Kenya at the Top; A Few Reflections

Today, Kenya emerged at the top of the athletics world in Beijing. This is no mean feat for a country of 40 million people when one considers that the world has over 7 billion people. Many of the countries Kenya competed with are also much more richer and advanced technologically. But kenya beat all of them hands down.

What are the lessons Kenya as an emerging democracy and economy can learn from this historic achievement? What do our athletes do that the rest of us can duplicate to emerge world winners? Here are my thoughts. Feel free to criticise them.

  1. Build on your strong points.
    If you canā€™t play soccer, you cant beat Brazil. You cant beat Japan at making cars - at least not just yet. But you can grow the best tea and coffee in the world. The most beautiful flowers. Invest more in this. Add value and ensure the marketing chain favours Kenya.

  2. Do NOT wait for Government to do ā€˜somethingā€™. You are the change you need
    Do our athletes wait for government to saidia? When was the last time you saw any of them asking ā€˜Serikali saidia tuende mashindano Monacoā€™? I need not elaborate anything here.

  3. Believe in yourself
    Ukizikiza some people you might think Kenya is Syria - a dictatotrship about to collapse. The worst of these negative buggers is none other than Babuon, unfortunately (and am not being political here) and our juvenile media. Listening to these guys nothing goes right here. Yet, today Kenya is being described as an emerging giant. So, be positive. Believe in yourself. Believe in your country. Be like that athlete who dares dream he can win gold, and beat the world.

  4. Dont give up easily
    Every day I see Kenyans who give up so easily that it is baffling. You dont get a job and you sink into kumi kumi. You marriage hits the rocks and you start shooting cocaine. Then as usual, your folks start blaming government for letting the cocaine in. We hear of barons who have political influence. You blame everybody EXCEPT yourself. TAKE CHARGE. Donā€™t give up, even when you are number last. Did you watch the marathon? Some dude finished 30 minutes after the rest. Did he give up and blame the weather?

  5. Keep your eyes on the prize
    The simple fact is, as the cliche goes, if you aim for the stars, even if you fail, you will get the moon. Do not give in to tribalism and corruption. You want Kenya to be like Singapore? Keep your eyes on the prize. Make those small personal sacrifices that together make a country great - do not bribe the police, use a condom (diseases down!), give some money to a good charity. DO NOT JUST WHINE - keep your eyes on the prize.

ENDELEENIā€¦

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IIIgweeeeeeeeeeX3

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Hapo pa ball we can atleast try & open acadamies that emphasize on technique & stuff which would make us competitive ,.

30 minutes after the rest? Huyo Ni Kama mimi cross-country ya high school.

At times you come up with stuff thatā€™s well thought out, like this one, but NOT always.

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during Fabischā€™s era we had olympic villages and we were doing well, if only weā€™d get our management right

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Kenya never ceases to amazeā€¦ Congratulations to our Athletes who have positioned our country from being referred to as a hotbed of terror to the home of world champions, they are the true ambassadors.

Long live Kenya

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Thanks man, you have given me the drive to push forward.

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Gukaaaaaaaax3

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Very true guka. Sometimes you ooze wisdom commensurate with your age.

  1. Your dreams are valid. Let not @Mathice demoralize you simply because you were born and raised in Misri slums. Define your dream and work hard chasing it. You shall surely get it.
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Thanks manā€¦kesho naenda kwa ofisi kuwaonyesha what you said here.

Haiya, haukuona ata 10,000 metres wengine wanakuwa lapped? Na bado wanaendelea mpaka wanamaliza. Reminds of a Sierra Leonean (??) swimmer at the Olympics who the media nicknamed the Somebody The Fish - he would get lapped several times but still keep going. He used to get the wildest cheers!!!

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Go for it bro! Go for it

Ooops, Gugu corrects. That swimmer was called Eric Moussambani Malonga and he was from Equatorial Guinea. The media called him ā€œEric the Eelā€

Gugu sio Cucu in kale?

7.Life is too short, be audacious,believe in yourself, donā€™t be afraid to fail and most of all surround yourself with like minded people

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He he, that slum comment really got you. Well you got the context I meant wrong.

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Somebody The Fish :D:D:D:D:D:D

I agree with you Mathice, so for once I agree with the octogenerian 70%

  1. education is not the only way of making itā€¦so mtu akisema ā€œhuyo hashikangi kituā€ā€¦cheka tuā€¦pesa ile kemboi anayo kuna corporate ata asave miaka 50+1 hawezi pata
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