Politicians from Central Province say to revive the coffee and tea sectors is vital to reviving the province's whole economy. They blame the Government for the sectors' collapse.

I am not an apologist for the Government and I agree that it has failed in many aspects. However, I would like to make a few points:

The coffee, tea and cocoa sectors were established in East and West Africa to serve the needs of the colonialists. Their aim was to use the colonies to produce raw materials cheaply. Even today, coffee, tea and other such products are not meant to enrich Africans. The prices are controlled in the West and the profits end up in London and New York City.

This means we are focusing on the wrong produce. We should grow crops to feed our people and then decide for ourselves what is the most suitable venture agriculturally. Can it be coffee when synthetic coffee has finally hit the international market?

Some years ago, copper was Zambia's mainstay. When the prices plunged, its economy followed suit. Some of Britain's coastal cities were famous for shipbuilding. However, they abandoned this industry when they became unprofitable and embraced new ones. But we are stuck with old unprofitable products and are not changing with the times. We keep thinking of reviving the glorious days of Chepkube. Let's wake up. The world has moved on!

Blaming the Government for every one of our woes is a pleasant pastime. I strongly believe the Government has a big role to play, but it is the duty of every patriotic Kenyan to provide solutions to the crises that envelop us.

The economies of the West were primarily driven by hardworking pioneers. In Kenya, lazy people without any ideas are looking up to a Government without ideas. Until this mentality changes, we will continue being a car without wheels, heading nowhere.

MAKOMI THIOMI,

Murang'a.