AFRICA, THE ABNORMAL CHILD

Guest Post.... By David Bett

Africa is abnormal child. The founding leaders of African states took after the colonial masters, ruling instead of leading. They became worse masters than their predecessor. The leadership and the community did not grow normally. It started chewing bones before drinking milk, walking before crawling.
At independence, very few individuals were educated enough to manage resources developed and left behind by foreigners. The few who became leaders did not understand the intricacies of modern government systems brought about by the colonial agents. They took power and became masters just as their mentors were. Add that to ethnic bias and you get chaos and wars. As a result, African continent is suffering from leadership malnutrition and the common people, especially children are suffering.
African states are failing. They depend on international community to feed their young. Yet many die of starvation because even the donation is grabbed by the abnormal, greedy.
There is a need to start breeding hybrid leaders that understand the current civilization and have the passion for the basic needs of the society.
It took many years for biblical Moses to grow up in Pharaoh’s court and many more years tending sheep in the wilderness before God called him into leadership. Meanwhile, the children of Israel were suffering under the oppression in Egypt. They cried to God and He heard their prayer. He sent them Moses.
Kenyan society has suffered many years. They need to cry to God for a Moses. A Moses may not come in an individual person but as community organizers or even as a different kind of a leader. He will possess the meekness to lead and the toughness to bring change. We need such kind of a leader before next general election or we may deteriorate into worse chaos.
Action: Meanwhile, there is a need for community organizers after many years of disorganization. Change starts at grassroots level to prepare them to identify the Moses and hold him accountable when he goes to the highest office.
New Direction: Through community organizing, the universities and the educated will be re-directed to offer volunteer services as interns in the villages so as to develop a Moses in them. The students will be more creative in seeking solutions to problems rather than using stones. They will become servant leaders not white color bosses, the big man.
We will not forget that God is in charge of the world’s affairs. He knows when we need help not when we want our own ways. Only at the fullness of time will He act to stir up a leader. Who will it be?
Kenya, for many years beat our chests as the greatest and best. Are we amble yet now to lead in humility?