I start thinking, “Is it me? Am I the problem?” I question if I'm seeing my homeland through the eyes of a foreigner or the eyes of an exasperated native who wants more, who wants better.
There is a running theme in Mombasa, whereby we get no tap water in the drought months and excess tap water in the rain months. As soon as October hits, the pipes run dry.
I finally saw a group of residents from Old Town protesting this very issue. Everyone in Mombasa has a borehole that has over time damaged the water table of the region, causing a saturation of ground water.
Still, the people are complacent. They will complain but buy water from water truck vendors. The real question is, where do these vendors get the fresh water? What is the purpose of the Water and Sanitation department if water and sanitation is perhaps the biggest issue facing the people of Mombasa?
The whole of North Coast has turned into one big brothel riddled with sex crimes. Bars and clubs play loud music 24 hours a day. Prostitutes walk in broad daylight with skimpy outfits on while clearly under the influence of something. Young girls are carrying babies on their hips, and most of the male population is undoubtedly involved in drugs, be it miraa or hard narcotics.
Mombasa has become too small for its own good. There are people everywhere. At certain times, I wonder if we should implement a birth limit. I'm not sure if sudden surge in population is the norm or if it is a result of the ongoing holidays, but there are just too many people everywhere.
The number of cars, tuk-tuks and boda bodas have also gotten out of control. The Nyali Bridge, which is a two-lane bridge, can host up to four static lanes in rush hour.
The wealth disparity is clear to a seasoned observer like myself. While the roads are flooded with the middle class Vitz, Suzukis and mid-range station wagons, it has become the norm to see (presumably) rich housewives driving the top-range guzzlers. The type that makes everyone stop and stare.
The suburbs are getting crowded with massive apartment blocks, and all the international schools are at capacity. The rich are still rich if not richer and the poor are getting poorer. The poor areas are congested with zero infrastructure for basic needs, such as waste management and sanitation resources.
Just this morning, I witnessed people throwing and lining up trash against a government hospital wall fence. There are zero green spaces left in the county and if they are, they automatically become a dumping site. Ironically, I once saw about seven county employees sweeping one section of the road outside of the town's SGR station, whereas one meter away, at the next section, the dirt was extreme.
Again we are complacent with the dirt, the rampant poverty, the failed system, the lack of water, underage boda boda drivers causing accidents, underage boys in gangs…
When we as a society lift our hands up in exasperation like the “what to do about it?” emoji, then we have failed ourselves. We live in a society that has failed us, but as long as we eat and breathe, we are content with our lives.
I have often said that the people will determine when we bring innovation and development in our communities. For as long as we remain complacent with the way things are run, nothing will ever truly change.
