Did i get it right? kikoy, kikoi whatever is the name .Early this week as I was preparing for the day’s work I heard this show on kikoi and just thought the ministry of tourism was infact advertising the region .Using one of the indigenous typical cloth which is used to identify with the communities in the region.” Brilliant idea “figured and went on with my business as usual.

That same morning a concerned friend told what was in the news and that same eve I saw it in the news and thought it will go away. But no I was wrong.Ever since the kikoi saga has been in the media for quit a while now. I was saddened to know that somebody would like to take away that which unites some communities (kikoi) due to its cultural significance. I wonder what persuasion is there; while Africa seems and appears weak i mean it has suffered moral and technological defeat in the past which is attributable to slave trade, colonialism, neocolonialism and what we see today as brain drain of monumental scale. However, this still remain Africa of high aspirations and from where the next civilization is expected to thrive from.

Its evident that the same colonial dictates wretched the education system and left this part of the world very poor in deed. Could the world and specifically the ill motivated be mistaking globalization? Should we not be embracing the diverse cultures and at least try to strengthen the little that has been left after all these years of Africa’s search for identity. Think about how nice the world would be with only one culture. it would be in my view like a jungle with very players in the food web for instance imagine of a jungle with only lions and antelopes, would you not miss world beast aggression ?, hyenas and other players - it would be a very boring co-existence.

Now got the concept? That is exactly what is going to happen when an indigenous and fully entrenched cultural concept of kikoi is gone only to be identified with totally irrelevant culture which will not match anyway. For the lovers of East Africa and nature in particular its time we say it’s not right. This saga ultimate decision will have far reaching implications to mention just a few, the society will suffer a social disconnect and the spirit of love and understanding for nature will be lost. Traditional values of conserving the wild life by identifying with the wild animals through the color of the cloth and the craft involved will be lost--its definitely a very complex cycle of events that is held together by such otherwise simple things and practices like kikoi.

Again how many people will lose their sources of livelihood and for their young one and infact be forced to wait for handouts in times of poor climatic conditions?. In East Africa Kenya in particular the bulk of the land is arid and semi arid and this people live in appalling squalor and abject poverty. W while people of good will who understand that food is central to the human hierarchy and have been for years trying to fathom how they could make this people to be net contributors to the regions economic growth. One of the strategies was to promote kikoi and allover sudden when it has became famous somebody want to take away this vision of better future for the communities and their dreams of freedom from seasonal poverty someday.

Where are our people? people who value culture and at least social justice people whose dreams is to see nature as it is and see it preserved for our generations.

This move will be the surest way to divide the world as these communities decide to seek redress. Live and let live and the world will be at peace for ever and ever more.