What I call a Nationwide "Crisis of Inefficiency"

You guys know I have a cyber, right? An internet cafe. It is called Cyber 27. 4 years old this November. It is what keeps me fed for when stuff hits the fun. As stuff inevitably does for most small-scale farmers. Even those as well supported as myself.

Of late, the cyber and I have been going through what I call “a crisis of inefficiency”. I have this Ricoh copier upon which I have spent more on repairs than the actual price. Even the technician is now avoiding us. The copier is essential to the cyber’s bulk copying operations.

The other day, as I knelt by the machine, opening and banging covers to undo a paper jam, I thought about the resources that micro-businesses like mine spend on repairs.

I got slightly blue – more like navy blue - when I remembered Walter’s “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa”. Especially since my Ricoh is an Ex-UK/Ex-US product. According to Walter, Africa is a rich dumping ground for obsolete technologies from Europe. We know the “mitumbas”. Now think of electronics such as the Ricoh copier. Neither the cyber nor I could afford a brand new copier – oh what a beauty that would be when we do. So, for the two copiers I had, repairs exceeded the original costs. Always.

"Crisis of Inefficiency" Explained

Most obviously is the money spent on repairs. But, also think about the wasted papers. Think about the technician who has to spend fuel (pollution) and time every month for this or that problem.

Thankfully, Alex (the other team member) and I are getting good at copier repairs.

But that is a problem!

Think about how many Kenyans have to learn to repair cars, and copiers. Every Kenyan boy is a master at repairing shoes. At least, they were in my time. It is a crisis! Probably I do more damage every time I open the Ricoh’s side flap to wipe the dust off a problematic sensor. An unseen crisis sweeps through this country. We spend a lot of resources fixing broken things.

Unfortunately, I do not see a solution to this problem.

At least in my lifetime.

There are so many strings that need to be unravelled for this “crisis of inefficiency” to end.

A Cultural Issues

Some of these problems are cultural. For example, think about how we approach masonry. 90 percent of masons journey is as follows:

• Finish Form 4 or class 8 or be unemployed.
• Find the nearest construction site.
• Start off as a “mtu wa mkono”.
• If you are lucky, your Fundi will graduate you to Fundi after an indeterminate time.

The 10 percent that go through a Masonry course prefer not to work in construction sites alongside local fundis. Furthermore, homeowners don’t care for Masons with 2-year certificates. They are expensive. So tell me, how can we stop having houses collapse on us?

Wow! That escalated fast.

Other Countries

To conclude, I kinda admire Germany.

I did a quick Google search based on a rumour I once heard; that to become a butcher in Germany, one must attend a trade school. And get a certificate. Serious stuff. The same case for masons, plumbers, and electricians. I imagine for cyber attendants too. People become master craftsmen who are proud of their trades. There is real respect.

As it is, my “crisis of inefficiency” continues.

As a farmer, one of the achievements I would have lived happily without was knowing where a sensor is located in a Ricoh copier.