Nurturing village innovators can help tap into their ingenuity

**Kariamu Town. Why is the left so different from the right?** [XN Iraki, Standard]

China’s growth is partly driven by innovations as indicated by patents. Notice China now leads US in patenting. What of us?

My last encounter with village elders was almost half a century ago. The case was about a young man accused of “breaking a goat’s leg.” I later learned that meant impregnating a girl. What evidence did the elders demand without the benefit of DNA?

Today, such cases are rare. Sexual freedom finally came, and the consequences are there for all to see - single parents and dysfunctional families.

We seem to accept that, with even pastors silent on it. It reminds me of the US Deep South, where I spent some years of my life. I did not expect us to catch up with the Deep South so soon.

Most cases in the rural areas are no longer about pregnancy but land particularly in the former white highlands. In the same village where I witnessed the “breaking of the goat leg” case, the land disputes are complicated by women inheriting land whether married or unmarried.

Mix single parenthood and women inheriting land, and you get a perfect ingredient for family disintegration. I shall not disclose the village name for security reasons.

Kenyans now prefer courts to resolve disputes or cases. One of the consequences of the 2010 Constitution is making Kenya a very litigious society. Lawyers are having a field day.

Why then do we need village elders unless in some regions where traditions still reign? Do we envisage the return of the good old days? Why so much focus on formalising and integrating elders into the governance structure? How will they fit in urban areas like Nairobi?

There is nothing wrong with having elders resolve disputes as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism (ADR). They have done that for generations and fairly, earning them lots of respect.

In the traditional societies, they earned their place through heroism, dispensing justice and ensuring social stability. They were the government. They did not expect to be paid, honour was good enough.

The modern village elders will be paid, which will bring in competition for the positions. After all, joblessness is a national issue. Most village elders were traditionally men. Will gender be a factor this time? How will the elders be selected? Any voting?

What cases will they resolve? Would we expect a court to refer a case to elders before hearing it? Modernism has taken over the work of the elders.

One thing that surprised me about the elders I met, including my dad, was their mastery of the local languages with proverbs and idioms. Their language was cryptic like that of modern lawyers, understood by a select few.

It would be laughable to have village elders conduct their business in English. If we must have elders, one of their terms of reference (TOR) should be to preserve and enrich local languages and cultures.

Introducing village elders in the digital age can only be interpreted as extending the reach of the government to the grassroots. They can gather intelligence and keep watch. How will elders fit into the new socio-economic order? Even respecting parents is a problem today.

What we need in the rural areas are village innovators, not elders. Who can help every village identify, protect and commercialise innovations?

Add indigenous knowledge. Such village innovators should be integrated into the Kenya Intellectual Property Institute (KIPI). We should be busy in the villages and hamlets sniffing ideas that can be patented and give us the next Meta, Google, Toyota and Mpesa. KIPI should have offices in every county and university. It is surprising that KIPI was never devolved.

Believe me, the rise of modern nations like China, Japan or USA was driven by innovations from universities, research institutes and even ordinary men and women experimenting as they seek solutions to their problems from food preservation to transport and health among others.

My travel through rural areas leaves no doubt that the place is full of energy, creativity and ingenuity. How do we harness that?

Does it surprise you that the US trade and patent office was established in 1790? Its mission is “Drive US innovations and global competitiveness for the benefit of all Americans.”

Our KIPI mission is “promote inventive and innovative activities through protection of industrial property rights for an innovative and creative Kenya.” I would reword that given the chance. This mission should be cascaded to the grassroots - mashinani.

The shortest and best paved road to economic transformation is through innovation. That includes new products and processes or their improvement.

And most importantly, innovation in governance. We should identify and nurture village innovators, tapping into their creativity, exuberance and ingenuity.

All that youthful energy is now being wasted through alcoholism, betting, idling and hopelessness.

Can I ask, like in Omo Pick a Box, village elders or innovators? Where is Martin Njau, the star of this show?