Quote:
Originally Posted by jamboree
Now a lot has been said about Kikuyu's enterpreneurial abilities. However I believe that this is not a trait that others cannot learn. For that reason it is important to study why other communities have not been as successful in this venture as their Kikuyu brethren. Indeed a spot check in major towns in Kenya reveal that shops are not mostly run by locals but by Asians or Kikuyus. This is in sharp contrast to such areas as Thika, Murang'a, Nyeri, Karatina, Nanyuki and others where the locals (Kikuyus) compete with Asians for a slice of the economic pie to the chagrin of many who claim that Kikuyus exclude them.
My hypothesis is that some communities tend to look down upon the informal sector. Take the example of the hawking business- both legal and illegal. The only people you find haggling for space in the streets or markets to sell stuff are mostly Kikuyus. Other communities would rather aspire to become so called professionals and earn little than do certain jobs. Interestingly, Kikuyus are also to be found in the white collar jobs proving the Swahili adage that “kazi ni kazi” i.e. any work is good enough. Thats why when the economy was growing at 6% some people were asking where the jobs were and yet others had seized the opportunity to do small businesses here and there.
So even as we agree that Kikuyus will need to re-evaluate their non commital nature (almost shy predisposition) to other people's plight a lesson or two about hustling(as they call it in the west) can come in handy.
NB: If you cant respond maturely please dont. This post is not meant to showcase any stereotypes but to bring out some publicly held notions about our nationhood.
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Tafadhali,
We don't need a country of thieves in the name of entrepreneurship. If other honest hardworking communities in Kenya were to copy the Kikuyu version of entrepreneurship the country would surely go to the dogs. enuff said!