There is a creeping numbness in our national psyche. From the casual dismissal of extrajudicial killings to the normalization of poverty as a "hustle," we are slowly losing the most fundamental tenet of a civilized society: the inherent dignity of human life.

The recent wave of unexplained bodies retrieved from rivers and the callous handling of victims of road carnage point to a systemic devaluation of life. When a citizen dies due to a lack of oxygen in a public hospital, it is not just a medical failure; it is a moral crime. We have allowed the state to view us as statistics rather than souls.

The Economics of Dignity

Dignity is not just about avoiding death; it is about the quality of life. For millions of Kenyans, dignity is stripped away daily in the matatu queues, in the humiliating search for jobs that do not exist, and in the "servant leadership" that demands to be served.

• Healthcare: A dignified nation does not detain bodies over unpaid bills. The commercialization of grief in our hospitals is a stain on our collective conscience.
• Policing: The police force must transition from a regime protection unit to a service that respects the sanctity of life. The "shoot first, ask questions later" culture belongs in the colonial dustbin.
• Social Protection: We must demand a safety net that works. The Inua Jamii cash transfer delays are not just administrative hiccups; they are an assault on the dignity of our elderly.

Reclaiming Our Worth

Restoring dignity requires anger. We must refuse to accept the unacceptable. We must demand that our leaders speak to us with respect, that our institutions serve us with humility, and that every Kenyan life—whether in Karen or Kibera—is treated as sacred.