[TikTok]

This argument is mute...

[jamboree]

Originally Posted by TikTok

This argument is mute...

Its actually better than hurling insults at each other. We are basically looking at issues critically by bringing out the truth. Isnt that what the reconciliation spirit is all about? We are even agreeing that Kikuyus have extended their zeal to such vices as prostitution and crime. We just want to be brutally honest here and not brutally murderous as some posters here.

[Smartass]

Originally Posted by pastoralist

As you rightly put it, it is a myth! I will tell first that I am a big time businessman in Kenya and I am no Kikuyu blood at all. I am amazed by how many people have been bought into this myth of Kikuyus being rich in Kenya. What is a business? Many people have reduced there business definations to only day trading and Merchants. Consider this; who is richer a Kikuyu owning a retail shop or a Maasai owning 300 head of cattle, hundreds of sheep and goat and being a member of a huge group ranch? I started my business a retail shopper many years ago and that is what a majority of Kikuyus do. Forget the less than 1% of Njenga Karumes, Kibakis, Githunguris etc. It is a myth! A cow goes for atleast Ksh 15,000. Most retail shops are completely stocked with less than Ksh 70,000. A street hawker is only worth about Ksh. 10,000 at the high end. Ask yourself why are there no Maasais leaving in Slums? Do you ever hear any Maasai kids not able to pay school fees? Think. Stop being fooled by a few rich Kikuyus who were baby sat by Kenyatta to thinking Kikuyus are rich. Kikuyus are on average are as poor as any other Kenyan community. Sorry but that is the truth!

The 300 head of cattle only become financially relevant if its traded regularly unfortunately most pastrolists use cattle as a display of wealth as opposed to a means to aquire wealth when drought strikes the wealth fizzles out and they are back to square one. Now if the cattle were breed for meat and sold on a regular basis the capital accrued could be used to further develop the ranch or buy more property at that point, we can discuss real versus potential wealth.

[martin77]

Originally Posted by pastoralist

As you rightly put it, it is a myth! I will tell first that I am a big time businessman in Kenya and I am no Kikuyu blood at all. I am amazed by how many people have been bought into this myth of Kikuyus being rich in Kenya. What is a business? Many people have reduced there business definations to only day trading and Merchants. Consider this; who is richer a Kikuyu owning a retail shop or a Maasai owning 300 head of cattle, hundreds of sheep and goat and being a member of a huge group ranch? I started my business a retail shopper many years ago and that is what a majority of Kikuyus do. Forget the less than 1% of Njenga Karumes, Kibakis, Githunguris etc. It is a myth! A cow goes for atleast Ksh 15,000. Most retail shops are completely stocked with less than Ksh 70,000. A street hawker is only worth about Ksh. 10,000 at the high end. Ask yourself why are there no Maasais leaving in Slums? Do you ever hear any Maasai kids not able to pay school fees? Think. Stop being fooled by a few rich Kikuyus who were baby sat by Kenyatta to thinking Kikuyus are rich. Kikuyus are on average are as poor as any other Kenyan community. Sorry but that is the truth!

Ofcourse you are right. 80% of kyuks are struggling and poor just ike most other Kenyans. Now how does this now sit with the ODM much acclaimed 'goverment favours kyuks' slogan that won them votes with every kyuk phobic in Kenya?

It was, in many ways, attempt to play ethnic hatreds to win an election

[TikTok]

Martin77, the slogan was government was favouring dubious and corrupt people mainly from the president's community at the expense of all Kenyans including kikuyuys. That is why Kenyans were shocked that 80% of the kikuyus who happen to be poor and know the game still voted for a corrupt regime.

[jamboree]

What am getting is that many Kenyans are intelligent enough to realize that any attack (past and present) against kikuyus cannot be justified. It is quite true that the rest of Kenyans expect Kikuyus to put their house in order, so to speak, and avoid claiming that it is not possible since they are not united yet come politically the case is different.

The community perhaps needs to identify alternative leadership that could be in the form of a council of elders drawn from vast backgrounds. The purpose of such a council would be to spearhead the social advancement of the Kikuyu community in light of the breakdown of its moral fabric as alleged by the wider Kenyan society. It should foster economic development by encouraging investments and participation by MFIs, banks, cooperative societies and other interested stakeholders. It can also encourage positive ethnicity with other communities. That would for instance see the community adopt political goals in line with the realities on the ground(read coalition building). It should also ensure that the gap between the haves and have not is constantly addressed.

[Ni_Diambo]

Originally Posted by Luoliability

I did not intend to be negative. If it came out that way I sincerely apologize. I tried to be in line with the request of the threader. I have many kyuks who are my great friends and we have many businesses together and I know them for being risk takers. Every group has risk takers but we find more of them in certain quarters than in others world over. Don't you think so?

No need to apologize. I guess I should be making myself clearer. What I’m saying is “As you can see from my list, kyuks have quite a few negatives…” You are not the one who is being negative.

[Ni_Diambo]

Originally Posted by Smartass

The 300 head of cattle only become financially relevant if its traded regularly unfortunately most pastrolists use cattle as a display of wealth as opposed to a means to aquire wealth when drought strikes the wealth fizzles out and they are back to square one. Now if the cattle were breed for meat and sold on a regular basis the capital accrued could be used to further develop the ranch or buy more property at that point, we can discuss real versus potential wealth.

Now you can feel that instinct kicking in!

[jamboree]

Originally Posted by Ni_Diambo

Now you can feel that instinct kicking in!

What instinct? tribal instinct? I think smartass is correct when he talks about potential and productive forms of wealth.

[Ni_Diambo]

Originally Posted by jamboree

What instinct? tribal instinct? I think smartass is correct when he talks about potential and productive forms of wealth.

jamboree, read the quote and the reply. I'm talking about the money-making instinct of the kyuks.