Capitalism pyramid & the dilemma of the peasants

On several occasions, I have had conversations with people about this pyramid scheme that worships the God of capital at the top.

What concerns me most is the behaviours of the people at the bottom of the pyramid, especially the lack of unity for a common cause/purpose.

The system is designed in such a way that they will always be reminded of the importance of their race, religion, sexuality, geographical ancestry and everything that can keep them fighting each other and perpetually divided. At all forums possible, peasants will be reminded how important these things are, so they hold them close to their hearts and keep fighting to their last breath.

On the contrary, at the very top of the pyramid, there is only one religion, one culture, one geographical location, one sexuality, one language _ its $$$$. They don’t need to be reminded, the rule is clear-you are guaranteed a seat at the table for as long as you bring capital.

Religion is applied on the peasants as a tool of control; for them to see suffering as a reward for being alive, while prosperity for the few that genuinely break off the cycle of poverty, is “a miracle” thanks to the power of the Almighty. Si uchawi. Ni maobi. Sio kwa uwezo wangu. Ni mungu tu. Etc etc.

Information that is shared with them is filtered through the layers from the top; and lost in translation through each of the layers, as it trickles. To the bottom. Politicians, religious leaders, the police _all distort the information, often to their own advantage.

The media platforms through which this information is shared is largely owned by the rulers at the top. They also own banks, food industries, communication companies _ just about everything that the peasant consumes on a daily basis; further exerting their economic control.

But the peasants don’t, can’t and won’t see through the lies. Old habits die hard. You condition a slave to think and act in a particular way. To resign to fate; that this is how things work, this is how things should be. Worse still, you could easily become an enemy of the peasants; especially if you try to emancipate them, or be seen as to know or question too much. Utapigwa vita!

As for the middle class, they are one sickness away from falling back to being peasants, like their parents or uneducated if not drunk relatives. For this group, the rulers apply tax as a tool of control. They must pay for their education, loans, insurance, health and general enjoyment _ beer, cigarette, betting_ also known as sin tax. Kulipa ushuru ni kujitegemea.

To further control them, occupy them with the idea of “kuomoka”, basically _ a flashy lifestyle _ sex, alcohol, fashion, cars, and a trip to dubai is a sign of kuomoka. Kazi ni kukimbizana na tu-tender. Tender-preneurs. Wamejaa huko wanderlust diaries. Showing off. Keep pumping media content with more sex and alcohol to absorb their newly found freedom.

But we shouldn’t loose hope; so am here asking – what possible solutions could we apply to emancipate our peasants?

#mwalimumkuu# emancipateyourselffrommentalslavery

*****This piece elicited a lot of discussion on social media which can be viewed here