There is something worth mentioning about getting higher education abroad, in developing countries and doing the same in Kenyan Universities. The same applies to initially using that education in those countries and doing the same here.
I read and listen to lots of foreign policy. I equally fancy International Political Economy and general Economics Policy Analysis.
Now take two well known Professionals in Foreign Policy huku Kenya. Tuchukue Prof Macharia Munene yule wa USIU na tuchukue Prof Noah Midamba ama Dr. Monica Juma. Listening to Macharia Munene is a kin to listening to a villager ama Boyz wa mogoka base. You can’t understand where the man is going or coming from.
But listen to Noah Midamba dissect Foreign Policy issues and you will love everything about that Analysis. You can even feel the thinking, the analysis, the synthesis and breakdown of complex stuff. Same applies to Monica Juma. Fluent, calm, well read, very articulate and understands her stuff. The same tho can’t be said of her husband, Prof Kagwanja.
Point is, our education is flawed. It’s inadequate. It’s insufficient. There is something about guys that got their graduate studies in those premier Western Universities. Their critical thinking is top notch unlike those who got their PhDs from Kenyan Universities.
I once said in this village that I can pick out someone who has lived/studied or has some exposure of outside countries by their posts. Doesn’t have to be abroad but even just across the border.
at times studying majuu ,and coming back home, if no careful one may end up a confused person. studying in India or China before the 90’s would be, and would’ve been ideal , especially for our policy makers.
I don’t know much about the India and China bit. Guys that study in India have no much difference from those that do it here, thinking wise. As for China, I am yet to tell.
not in terms of Swag, but policy makers. the other mistake 3rd world countries do is fishing their policy makers from Brettonwood Institutions, most of these guys end up being confused.
My dad studied in a liberal college in the US; Bates College, in the 60’s. Coming back to rejoin bonobos in 1973, he was always out of place until his death last year. On several occasions, he had to exercise social intelligence just to fit in. The level of bonoboism that he had to deal with tormented him to his grave. His liberal ideals helped many that passed through his hands. He championed the education of the girl child, departure from retrogressive cultural rites as well as pragmatism, concepts that were foreign among our people. I remember him once boxing an uncle who had refused to educate his kids in the name of saving money.
It’s not even about the money. I’m talking about general critical thinking required for policy making; breaking down policy issues and translating this into productive output. Not about money. Millionaires like Buzeki have made their money from here.
I think more things than just education and exposure go into how one communicates later in life or how one comes across. Going by your theory, I can point out people in ktalk who have both exposure and high education but come off pretty “low rent”.
Summary, those two things alone are not enough to “judge” one on.
You can’t deny that hidden within those low rent comments there is always a gem of input here and there. Some times it is all in jest, you can’t take life too seriously especially in a mad house like this one.
I’m lost. Didn’t you just say that you’re able to differentiate,and therefore classify, between those have or don’t have exposure and higher education? But now all of a sudden “it doesn’t matter”? Wtf