Every society, no matter how democratic, how egalitarian, has its marginalised: people who are different from the majority in one way or another and are therefore considered strange or queer, or inferior. Prejudice against people who are markedly different from others appears to be a universal phenomenon and marginalisation of such people is common. People may be marginalised because of a physical or mental disability or because they belong to a disadvantaged group, an ethnic, social, or cultural minority.
What does it mean to be marginalised? It means that you do not count, that you don't belong, that your opinion is neither solicited nor valued.
Kenya has many people belonging to groups which are often marginalised, such as people with a disability, the refugees, the prostitutes, the economically destitute. But there are additional groups in our country, such as the older people (and many women) who should not be marginalised but often are, simply because they lack education. These groups of people are easily exploited and pushed to the margins of society.
What is disturbing about the situation of the marginalised in Kenya is that they are no longer simply a fringe group of society but that their numbers are constantly increasing. If we look, for example, at the phenomenon of street children (who actually are no longer only children), we see that their numbers have increased drastically in the last twenty two years: from some 115 in the entire country in 1975 to 60,000 in 1997 in Nairobi alone! This trend is repeated for most marginalised groups: the handicapped, the older people, the illiterate, the economically destitute (among whom are many women). And, while it is true that the numbers of external refugees is decreasing, the numbers of internal refugees keeps increasing.
When larger and larger sections of the population become marginalised we can expect only one outcome: social unrest on a large scale. It is a phenomenon that, sadly, we are already beginning to experience.
How can this trend towards marginalisation of so many Kenyans be arrested? The answer, as Fr. Kizito has suggested in his article, lies with those of us who think they are "normal." Those of us who are priviliged to have a good education, to have been born "on the right side of the track," to have been fortunate enough to have come into the world without physical or mental handicaps, we are the ones who must share these privileges with all those who(through no fault of their own(have been less fortunate. This holds true especially for education, education, not just so that more people will be able to earn an honest living, but that they may learn to regard everyone else, however different from themselves, as sisters and brothers, as children of God.
"Noblesse oblige" say the French: nobility implies responsibility, or, in Biblical terms: "From those to whom much has been given, much will be required." It is our joint responsibility to work for that day in our country when no one will be marginalised, when all will have an opportunity to contribute to the good of our society.
Note to our readers
Apology. We are sorry that, due to unavoidable circumstances, this first issue of 1998 is somewhat late in appearing. We will do our best to see to it that subsequent issues will come out on schedule.
Subscriptions. This is the first issue of this year and you will find a subscription form enclosed. If you have not already renewed your subscription for 1998, please be so kind to fill it in. Subscription information is on the verso of the front cover. Unfortunately, due to an increase in printing costs as well as in postage, we have had to increase the cost of subscription. We trust you will understand and will continue to support the journal. See also the special appeal for Sponsors of Wajibu on this issue.
Ten-year Index to Wajibu. If you are among those of our readers who use the back issues of the journal for purposes of research, you will not want to miss the 10-year index (1985-1995) of Wajibu. You will find the index, by author, title, as well as subject, a very useful tool. The cost of the index (appr. 10 p.) is Kshs 150.00. Should you wish to obtain it, please add this amount to the cost of your subscription and indicate clearly for which purpose you have added it. The Board of Wajibu is very grateful to Ruth Thomas, one of its members, for preparing this index.
