Editorial Introduction

We are pleased to present Volume 6 of Education Tomorrow for the year 2019. This volume brings together five articles that span three thematic areas of pressing concern: (1) conflict resolution and economic development in Kenya's Kerio Valley; (2) the decolonization of African literature in the digital age; and (3) agricultural development as a pathway from subsistence to income generation. Despite their apparent diversity, these contributions share a common commitment to understanding how communities can transform themselves—whether by ending cycles of violence, liberating literary production from external control, or building agricultural systems that feed and employ their populations.

The year 2019 found Kenya at a critical juncture. The 2017 election cycle had tested the nation's democratic institutions, and the Kerio Valley continued to experience cycles of cattle rustling that undermined development and claimed lives. Meanwhile, African writers confronted the paradox of increased digital access alongside persistent dependency on Western publishing platforms. And across the continent, the question of how to achieve food security without environmental degradation remained unresolved. The articles in this volume engage these challenges with analytical rigor and practical vision.

Thematic Overview

Allan Kiprop's "In Defense of an Enlightened Peace Deal in the Kerio Valley: The Imperative of the North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB)" argues that persistent insecurity is the primary barrier to development in the Kerio Valley, locking the region into a state of economic consumption rather than production. Kiprop proposes that the North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB), a supra-county alliance comprising Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, and Uasin Gishu counties, provides the necessary institutional mechanism to transcend county-level vested interests and address the conflict as a shared regional challenge. Drawing on the historical analogy of the Peace of Westphalia (1648), the paper advocates for a definitive peace agreement that would establish "negative peace"—the absence of violence—as a foundation for "positive peace"—cooperative and equitable social relations achieved through NOREB's developmental agenda in agribusiness, mining, and tourism. The paper argues that without peace, the region will continue to bleed resources, export its human capital, and fail to build productive capacity.

Cosmas Rutto Cheptoo Lotirghor provides a complementary historical analysis in "Culture and Development in the Kerio Valley: A Critical Analysis of Cattle Rustling Activities between Pokot and Marakwet Communities." This article traces the evolution of cattle rustling from a culturally circumscribed activity to a major driver of underdevelopment and inter-communal conflict. Lotirghor identifies three key factors in this transformation: a foundational cultural misunderstanding over livestock ownership arising from barter trade; a widening developmental gap exacerbated by differential access to education and agricultural technology; and the proliferation of small arms, which escalated the violence. The paper argues that sustainable peace requires moving beyond purely security-focused interventions to a multi-pronged strategy focused on joint development projects, educational integration, economic diversification, and the creation of shared economic zones. Together, Kiprop and Lotirghor make a compelling case that the Kerio Valley's potential—for irrigated agriculture, livestock production, and tourism—will remain unrealized until the cycle of raiding and revenge is broken.

Yakobo Kakembo Mugalaasi shifts the focus to literary studies with "Decolonizing the Literary Ecosystem: For Whom Does the African Writer Write in 2020 and Beyond?" This paper critically examines the positionality of the African writer in the global literary landscape, questioning the intended audience and the platforms of dissemination. Mugalaasi argues that despite technological advancements, African literature remains constrained by a Western-controlled publishing ecosystem, where the most coveted publishing contracts, influential literary prizes, and prominent review spaces are largely headquartered in Europe and North America. Building on Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's call for linguistic decolonization and Steve Biko's philosophy of self-definition, the paper contends that the central task for African writers heading into the 2020s is not only to create content but to build and control autonomous literary platforms—investing in indigenous publishing infrastructure, cultivating local critical culture, prioritizing preservation of indigenous knowledge, and embracing linguistic diversity. The paper calls for a strategic transition from seeking validation within a Western-centric system to cultivating a self-sustaining ecosystem that prioritizes African readers.

Sendi Mcleen Denis continues the literary theme with "The Digital Transition: Technology's Dual Impact on the Production and Reception of African Literature." This paper examines the multifaceted impact of digital technology on African literature, analyzing the transition from traditional print to digital forms. Denis argues that technology offers both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges: it has democratized publishing through e-books and social media, fostered direct author-reader engagement, and facilitated translation and adaptation; conversely, it has contributed to a decline in traditional editorial standards, a shortage of rigorous literary criticism, and the proliferation of "fake literature" or hate speech. The paper concludes that technology is a transformative, dual-force in African literature, and realizing its positive potential requires a conscious effort from writers, critics, and scholars to cultivate digital literacy, uphold artistic integrity, and develop robust critical frameworks for the new literary ecosystem. The digital transition, Denis argues, is inevitable; the question is whether African literature will shape this transition or be shaped by it passively.

The issue concludes with Wang Hao's "How Agriculture Solves the Problem of Basic Sustenance and Achieves Income Generation." This paper argues that agriculture serves as the foundational pillar of human survival and national development, with the dual role of ensuring basic food security and driving economic growth. Drawing on the author's experience and observations of agricultural models in China, the paper proposes a phased approach: first achieving self-sufficiency through labor-intensive methods and appropriate technology, then progressing to commercialized, mechanized farming for income generation. Wang recommends that regions with limited capital can initially leverage abundant labor and adopt improved agricultural techniques to achieve food self-sufficiency; subsequently, attracting foreign investment and technology can catalyze the transition to a more productive, market-oriented agricultural sector. The two-stage model proposed—from subsistence to commercial agriculture—offers a pragmatic pathway for developing regions seeking to transform farming from a struggle for survival into a foundation for prosperity.

Synthesis and Future Directions

Taken together, the articles in this issue reveal several cross-cutting themes that extend the conversations begun in previous volumes:

First, the centrality of peace as a prerequisite for development. The Kerio Valley articles demonstrate that without security, investment cannot flow, infrastructure cannot be built, and human capital cannot be retained. Peace is not merely the absence of violence but the enabling condition for all other forms of progress.

Second, the importance of institutional autonomy. Whether in literature or agriculture, the articles consistently argue that dependency on external systems—Western publishers, foreign investors, distant markets—must be balanced with the development of local capacity and control. Decolonization is not only about content but about infrastructure.

Third, the dual nature of technological change. Denis's analysis of digital publishing and Wang's analysis of agricultural technology both emphasize that technology is not inherently liberating or constraining; its effects depend on how it is deployed and who controls it. Conscious, strategic engagement with technology is essential to harness its benefits while mitigating its risks.

Fourth, the necessity of phased, realistic approaches. Whether achieving food security or building a literary ecosystem, the articles advocate for incremental strategies that respect local constraints while maintaining long-term vision. Transformation is possible, but it requires patience, sequencing, and sustained investment.

Closing Remarks

The research presented in this volume engages with some of the most urgent challenges facing Kenya and Africa in the late 2010s. The Kerio Valley's cycles of violence, the African literary community's struggle for autonomy, and the continent's quest for food security are not separate problems but interconnected dimensions of the broader project of post-colonial development. The authors offer not only analysis but also practical pathways forward—peace deals, literary platforms, agricultural strategies—that deserve the attention of policymakers, practitioners, and scholars alike.

We extend our gratitude to the peer reviewers whose expertise ensures the scholarly quality of this journal, and to the Kipchumba Foundation for its continued support of open access publishing. By making this research freely available, we contribute to a global commons of knowledge that can inform both academic understanding and public policy in Kenya and beyond.

We invite readers to engage critically with these articles and to join the ongoing conversation about how communities can transform themselves—ending violence, liberating culture, and building prosperity from the ground up.