The Looming Shadow Behind River Nile

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The Nile River.

6853 km long, 3.9 km wide, 9.5 meter deep – on average – with a discharge rate of 99,940 cubic meters per second and the longest water course on earth, the Nile River is arguably the 9th wonder of the world.

River Nile widely traverses the eastern and northern plains of Africa. Flowing through Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo – Kinshasa, Kenya, Eritrea, South Sudan and Egypt, the Nile supports over 40 million lives and livelihoods alike and has now been termed the cradle of civilization particularity in Egypt. The river is formed by two major tributaries: the White Nile and the Blue Nile.

Water that forms the White and Blue Nile comes from different sources in East Africa.

The White Nile, also known as the longest tributary of the longest river gathers its waters from melted snow in mountains ranges together with rainfall from the remote and scenic rainforests form streams that meander through Uganda, Rwanda Congo and Burundi. The waters gather in lakes such as Lake Edward, Lake Albert and Lake Victoria. The outlets of these great lakes then merge and give rise to the White Nile which begins its journey through Uganda before its entry into the Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.

Water from the superior Blue Nile, the largest tributary of the longest river, originates from the rocky and lonely wilderness of Ethiopian highlands formed from the remains of volcanic activity. A spring at the base of Mt. Simien feeds Lake Tana, the main source of the Blue Nile. The south western outlet sneaks out as a slow stream but soon forms great waterfalls often termed; smoke of fire. The river flows through pure wilderness, wandering through the beautiful valleys of the Blue Nile Gorge for over 1000 kilometers. The tributary is also known to carry silt as it meanders along, providing fertility to agricultural land along its banks up to and beyond the Egyptian desert. Having descended down the steep plains of it home country, the Blue Nile crosses borders into Sudan, streaming into Khartoum.

The White Nile and the Blue Nile finally marry at the heart of the Sudanese capital; Khartoum. They join forces and become one after which where the river begins its epic journey north. Swimming through plains, deserts and valleys together, they form the world’s longest river, birthing agricultural life in Cairo, Egypt’s Capital before dividing into the Mediterranean Sea.

In Northern Africa, the Aswan Dam in Cairo has also proved to be of great gain, generates electricity for the entire country. At the Nile River Delta in Egypt, corn, wheat and rice provide major agricultural products, while Egyptian cotton, the country’s most popular commodity is grown along the rivers banks.

Back in East Africa, where the White Nile originates countries have benefited enormously from the great river source. Fishing booms in the shores of Lake Victoria as Kenya has built a reputable fish exporting industry while papyrus reeds from Uganda has yielded agricultural fruit.

At the source of the Blue Nile however, a different story is told. Ethiopia’s Tana Lake may be the largest contributor to the Nile River but despite is water wealth, its problem has been the crippling inability to use a vast percentage of its own water. Destitute of agricultural practices the country has been forced to strongly rely on food aid. Though the country benefits from papyrus trade, over the years many have realized that the oft repeated phrase about Egypt’s relationship with the river applies strongly to Ethiopia; ‘The Nile belongs to all, and yet one.’

As this beautiful and phenomenal river stretches through Africa, it indeed is a wild paradise, but over the year’s increased human activity has seen Egypt and now, other countries like Ethiopia use the river for development. History narrates that in 1929 a treaty was signed between Egypt and Great Britain which gave Egypt the power of veto over the Nile River which meant that the Egyptians had the authority to stop any upstream developments from affecting the flow of water up north. 80 years have hence gone by and currents have taken a sudden turn. The Nile having already contributed significantly to Egypt’s economic development through the Aswan Dam and other proposed irrigation projects, the lack of economic progress in Ethiopia at the expense of Egypt’s well-being has caused a bone of contention. In 2011 the Ethiopian government announced that it would be constructing four large dams on the Nile, including one of the largest in the world, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. At first, foreign investors had been reluctant to show interest in the project due to the high potential of conflict but the Ethiopian government has now declared that the country will single handedly fund the project itself. Considering the fact that the Blue Nile contributes 85% of Niles water, projections have shown that the current construction of Ethiopia’s dams may possibly cut off a significant proportion of the Nile water that flow through Egypt while the yearly floods at the Nile Delta which carry silt for agricultural purposes will be no more. This will in turn affect the Egyptian economy and jeopardize its survival. Egypt has since threatened war against Ethiopia but dam construction goes on.

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

It has now become apparent that unlike the 20th Century which saw oil cause global strife, the wars of the 21st Century will be over water, with the Nile, the longest river in the world, being the center of the conflict.

Despite recent disputes that countries have been involved in over the Nile River, it remains a magnificent wonder. Flowing through eleven different African countries, valleys and gorges, floating through rain forests and deserts while offering some of the most graceful sites in Africa, whether in slow streams or falls the river remains unmatched as it journeys past monuments and mountains through lush fields and urban expanses.

 

Nile River tributery

#Blog4Dev – To farm or not to farm?

What opportunities exist for youth to prosper in agriculture and agro-business?

My YouTube Video – #Blog4Dev – To farm or not to farm?

The main occupation of the African people has from centuries past proudly been farming. Although the practice of agriculture is still carried out by a percentage of the population, it is evident that the number of youth engaged in farming is strikingly low particularly because the modern lifestyle seemed to bring with it a demand for the more ‘sophisticated’ white collar jobs.

Agriculture however remains the backbone of East Africa’s regional economy which develops the reason why more youth should get involved. I also believe that agro-business will constantly remain the next big thing not only in Africa but across the world simply because: people must eat. An economist will tell you that it is wise to venture into a market that always has demand for supply. This reality was captured well in the words of a renowned dairy farmer who once mentioned:

“My grandfather used to say that once in your life you need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman and a preacher but every day, three times a day, you need a farmer.”

–          Brenda Scheop

The same remains very true today, except in Kenya this statement might have even more significance for a farmer because the country has one of the fastest growing populations. A growing population results in a growing demand for food which only means that the opportunities in agriculture are not only existent but also growing in equal measure within the country and to our numerous export destinations as well. The prospects in agriculture that exist for the youth are also heightened through the aid of technology and innovation. It has been proved that less space is required to set up and run a profit making farm and innovations such as biotechnology and mobile phone applications continue to diversify farming and simplify marketing strategies. The youth also need to understand and embrace the fact that agriculture is a value chain. In the same way the World Bank invests in accountants, lawyers, business men, financial advisors and many other occupations, so does agro-business. The value chain that investment in agriculture offers expands the opportunities and sectors that the youth can involve themselves in. This gives many a myriad of options to choose from with respect to their interest and perhaps more importantly, their academic qualifications whether in marketing, IT, transport, supply chain management or in production itself… it therefore presents a one size fits all scenario.

I recently asked a middle-aged farmer in the outskirts of Nairobi what he would do to help convince youth in East Africa why farming is the best option, his response was simple and precise; “Tell them to visit a small scale mushroom farm, cattle zero-grazing unit, cheese farm, green house… you name it. In terms of revenue returns, which in my opinion can catch anyone’s attention; they’ll be amazed.”

Break Free from Fossil Fuels!

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Desertification has now spread into northern Kenya, rainfall shortages in the past year caused famine across various regions of the country, not to mention the past El-Nino effects and the recent heat waves that were experienced by all. And now the ongoing torrential rainfall is set to damage the crops of many farmers. All a result of climate change.

Women and girls, caught in a small sandstorm, fetch water in Wajir, Kenya.

[Photo Credit: www.theatlantic.com ]

 Science clearly shows that there is a strong correlation between the emission of greenhouse gases through the burning of fossil fuels and the average rise in global temperature. These emissions of greenhouse gases largely are, if not entirely, the result of human activity.

Many may say – especially in Africa – that climate change is the enemy from above. We get seasonal rains that water our crops from the clouds in the sky and when the rains fail as they have been over the past couple years, we instinctively look up. Agriculture is an important aspect of the livelihoods of the Kenyan people and the African continent. 70% of Africans are farmers, 1/3^rd of the continents income is generated through agriculture; 95% of which are rain-fed crops, so when there are no rain, as a result of the impacts of climate change, we have no choice but to look up. But I would like to suggest something different, especially to the people of my home country; the enemy in truth does not stand above but rather, lies beneath.

Fossil fuels as we all know are the non-renewable energy resources which include oil, coal and natural gas. This energy or carbon store was formed when prehistoric plants and animals died and were gradually buried by layers of rock; over millions of years. In the past 100years, the burning of fossil fuels has caused the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to increase drastically. Currently, 30 billion tons of Carbon Dioxide is released into the atmosphere every year. The amount of Carbon emitted and the rate at which it is being released, needless to say, is alarming. But despite how complicated climate science and global climate negotiations may seem to the average reader, the ultimate solution to the climate problem really is very simple; Break Free From Fossil Fuels!

Crude oil was first discovered in the northern part of Kenya in the year 2012.  Today our newspaper headlines constantly read in bold: ‘Kenya may begin exporting one billion barrels of oil by September’, ‘Kenya set to join Leagues of Oil Exporters’, and only one month ago, it was estimated that Kenya’s oil deposits can run her for the next 300 years! Indeed, these prospects sound breathe taking but sadly, they literally are breathe taking in reality.

 

     

Men working at an oil rig after oil was discovered in northern Kenya.

[Photo Credit: www.oilnewskenya.com and www.theeastafrican.co.ke ]

If we, as a nation, exploit our fossil fuel resources, we will, in turn, add to the effects of climate change even in our own country. Our carbon emissions will soon translate to even warmer temperatures and less rainfall and agricultural produce. It is not logical to drown the cries of millions of farmers who live off their next harvest, in crude oil. We may look at the history of the industrial revolution and conclude that the only route to economic development and advancement is through the exploitation of our fossil fuels but this is far from the truth. Renewable sources of energy; solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric power provide an alternate route to economic development that is far less dangerous. It may seem hard to believe that renewable energy can match the benefits that non-renewable energy offers, but before you resort to any preconceived opinions that you may have, I ask that you consider the following facts and statistics.

Wind power, which is the fastest-growing energy source in the world since 1990, has already taken root in Kenya.

Kenya was the first African country to tap geothermal energy from which she earns a net profit of KSH 11.5billion per annum from only one power plant.

Africa harbours the largest hydroelectric power plant in Egypt’s Aswan Dam, and yet the World Bank estimates that only 7 to 8% of Africa’s hydroelectric power potential is currently utilised.

Solar energy is the most abundant energy resource in the world, but the beauty with Kenya is; unlike many other countries that experience different seasons, the sun rises and sets 365 days a year and an extra day on a leap year, which simply means that we are a country that has a constant guarantee of solar energy and yet this resource remains untapped.

Potential of renewable energy in Kenya.

[Photo Credit: www.venturesafrica.com ]

Despite all these shocking statistics, 80% of Africa’s electricity is still generated from fossil fuels but many have concluded that; with the right infrastructure, 50% of electricity generated in Southern and Eastern Africa can be obtained from renewable sources of energy by 2030. And so I ask; is the use of fossil fuels really necessary at the expenses of agriculture? Today, men and women in Kenya sruggle to put food on their table for their families not because of their slackness, but because climate change has brought about major changes in our rainfall patterns. Food crops are failing.

A smallholder farmer working a maize field in the district of Embu, Kenya.

[Photo Credit: www.dw.com ]

A wise man once said; when the rivers are all dried up and the trees cut down, man will then realise that he cannot eat money.

Africa’s land is the epicentre of natural resources that offer tremendous energy potential, majority of which surprisingly remain untapped. I believe that this situation still can be redirected. If we focus on explioting and financing the use of renewable energy as opposed to mining for oil in the northern part of Kenya which is already facing desertification, then we have the solution to our problems.

Aside from this, many have rightfully argued that the historic responsibility of carbon emission lies with the Western countries and that they should take responsibility through Climate Finance and be the only nations to reduce their levels of green-house gas emissions. Now although more developed nations are chiefly responsible for the changes in climate we face today, the impacts will be felt by all. Drought, famine, floods, decreased rainfall, extreme weather conditions, spread of disease, loss of animal and plant species, melting of polar ice caps, rise in sea level, increase in average global temperature, you name it, climate change remains a global phenomenon with a global impact, so a global response will only suffice to address this global issue.

It has often been repeated that our generation is the first one to experience the impacts of climate change, but what we largely do not seem to realise is that our generation is also the last one that can do something about it, if only we would break free from fossil fuels.

 

 

 

Horn of Africa Impact Stories: Voices From The Frontlines of El-Nino and Climate Change

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For the past few decades Kenyans have been longing for change, change in government practices, change in development strategies, change in national issues such as corruption and poverty. And as our country learns to adopt sustainable development, speaks out against tribalism, strives to alleviate poverty and better our economy, Kenyans are experiencing a different kind of change in the near horizon, drastic unexpected change, change we were not looking for. Climate Change.

Today, I and many in Kenya have become familiar with newspaper headlines that read; ‘Starvation Claims 14 lives in Turkana’ and ‘Death Toll in Marsabit Rises Due to Looming Drought’, while statistics up north show that Mandera, Isiolo, Wajir, and Baringo County are worst hit by famine after the consistency of failed rains, with the Governor of Samburu declaring a state of emergency as 60% of locals are facing food insecurity. Appeals to the national government to help address the situation have been made, but his exact words were; ‘We will not survive this drought’. Farmers are reaping losses while pastoralists watch their cattle die.

For the first time in history, Voi River located further south, in Voi County, has dried up. Locals have been unable to water their gardens claiming that even the hope of a meal is now non-existent. And as I turn the pages of my newspaper, images of women, children and men in the majority of Kenya’s communities affirm that we are all suffering from the effects of this long drought that seems to be never ending. The expressions on their faces shows shock and confusion while their eyes are filled with questions. We thirst for answers.

I grew up in Kisii County, the western part of Kenya. A region that contributes largely to Kenya’s fruit basket, but we too have noticed the absence of rainfall. In the 1970’s my family built a dam within the land my grandfather owned though he has departed that dam has always been there from since I can remember, but in the last two years, weather patterns across the country have demanded that our family not take this reservoir for granted. As we experience the second round of drying up, the future remains uncertain. Will the dam refill with rain water as we approach the New Year? Our neighbourhood glares at the skies as if to question where the clouds went. All we can do is hope as we wait for the effects of El Nino to pass. But the hopes of most Kenyans are already drying up as fast as our rivers and dams, with no sign of upheaval rainfall in the near distance.

Kenya has been forced to redefine water as a scarce commodity rather than a basic need. What scares me most, together with other fellow citizens is our incapability to solve the situation, to a large extent the power to mitigate climate change does not lie in our hands.

 

[Community leader and elders in Ajawa discusion water issues. Photo: Dima CARE]

 

The entire population of Ajawa in northern Kenya spends most of their day worrying about water supplies rather than focusing on developmental issues. Nothing else seems to matters except that very “basic need” we call water. For hours and kilometres on end, members of the community walk to the nearest bore-hole then descend 30 meters into a cave like well to fetch water for their cattle before the break of dawn. The well appears to be the only source of survival. Others prefer to keep away from the well having been attacked by wild animal while cases have been heard of women having miscarriages because of the long distances they are forced to walk in order fetch water. Our county governments, especially in Wajir have heard the cry of pastoralists and have funded veterinary officers to manage the lives of hundreds of thousands of live stock in order to minimise the drought related livestock deaths. These measures, though helpful, seem to be too little and too late in the day as the sun continues to scorch a large per cent of Kenya.

The Kenyan economy loses 14billion Kenyan Shillings to drought every year, the country has lost 3% of its GDP in 2015 alone, 10 million and more are suffering from the effects of famine while the situation is set to worsen, thousands of lives have been lost and still, no solutions have been found. Millions from the Horn of Africa have been migrating south, headed to our country in order to flee severe famine yet we too are experiencing the same conditions they seek to avoid.

As the reality of climate change dawns on us, we looked to the ongoing 21^st Conference of Parties in Paris hoping that the negotiations will be fruitful. Past meetings have availed very little even to the point where we have begun to speak about Adaptation, Climate Justice, Climate Finance and Compensation rather than Mitigation and Reduced Emissions. The questions that linger in my mind are; will there be a positive outcome as heads of states convene in Paris to discuss Climate Change, or is this just another good photo opportunity for global presidents as they sit in fancy conference rooms with a cup of tea and bottled water by their side while we in the Horn of Africa journey in search of a stream of water and look to the skies for long awaited rains?

The Africa We Want; Youth Voices

Hearing What the Youth in Africa Are Doing

[  ELEPHANTS WALKING THROUGH GRASS, AMBOSELI 2008

Photo: http://nickbrandtphotography.blogspot.co.ke/ ]

To stand on the vast plains of Samburu or any gazetted park across Africa and enjoy the view of migrating elephants, is an amazing experience. But finding the elephants is a whole different story. If you try to locate a herd of elephants by listening for the noises they make, more often than not, your efforts will be in vain. This is simply because elephants often choose to communicate in an infrasound, which simply means that they make low-frequency sound waves that are inaudible to the human ear.

As I begin to draw similarities between elephants and the youth of Africa, I would like to begin by admitting that the youth of today strikingly resemble all elephant species across her continent. Living in the wake of post-colonialism, a liberated Africa, an era of sustainable development and a time when everyone both within and without the confines of Africa’s borders echo that the 21^st Century is Africa’s century, as quoted in the Agenda 2063 of the African Union development plan, I believe that it is time for the youth to make a difference. If there ever was a time for the young people in Africa to rise up to the occasion, it is now more than ever. They need to voice their opinions and let their communities, their towns, their countries, their continent and the world know what they want for Africa!

Though at face value it may seem that the youth are silent, whispers can be heard; whispers from young people who deep down long for a different Africa, a better Africa. The youth are discussing the disappointments they have about their country; they are complaining about poor governance, corruption, poverty and food insecurity, they murmur against current developments and the lack thereof, but we seldom hear the solutions to the problems they speak about. Perhaps it is because they have chosen to let their actions speak louder than their words.

You see, it takes an ordinary person to identify a problem, but it takes an extraordinary person to invent a solution. Africa thirsts for solutions, solutions for today and tomorrow and if we claim that a countries future lies in the hands of its youth, then the youth of today must not only come up with solutions but be the solution. During colonialism, the men and women who chose to break the bonds of slavery by fighting for independence when all odds seemed against them are the greatest example we have; Africans who chose to be the solution when Africa needed one. In a span of only 58 years, Africa was able to gain liberty from all foreign colonials, a task that seemed impossible. Now how long will it take the current African citizens, and youth especially, to step up and replicate what our forefathers did as we seek for a day where transformative leadership and development will be evident? The decision largely lies in their hands. They stand on the brink of creating a revolution, one that will bring resourcefulness, change and above all sustainable development.

It is evident that youth, in general, possess a treasure house of talents that harbour innovation and creativity. These ideas, when utilized, will play a role in driving development and positive change and we will therefore succeed in securing not only today’s, but tomorrow’s aspirations as well. If their talents are harnessed as the Africa Union development plan seeks to do by 2063 under the 6^th Aspiration, then we begin to expand the limits of progress. By harbouring and implementing their unique development strategies, breakthroughs will be made.

Over the past decade, young people have begun emerging from their cocoons. Year after year we hear of new innovations, the majority of which originate from the youth. Innovations such as M-Pesa and M-Kopa which have made a difference in people’s lives, countries’ economies and have gained global recognition. Creativity thrives as university students in Kenya invent mobile phone applications such as M-Calc which has helped farmers to optimize production and reduce losses thereby enhance food security. Other recent innovations that have mushroomed across the continent are some like the e-learning platform called Slatecube, created by Chris Kwekowe, a 22-year-old Nigerian tech entrepreneur and app developer. He was able to create a space where students can study at their convenience via both free and paid-for online courses while connecting with opportunities. While in Morocco, yet another university student has founded a mobile phone application which offers a range of road transportation services such as bus schedules and online ticket reservations. The first online bus transport portal in his country.

In 2015; Anzisha Awards, in their premier year, attracted many youth across the continent who had extra ordinary business ideas. Five of Africa’s youngest entrepreneurs who have brought change to their country were awarded. Interesting to note, all winning categories had ideas based on innovation and creativity, ideas aimed at bringing sustainable change in Africa. There were other projects focused on promoting African Renaissances such as one from Lonwabo Ncanda, a 17-year-old matric student from Soweto, South Africa who co-founded an online youth entertainment platform called UltraShare which showcases and celebrates local artists and brands on social media. Another was from Rwandan Ysolde Shimwe, a 22-year-old who is advertising Africa’s fashion at an international level. Ysolde co-founded her fashion line; Uzuri while still in university.

With these any many other ideas that the youth are yet to come up with, it is evident that there is potential and that the young generation can be the driving force that will modify and develop Africa.

Ongoing projects such as Carolina for Kibera, founded by a volunteer group, has aimed to work with communities to alleviate poverty. They recently stated that; “It is ambitious young people who possess resounding hope and remarkable creativity. They have the talent and initiative to create real, sustainable change. Oftentimes all they need are the resources and some support network to help their ideas thrive.” These, and many other programs such as Innovate which has been moving through countries in Africa in order to identify, award and support local innovative solutions to issues within the fields of Health, Energy, Education, Agriculture, Transportation, Telecommunications, Civic Media, and Engineering in African countries are making a difference. By encouraging the youth to get involved and solve problems they experience in their communities, they create a platform where youth can express the change they want to see. There is potential in investing in the youth. If we, as the youth, work toward implementing Agenda 2063 then more opportunities are bound to open up for the younger generation. Then and only then will we see more 13 year old Maasai boys like Richard Turere making CNN headlines after finding an innovative solution to protect his family cattle from lions by inventing ‘Lion Lights’ using his Father’s car battery and Kelvin Doe from Sierra Leone, a self-taught engineer who made an FM radio station and a generator at the age of 13 using scrap metal that he found.

Give the youth a platform, and they will take centre stage. The actions they have been doing in terms of inventing solutions can no doubt be seen, and now they want to be heard.

As environmentalists and governments in Africa work toward protecting the elephants in Africa’s wildlife parks, let leaders and decision makers likewise; conserve the talents the youth have by promoting Agenda 2063. Though elephants faced being labeled a critically endangered species in the early years of the 21st century, conservationist say that there is hope as their population has been increasing steadily over the years as a result of the protective measures that have been adopted. If the youth are motivated toward a path that encourages them to be responsible for tomorrow, they will voice the change they want and the population of a generation booming with solutions will increase. And the number of youth willing to be leaders, technologists, developers and much more will be overwhelming. They will voice change and their vision for Africa will then become a reality.

Ask a Samburu natives whether they are able to hear the infrasonic noises that elephants make while they communicate in the still of the night, and though they will admit that the sounds they make are difficult to hear, they will also tell you that vibrations can be heard, vibrations that inform you that the elephants are speaking and likewise, the youth are speaking, their infrasonic voices can still, somehow, be heard. And let us also never forget that elephants are capable of making sounds as loud as 16000 Hz, 78 times louder than the average human. It has been said that elephants use infrasonic sound waves to communicate amongst themselves when they are far away from each other, but when they draw closer, the sounds they make can be heard by all around. So while Africa unifies in the march toward Agenda 2063, I believe that as Africa’s youth come together, their voice will be heard loud and clear.

The youth have been trying to make their voices heard through their actions and while they migrate as elephants do, in search of a better tomorrow, this is only the beginning as they stand and trumpet the change they want for their continent. By promoting the Agenda, the whispers they share will develop into voices, voices that resound across the continent, voices that harmonise as Africa seeks to unite her people in this era of sustainable development.  And as I endeavour to play the role that I am required to play as a youth by voicing the Africa I want through writing, I long for the day when we will all sit and tell inspiring stories to our children well after 2063 when the Africa Union development plan will have been successful. Stories about how Africa made it, not because she waited for change, but because her youth rose to the occasion and made sure that their voices were heard by letting the continent know, the Africa they wanted.

2015 Mazingira Challenge Winning Essay: Harnessing Youth Innovation and Creativity

A Lesson from Nature: Standing Beside Kenzo

[ Photo: http://www.sciencefocus.com ]

In a bid to encourage innovation and creativity in the youth of a developing country and continent, I believe the sky and beyond, is the limit. The youth of both Kenya and Africa stand on the brink of creating a revolution, one that will bring resourcefulness, change and above all development, hence the importance of harnessing their talents.  This is why I would like to share; Kenzo’s story.

One of the most profound lessons we learn from nature – among the many we so often encounter – is that the butterfly, in all its beauty and splendor, was never born a butterfly. At some point in time it was a caterpillar and I’m sure you agree with me as I testify that caterpillars, on the other hand, are not the most attractive animals, but nevertheless, nature uses this fact to teach us a lesson; like the caterpillar who at the early stages of its life was not beautiful to look at, the youth – especially those in Africa – who have not yet as fully expressed their innovative and creative talents, still have the potential of being beautiful like the butterfly, though all odds may seem against them.

The transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly is a process, which again comes to show that nothing ever really comes easy. It takes hard work, commitment and someone who is willing to go that extra mile, to step out of their comfort zone in order for a new development strategy to be successful. The cocooning process similarly is not an easy nor is it an attractive process, the caterpillar, for a period of time, is subjected to changes from the norm so that it can one day express its beauty in the form of a butterfly, and here is yet another lesson that youth and many others who aspire to be successful must learn.

Africa longs and thirsts for a generation full of youth who are creative and innovative in everything they do. If we choose to develop in the best way possible, then we need to invest in our youth. It has been said that; “There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would forever be repeating the same patterns… innovation consists largely of rearranging what we know in order to find out what we don’t know. Hence, to think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted.”

But my question is: how? How can we break the shells that seem to have plagued the minds of today’s younger generations so that this treasure house of creativity can be tapped for the good of Africa’s present and future?

The answer to the above question, is one that many have long waited for because the answer undoubtedly will solve a lot of global problems faced in the 21^st Century, issues such as corruption, sustainable development, food insecurity, climate change and global warming, waste management, natural resource management, poverty and many others which puzzle Africa’s leader today.

Albert Einstein once said that; “We cannot solve problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” So what I want to suggest is a probable answer to the question posed, and here is where little Kenzo comes in. Let us go back to nature and learn from our caterpillar theory, and I suggest we call her – the caterpillar – Kenzo. As we all know, Kenzo is born a caterpillar and not a butterfly, youth today who are often referred to as the future of a nation, strikingly resemble Kenzo. Though this may be true, I believe that we need not worry because Africa like Kenzo is still youthful, she, unlike many other continents, have the potential to be great considering all the natural resources Africa has. Here is where the youth today stand; between the caterpillar stage and the stage that leads to the blossoming of a butterfly, they stand in a cocoon, one that determines whether our transitioning process will lead to new heights.

    [Metamorphosis stages of a Butterfly. Photo: www3.canisius.edu]

The good news is; there have been strategies geared toward empowering the youth while the bad news is that efforts that have been put forward for solving this issue have largely been unsuccessful. I have attended and sat through lectures and talks in halls where the speaker focuses extensively on how tomorrow’s future lies in the hands of youth today and, don’t get me wrong because the talks have been eye-opening and deeply inspiring but sadly, when the halls are cleared and everyone is gone a loud silence rings in the ears of that youth who, a few moments ago had felt the passion stand and do that which has never been done. Having two-hour talks and week-long seminars on youth innovation and creativity may help the immediate problems that the youth of Africa currently face, but it definitely will not solve the future challenges. Here, is where I see a loophole. Unlike the cocoon which serves to hold on to youthful Kenzo for a period of time as she shifts from a caterpillar to a butterfly, I believe that current and subsequent generation have and will fail to harness and embrace the ideas present in the minds of today’s youth while the talents of yesterday’s youth might have already been buried six feet under.

If we work toward encouraging the younger generations, stressing how relevant they are then we have only begun scratching the surface on how far they are able to go. If we hold their hands as the cocoon holds on to the butterfly while it grows and matures, we begin solving the problem. We must no longer speak in forums about a path that exists, a path that allows youth to be creative but instead, we should push them toward that path and guide them as they seek to find and walk therein. Then and only then will we see more 13 year old Maasai boys like Richard Turere making CNN headlines after finding an innovative solution to protect his family cattle from lions by inventing ‘Lion Lights’ using his Father’s car battery and Kelvin Doe from Sierra Leone, a self-taught engineer who made an FM radio station and a generator at the age of 13 using scrap metal that he found. Ideas such as M-Pesa and M-Kopa Solar which make a difference in people’s lives and gain global recognition will bring change while university students in Kenya invent mobile phone applications such as M-Calc which assist farmers to optimize production and reduce losses in a bid to enhance food security.

If we become the cocoon that works to harness the developing caterpillar as she matures and grows, the fear that has made innovation appear like a struggle will be destroyed and those who wish to be creative will be encouraged to express their ideas. The ‘system’ that we have so long tolerated has oppressed innovation and has failed to embraced creativity. Even as youth aspire for white collar jobs, let them be motivated to break free from their shells and go in search of their own endeavors, let them be taught how to express themselves rather than what is expected of them. Long term projects and strategies that aim at holding Kenzo’s hand, I believe is the strongest and most effective way to achieve originality in youth today. Programs such as Innovate Kenya which empower and encourage youth to solve problems in their community and Incubation Hubs which develop ideas, if enhanced will bring positive results.

Once we learn from the simple lessons that nature offers, that the role a cocoon plays contributes immensely to the maturity, growth and blossoming stage of a butterfly then we begin to break the barriers that restrain us and find better ways to harness talent. If we place Kenzo in a cocoon and be by her side while she matures, in our case; learns to be innovative and creative, then we have the solution for development.

Every individual is born with their own unique genetic makeup and while it is estimated that there are 200 million youth in Africa today aged between 15 and 24, most people might look and say: ‘200 million youth; 200 million dreams,’ but I look and say; ‘200 million youth, 200 million ideas’ ideas that if harnessed, will result in innovation, creativity, and development for Africa. So as the numerous and various butterfly species fly in the vast rainforests of Africa, let us take this lesson from nature itself that we may collectively work toward harnessing the ideas of innovative and creative youth who can create a sustainable and beautiful tomorrow.

[ Rainforest Butterflies. Photo: http://www.wilmingtonparent.com/events/butterfly-release/ ]