Why CHANGE Matters – And How It Can Be Achieved
The event on 15 March in Nairobi attracted more than one hundred highly interested and dedicated current DAAD scholars and alumni. Some of Kenya’s most outstanding public intellectuals in the fields of the judiciary, science, and arts shared their ideas on change in society – CHANGE being the motto of DAAD activities worldwide in 2012.
George Kegoro, Executive Director of the Kenya Chapter of the International Commission of Jurists, reminded the listeners of the trajectory of Kenya on its way to a fully inclusive democracy and rule of law. Still, with regard to the 2007 elections, he warned that citizens need to be alert and willing to stand up for their rights at any time. Also, he stressed that in order to create a more just society with opportunities in life for everyone, it is vital to fight corruption and remind decision makers of their responsibility for the well-being of the people.
The importance of science to change society was highlighted by Prof. Hamadi Boga, Humboldt Foundation Ambassador and Principal of Taita Taveta University College. Referring to the scientific method, Prof. Hamadi held that challenging orthodoxy through scientific discovery is the key to progress in general. Giving examples from his own field of research, microbiology, he demonstrated how seemingly small discoveries – as the formulation of the germ theory of disease by German scholar Robert Koch in 1890 – contain within themselves the potential to change the world.
Finally, Kenya’s most famous cartoonist Gado (Daily Nation, XYZ Show) commented on how art can make a difference in society. Showing some of his most provocative cartoons, he got the audience in fits while at the same time earning high esteem for his daring and unswerving work in the public interest. Yet Gado also gave an account of how press freedom and civil rights have progressed over the last 20 years, when his career as a political cartoonist was still in its infancy.
Although observing society from very different angles, the three speakers concurred that carefully considered but purposeful individual action is necessary to change society for the better.
