A Sampling Of The Uneconomical Mindsets Prevailing In Kenya

I may not assign an exact percentage to how much of our economy is haemorrhaging from the effects of mindset risk but it is quite a high one. Many times, we suffer unnecessarily when we are forced to bear the consequences that arise from the inconsiderate or substandard decisions of other people whose thinking processes, sadly and wastefully have huge ramifications on the quality of the very lives that they are meant to improve. You will tire reading on if you don't put on your nationalistic hat now.

Fact: we are the sum total of our experiences. That is why a nasty experience in the wild with a bovine, causes some to think that they are seeing a rogue buffalo yet again when in actual fact, they have come across a healthy black cow on someone's farm. Our fears are enlivened by anything that smells like, breathes like or resembles their originating source. These encounters, either equip us with the ways that we plan, initiate, execute and monitor our actions, or they serve to heighten our guard against what our surroundings throw at us all the time.

Let us lightly touch on just three facts from a possibility of a hundred others that influence our thinking, and then consider how they are applied in only eight of several mindset types when we are in either execution or defensive mode.

Fact 1: Cognitive Processes Are Culturally Determined

We all subscribe varyingly to different cultural beliefs which define us as members of any one of the communities in Kenya. Yes, what is important in one cultural setup may have little or no significance in another cultural grouping. When we don't rationalise this fact, it becomes a potential source of conflict at the national level.

Fact 2: Land Means Different Things To Different People

While some just want a small plot to build a dwelling for themselves on the 5th floor, others want a horizon to horizon type boundary setting to farm on. As a factor of production, land is a critical resource to mankind. Many people invest emotions and enhance land ownership by burying their dead on it as others cremate their loved ones to avoid such emotional investments in property. It is all a matter of mindset.

Fact 3: Occupation Related Norms and Religious Beliefs Touch Us Differently

Even when guided accordingly by professional codes of conduct and religious ethos, huge worrisome deviations still occur.

Imagine for a moment that the three facts above are the building blocks that alternately project and play out the active part of our mindset at any one time. Add to this the fact that often times we apply the wrong level of thinking in the wrong place or at the wrong time depending on the orientation mode of our default settings. That is when it begins to cost us negatively. This is the mindset under discussion now.

The real mindset of anyone comes out when they are subjected to pressure or allowed absolute freedom. It could be either positive or negative pressure. When people come across plenty of money, we often think that they changed completely. Yet in fact, the real person just came out of the closet. That pleasant person who often asked you for money politely and paid back diligently had simply right-sized themselves to the situation and postured well enough to please you in exchange for survival. When the money came, they bolted and treated you as if you had never, ever met before. Everyone at face value is a likeable character. We bring out our best show when we are, say, part of a national committee or a professional body. We are buddies with everyone. And at that moment, we know that the idea of nationhood in itself was crafted to serve as a stable mechanism upon which we diffuse cross-divisional tensions within and across a diversified population.

But once on board, we bring on to the table two behaviours. Our adapted behaviour that everyone likes because we must conform, and our hidden but real natural behaviour. The natural behaviour is the one exhibited in an environment within your control. There is a big possibility that the darling of all in the committee meeting, (adapted behaviour) unbeknownst to the other members, has a wild side that literally guarantees members of his household the professional boxing style hard-punching on a daily basis, and as they smut from the effects of the blows in his wake, committee members are queuing up to shake the hand of this much-admired man not knowing that the same hand is a feared weapon elsewhere.

So we have what we show to Kenya and also what we show when amongst ourselves.

Let us bring out the real man by subjecting him to pressure. The battle for national resources is a constant fight that happens all the time. What if we are competing for 10 positions and we are 100 candidates from all the communities represented in Kenya? The interview panel of 8 has 4 members from one community (please be open-minded, it could be from any big or small community), and the other 4 panellists are from different places. The panellists are all drawn from professional bodies. We are not looking for technical or academic superiority, just some wise and able-bodied people to adjudicate on a hidden land-related matter as the said land seats on two titles. There exists a strong possibility of the smaller piece being easily excised, privatised and sanitised for the construction of profitable accommodation facilities. Thereafter, the same 10 successful candidates shall be the trustees of a tertiary institute to be constructed on the same land. So there are both short-term and long-term considerations on the table. Immediately the trustees are determined, several tenders shall be awarded for fencing, construction and the supply various items. Some pressure inducing phone calls from higher places have just been received and they trigger the spectrum of the following mindsets:

The Tribally Professional Type Mindset

This mindset will silently rally the 50% tribal advantage in the panel to hire as many as they can from their community but make it look professional by following all the laid down procedures. They will view it as a battle won in the bigger fight for national resources and will cost the rest of the country emotional pain, which will keep recurring when ideal conditions to revenge present themselves. In this situation, the nation-state is at risk. This normally happens when panellists are appointed and not elected into the position or when they choose to abuse the privilege when elected or when they are a special purpose vehicle. We can liken them to wild dogs as they hunt in a pack.

The Politically Professional Type Mindset

In this situation, whereas the majority side wins all the time, this mindset attempts to provide a win-win situation by compromising today for a better chance tomorrow. This mindset may skip the best candidates and take weaker ones for the sake of some future interest. It costs the country the best brains but it spares it turmoil. It may calm the other panellists nerves but in many instances, the mover benefits cleverly from selfish gain by taking advantage of ignorance. To the person in the dark, ignorance is bliss. These are your foxy doves.

The Faded Flag In The Wind Type Mindset

They are colourless and shamelessly go with the flow. These types are in committees to fill the slots. They have no better stand than the majority. Per diem is much more important to all else. These people are the worst kind to have. Their yes-manship keeps the country backwards because of their compromised decision making. These are awful people to use when negotiating international trade deals. They will cost you the opportunity to get the best possible deal. Just as every flag is hoisted on a strong pole, they are the puppets on stage as those pulling the strings are hidden backstage. They are your typical sheep as they keep jumping past a particular spot that had a huddle removed, just because the first sheep in the flock jumped over it. Literally the black sheep in the committee.

The Stubborn Professional Type Mindset

This one does not accept anything contributed by others who are not in his profession. Their opinion is the only one that matters. Their inflexibility will raise tensions and slows down the committee's work. Such people are like a car left idling on the highway and causing an excruciatingly unnecessary traffic snarl-up. You burn fuel, lose time, and your blood pressure rises to no advantage. They are very educated but not schooled. They lack crucial social skills and cost the country heavily in the sense that the nation cannot readily unlock and tap into the full potential of their pricy education. The only evidence of it is in the physical certificate. It is very much like scarcely available clean water wastefully going down the drain. This is the mule. Very strong but denied the gift of emotional intelligence and intellectual fertility.

The Lone Ranger Type Mindset

This is the confident type. Unlike the rigid professional mindset, this one radiates a pleasant persona and articulates their position even when going against a very tough grain. They work best alone but can turn the tables if they lobby enough people before the meeting takes place. Nobody knows where they slept on the night before the meeting but they are always punctual. These guys save the country a lot of money because they can blend in or convince everyone to see things their way. They sometimes make the best independent directors. Unfortunately, they are never there for the common man as they cherry-pick and act on their own interests. They are the leopards, beautiful but lethal. They savour their solitude in the woods as they hunt alone.

The Unapologetic Tribalist Type Mindset

They say that you can take a man out of the village, but you can never take the village out of the man. The theatrics of tribal chauvinism pass as unwarranted arrogance on the faces of others. This type carries those deeply held beliefs to Rome and fails to acknowledge the Romans. The ringtone, small talk moments and choice of cuisine tell it all. I know of a guy who asked for matumbo in Spain and even offered to pay more for it if it was availed to him. In the panel, this type only scores those from his community and leaves the interview forms blank for those who are 'lesser persons'. These types are generally costly as they are a ticking time bomb when away from their homes. They will stoke fires unnecessarily and cost you time in huge losses to valuable opportunities and a much needed peaceful coexistence. They charge at you unprovoked because your presence irritates them. These are the Rhinos that believe that they are gifted unicorns.

The Hypocritical Prayer Warrior Type Mindset

We have the moderate men and women of faith and I respect them. The Hypocritical Prayer Warrior mindset refers to the excessive type that goes berserk in the midst of a sea of calm waters, but all meant to divert everyone from their greedy nature. They 'view' every challenge facing the panel as a moment to pray. For example, when the candidates being interviewed don't seem to conform to what is wanted, this mindset will be down on their knees praying so that the remaining candidates can be of value, and want to consume most of the panel's time while at it. There is nothing wrong with prayer but the holy book tells us that there is a time for everything. This mindset can lose you plenty of time and distort the agenda. I am not in any way against prayer as I do so every day. This is the noisy and fearless woodpecker. Always viciously getting rid of the unwanted things in its surroundings.

The Excessively What-Is-In-It-For-Me? Type Mindset

This is the trader mentality taken too far. Committees work on the basis of Terms of Reference but this mindset overrules all that and seeks to gain from the opportunity to serve. These are the types that get into boards or committees to win tenders. The clout derived from the appointment is their stock in trade. These types will get into a board however irrelevant it is for them so that they can cross-sell the what-is-in-it-for-me with like-minded directors in other boards. These types, as smart as they are, cost you time as they only show up when they have an interest on the agenda besides per diem. They walk out when their interest on the agenda is dispensed with. These are your playful hyenas. What sounds like laughter is serious horse-trading.

So what does it take to eliminate these mindsets that exist only for me, myself, and I first?

If every able-bodied youth was subjected to a mandatory national service posting far away from their home counties for one year, it would encourage all to be mindful of others from outside their respective communities.

We may not put strict academic qualifications on leaders because we have seen some less educated ones outperforming very educated types. But if we the citizens can use technology to rate our leaders as we do with our Uber ride drivers, we can help to populate a skills gap questionnaire as frequently as we need to, such that, if a leader has hardly contributed to debates in parliament, then the needs analysis report recommends a mandatory public speaking course within a given time frame. Whenever those uncouth behaviours manifest, the citizens can take a vote on a list of programs that that specific leader must be subjected to. It sounds far fetched but it can work brilliantly as it is the citizenry's duty to check or recall their leaders.

There is a need to relook at the national awards and commendations afresh. These awards need wider selection consultations so that any recipient, truly shoulders the responsibility of honour. We have never seen anyone stripped of them for corruption or acts of shame. This has diluted the meaning and importance of such awards. When done well, it becomes a citizen's aspirational goal to earn it and in the process, many will do great acts.

Clearly, those who fail to demonstrate national values must never be allowed to go past county roles, so that they don't become detested villagers who spoil the image of others from the same place. They can be spotted from afar.

We must also endeavour to understand someone's natural behaviour before bestowing upon them any national responsibility. The best mindset is one that has the attitude of gratitude for it is one created for genuine service.

By the way, do you think that the smaller piece of land remained intact as a part of the institution?