Is this out of place, extraordinary?

Agikuyu elders are calling it ‘ituika’ (or transition from one generation to the next). In our immediate communities, as most of our people grew up in recent years and as members of different ‘age or birth dates’ groups (generations) including the Baby Boomers, GenX, & Millenials etc, possibly very few ever heard of the ‘Ituika’    term and concept even at national level…..
Yet, some elders have explained that ‘the Ituika’ among the Agikuyu (the main issue signaling transition in the community) has not taken place from the ‘Mwangi’ to ‘Maina’ age sets for many many years due to disruptions including the Mau Mau freedom struggle among others..
They have promised that the transition may take place in the near future yet the topic calls for a whole session of explanations for younger people to understand and appreciate its significance… .

Notably, the Agikuyu elders’ emphasis on the term and concept may or could help in raising a national debate on the essence and what happens or needs to be done to enhance better intra – generational transitions even among the general populations that may not highly regard or consider cultural norms, mores and practices….
…. .
Perhaps this could ease or remove the common tensions often (and especially currently) observed as parents and others complain when drastic behavior, norms and ethics changes happen in younger, different and consequent age groups.

As part of the boundary age set between Baby Boomers & GenX, I find the drastic changes not only quite interesting but also troubling at times but as a realist I am coping and letting go.
Many are the times that I have had to detour my paths even on streets and footpaths when I find youngsters blocking the whole paths either chatting animatedly or just standing perhaps awaiting something or merely idling perhaps not conscious that other pedestrians have a right of passage or merely because they do not care.

For instance, I was recently manouvering to pass through a narrow footpath all sorroubded by small traders on the left and right sides in our market center. Abruptly, a young man stopped just ahead of me. I realized that that he had seen a girl bending to buy something. He reached out to talk to her still blocking the path. But instead of looking for space from where they could chat, he went ahead and held the girl in an apparently warm hug not worried that we, the other footpath users were blocked. We had to detour to continue on our foot journeys.
The practice of youngsters standing on footpaths or obstructing elders was anathema (muugiro) several years ago.

Moreover, many are the moments today, especially on weekends and school holidays, when I have to manouver through ‘football pitches’ essentially footpaths and public movement spaces which our children colonize into football or other games spaces.
At times when I am absent minded or not cautious, I have been hit with the games equipment including footballs by children who find this very normal and not disturbing…
.. The children may not even apologize as they fervently follow the balls … To them, hitting an elder with a ball or other items appears normal  and only very few who happen to be near you may casually apologize..

On most of our streets and especially at bus stages, bang and din have become common and everyday occurences.
Evidently, the noises reach a crescendo every time the modern and ‘complexly’ designed & complicated minibuses arrive at the stages. The buses are welcomed with whistling & shouts among other noises. The noises can easily disorient other citizens apart from polluting our environment..
.. Possibly, such uncalled for noises could also lead to even more mental anguish in an environment already awash with other socio-economic and socio-political tough realities that have left many people already stressed.

And as if a noise demon or spirit  has been let loose, the noise crisis continues to rule supreme even in estates and villages in cities & urban centres environs.
For instance, shrieking and shouting seem to be the modern – day chorus among most children during their play times and play games.
In yester-years, shouting and shrieking were cries distinguishing grave dangers and were calls for caution.
Children who shouted and shrieked needlessly would be reprimanded for causing panic through such assumed false alarms.

Perhaps, our mental heath experts could explain the phenomenon even as they talk more about ‘play therapy’ among children or its exaggerated incidence.
Most likely, such needless noise and din may be negatively affecting other Society members including the sickly and elderly. It could also be affecting domestic animals and pets in homes where such are reared and welcome inhabitants.
Possibly, our sociologists and psychologists may now have to raise and even heighten their antennas not only to capture & record such current behaviors and norms changes but to also professionally interrogate possible ramifications  after which they can offer well thought out opinions and advices… ….