even a single chapter of the proposed constitution! They think that reading of the proposed constitution is an unnecessary exertion hence they increasingly and meekly submit themselves to the guidance of lay politicians, pastors, lawyers and doctors whom they perceive as “carriers of their conscience.” They have gladly allowed these “guardian angels” to guide them through this sacrosanct process.
Sadly, many of these “guardian angels” are only too happy to see to it that these professionals consider the bold step into embracing democratic ideals not only as difficult but as very dangerous. Like domesticated animals these professionals are carefully prevented from daring to take any step beyond what philosopher Immanuel Kant refers to as the “lead-strings they are fastened with.” After all, these conniving guardian angels have an overly emphasis on forming a “broad mass front” against the expansion of the democratic space in the country in order that they protect their selfish interests.
Unwittingly these professionals imbibe prejudices from a people who thrive in serving a great, unthinking mass. These guardian angels do not objectively discuss the proposed constitution instead; (to use Kant’s expression) “they are quick at wheeling their rusty artillery of abuse into action.”
Perhaps it would do a great favour to these professionals were they to heed of the words of the late reggae icon, Bob Marley, “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.”
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
Dear Tome,
I would like to tell you many things on the subject of the reading culture in Kenya, but I do not have the time. So I will briefly comment and let you and the readers fill in the gaps:
As the saying goes, ‘the taste of the pudding is in the eating. Our parents took us to school because they understood the value of education. I read to my child because I know the benefits of the reading culture. Therefore, I would like to believe that as Kenya grows, the values and benefits of certain habits and practices, already being enjoyed in the more developed countries, will become known to us. That, as we interact more with other communities our cultures or lack of them will be enriched and embellished by that which we shall consider to be beneficial to us. In due course, we shall come of age.
Kenya has made great strides with regard to developing the reading culture. This is evident from the increase in general titles on the market. As you know, Kenyans are good entrepreneurs and therefore they only stock what they can sell. Certainly among children, the reading culture is picking up. This is largely due to the fact that the parents of today, like myself, understand the need to cultivate the reading culture in children as a way of laying a strong foundation for their literacy. Children who are able to read competently from an early age become faster learners, better thinkers and generally more confident individuals. The mothers who were here before me 20-30 years ago do not know this.
But, I do agree that we can fast-track the process by encouraging everyone to pick up the habit. It is not easy given that majority of Kenyans who are literate and can afford to buy books are ‘old dogs’. Therefore, our best bet is with the children whose minds are young and open to new ideas.
These children are in school. They are in an education system that does not enable or encourage the growth of the reading culture. In this problem also lies our opportunity:
We should change the education system, adopt it to those of more advanced countries so that the reading and learning methodologies are dependent on multiple resources instead of being limited to the teacher and the textbook.
We should make the learning methodologies more learner-centered such that classroom learning provides only the framework and pupils are made to read widely and research in order to understand concepts.
We should mainstream reading in the curriculum and teach it as a subject- introduce the study of Literature from the primary school level to open young minds to critical thinking.
And finally, we should enact a policy on school libraries. Every school should have a well-stocked library to support the adjusted system.
These measures require our top people (‘the guardian angels’ as you call them), to have the political will . I am convinced that if a below 50 minister for education is appointed today, these changes shall be instituted.
Meanwhile, you and Egara should stop disparaging us by saying that Kenyans lack the reading culture. Such statements negate the progress we have made as a nation towards ‘kufukuza ujinga’ since independence. And if you repeat them often enough, your children will begin to think that as Kenyans they should be lacking the reading culture. Instead, you should join me in lauding our successes and support the course by donating a book to the East African Book Development Association (Google it:www.eabda.com). Reading is Life!
Regards,
Ruth