Page 86 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 3

ISSUE THREE | NOV/DEC
CHIOMA
A couple of months ago, I
overheard a Chinese gentleman
talking about Kenya’s standard TWO SIDES OF A COIN
gauge railway. He proudly said to
another passenger, also a tourist
– from Europe by the sound of his By: Samuel and Chioma Phillips
accent - ‘this train is old fashioned
and slow. Our trains are faster.
This is old technology, taking me standard that would cause their as possible, when you could
back to the past.’ They laughed citizens to make such a bold make something available more
and the other tourist responded proclamation on foreign soil. [For affordably, or creating products
more sympathetically and said all those of you in business who are which are designed to fail at some
‘this is much faster than it used to getting restless at this thought, I point in order to make people
be.’ know of an Israeli-owned business buy again at a later date, or to
I have many concerns and in Kenya that - in the 90s and deliberately cheat someone who
opinions about the conversation early noughties at least - would works for you out of benefits that
that they had, one of the main turn away business, rather than you could so easily give them… or
ones was this: produce something sub-standard, that a man or woman will stand to
“What would make one nation sell because of poor inputs from their be elected to public office, for the
old technology to another?” clients. As a result, EVERYBODY sole purpose of making money
I cannot fathom why it would enter wanted to work with them, so they instead of serving… I just could
into the heart of a nation or a person made money. So, yes, it is possible never wrap my head around it.
not to offer their absolute best as EVEN in business.]
their norm. Why be willing to sell I thought also of the gentleman So to sit and listen to this man,
their leftovers? Not only that, but who spoke so loudly and with proclaim these words, while riding
then squeeze them for payments such a boastful smile on his face… in this train from his land… I can’t.
on what they sold? For a [brief] “Why would he be pleased that the
moment, I suspended judgment nation of his birth had sold such SAMUEL
on the one who had settled for an item to another land? Why brag Just a while ago, I was in the train
the purchase of less than the that what he had back home was with my wife going from Nairobi
best. Especially having, I’m sure, ‘better’, when his own nation is to Mombasa. If you know me, I
had occasion to even sample the one which had supplied the love road trips, well, that’s if I’m
the facilities that this outspoken very train and railway that he had riding in a car. Train trips can be
representative of that nation had chosen to deride so unsparingly? quite boring. No music, no stops
so loudly proclaimed in the coach, At the very least, one would hold for photography etc. But it’s way
to the hearing of anyone within their peace or at least apologize faster than a car and I appreciate
earshot. I was not pleased with the that they hadn’t given their that. We happened to sit close
choices that they had made, but I absolute best.” to some happy Chinese family
thought to deal with the aspect of It is a puzzle to me that it would be playing cards. In their excitement
the one offering supplies, in that okay to look down on what came they were a bit loud and that was
instance. from one’s own soil. But, perhaps, fine really. Seated a few rows from
Trying to place myself in the shoes that’s just me. I grew up constantly where we were, a single Chinese
of the seller, I thought to myself, puzzled to discover that people male traveler was talking with
“Why would I sell my brother or could be mean to others or could another white guy and his family.
sister anything less than the best decide to con other people. I just They were talking about the SGR
I have available? What does it never understood it. I couldn’t train. Then the Chinese guy while
convey about me?” I couldn’t function in environments like trying to compare the new high
come up with any answer, other those. Still don’t, without God’s speed trains (about 350 km per
than that in my nation of origin help. For me it was do all to the hour) that they use in China with
I do not have a national ethos best of my ability and give my best the SGR train, said “This train is
that has determined that anyone or don’t bother; the times that I old fashioned and slow. Our trains
who receives from my hand must deliberately did otherwise have are faster. This is old technology,
receive nothing less than the best. haunted me literally all my days. taking me back to the past”. They
Such that, at the end of the day, But to discover that it is considered all laughed together over the joke
all that anyone can ever say about a ‘sound business principle’ to and the journey continued. I can’t
me will be they would rather lose be able to get away with making tell you why I paid attention to their
money than give anything sub- someone pay as high a price chat but it got me thinking. I didn’t
86 HEALING - RESTORING - REBIRTHING - AFRICA