What does the Future hold for Kilimani?
Neighbors. Residents. Allow me to borrow your thoughts on a few questions I have been pondering.
I’m present to the fact that times are not good. Public morale is low, and people are on edge. But we are in this together and will emerge stronger as a community. Our hope for the future is abundant.
From my interactions with you over the months, I am learning that I should add more details and personality to my profile. This should make the connection we share more on a human level and hopefully dissipate any communication barriers.
I wish #Kilimanians knew this about me
Kilimani, for me, is a place I choose every day. But I will not pretend I have been here since this place was a bush. I am part of the enormous wave of high-rise apartment dwellers who have been steadily emigrating for the last decade. Ownership of the place comes from choice, not because I’m a native.
Returning from my studies abroad, I came straight to where the action is. I had read about the Foundation’s work around the time when the Kilimani Mums groups had raised the consciousness of this place. I thought the Foundation would provide a ready platform to plug in and serve the community meaningfully.
In the meantime, I have built a career in the private sector, primarily working in startups and scale-ups. In my work, I have contributed to the development and growth of local brands of note, such as Nova Pioneer, Apollo Agriculture, Adrian Kenya, and Watu Credit.
I also have political views. But to be clear, I am not seeking any elective position. Neither am I sympathetic to any political party in Kenya.
Politically, I am an avowed constitutionalist. CoK 2010 radically transformed power, awarding it to us collectively as citizens. We have the luxury to exercise this power directly or to delegate it.
With this great power comes the responsibility to be active citizens. I find it odd that we often are at the mercy of public officials to receive public services. I do not see any need to be ‘respectful’ towards public officials of any office who have disrespected us in the first place. Kowtowing to them gives them undue power and reinforces bad behavior.
From a politico-economics perspective, I subscribe to the ‘saltwater economics’ school of thinking. I hold that a corrupt-free government is an essential pre-condition for a thriving economy. This is unlike Dr. Ndii of the ‘freshwater’ persuasion, who believes that in a ‘functional’ democratic society, we should not worry about corruption but about building prosperity from the bottom up. The jury is out on whether this is working.
Broadly, I am a zealous opponent of capitalism but do not recognize socialism as a valid alternative. I’m interrogating whether the Universal Basic Income scheme can be implemented sustainably and at scale in Kenya.
I am a cultural conservative, and I observe religion as a Catholic.
Kilimani in its future past.
Our community has passed the proverbial inflection point, and I have more questions than answers. I am feeling the weight of leadership. These problems are complex and don’t have easy answers.
What is clear is that our founding vision remains more relevant. Our Board of Directors recently reaffirmed our aspiration of a neighborhood of choice and agency instead of complaint and inaction. We dream a day will come when will take ownership of our public, becoming citizens rather than residents.
No doubt, the cityscape of Kilimani is unrecognizable from what it was even five years ago. As the buildings and other structures are completed, the impact of unregulated development on public infrastructure becomes increasingly apparent. We fear rampant sewage crises, water crises, and rush-hour traffic gridlocks that could drastically destroy our quality of life. Have we done enough work to anticipate them? If related to infrastructure, is there any long-term planning for expansion to meet usage demand?
The emerging demographic in Kilimani completely contrasts with the one that existed before. Droves of new residents, young, active socially, and transitory, are making Kilimani their primary domicile. Furthermore, we see an increase in communities of other nationalities, such as the Chinese, Somali, Eritreans, Sudanese, and a motley of Caucasian expats. Not least forgotten, this buzzing economic hub has attracted swarms of gig workers, service staff, and other hangers-on who have a bed outside Kilimani but spend their entire waking hours here.
Put together, this transformation is nothing short of bewildering. One cannot imagine the exasperation of a section of our members who grew up as they witnessed the swift loss of their childhood streetscape, supplanted by monstrosities occupied by strangers.
Consider long-time members of the Foundation: lived here most of their adult lives, highly educated, middle-aged property owners, and likely married with children. They care about social issues and public participation, support active citizenship, and are mindful of the environment. Many of them birthed our 2010 constitution and were founding members of the Foundation. The population of this group is, unfortunately, dwindling.
Contrast with the rising population whose experience is a momentary snapshot of Kilimani as their stay here is fugacious. Rarely staying more than five years, to them, Kilimani is not their place of ‘choice.’ It is a stopover on their way elsewhere. Who can legitimately claim ownership of Kilimani? Since these youthful newcomers have become the dominant population, should the Foundation offer membership to them? How does involving this group change the nature of the Foundation?
Given that, on average, individuals in the latter group typically live in Kilimani for less than five years, how does the Foundation design visionary, multi-year programs? More importantly, do we know the social issues this younger generation will drive? Do these issues align with the ethos of our Foundation?
Do other groups exist between the above two far ends of the spectrum?
Finally, do our founding vision and mission allow for the evolution of the Foundation? I think so. And this gives me hope.
Except for the last one above, I don’t have answers to these questions. But let us ask them — the complex ones. The uncomfortable ones.
We will find the answers together.
