A few days ago, I had a
discussion with a friend who works for a Kenyan media house. As
I was not in whole-hearted agreement with his view that one side of the political divide was culpable for our present state, I was left in no doubt that I was a traitor to my own.
What is demanded it seems is ethnic, not, political
persuasion. And there's the rub. How do we even begin to bridge
the ethnic divide, because it does exist, how do you reach out to the
other side when doing so may well lead to alienation from your own ethnic community? This is thr true tragedy of our polarised society, and a situation that I have found is not unique to myself.
Our Kenya
is walking wounded. The 2007 general election has exposed the deep
ethnic hatred that has simmered below the lid for many years in this country.
Kenyans, in their own unique way, have perfected the art of
doublespeak. We profess our national unity, boast in pride of our patriotism
but yet remain deeply divided along ethnic lines.
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beyond the cognate
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And it is perhaps this hypocrisy that keeps us chained to our tribal gaols, for if we do not confront the way we feel, how can we ever home to end the animosity, the rage, the envy and the jealousy? How ill those we see as aggressors know how best they would conduct themselves to avoid this perception? Explain themselves? Isn't it time that we, as Kenyans,
come out once and for all and admit that all is not well in ‘our
house'? What are we so afraid of, that we would much rather find a quick
palliative solution to the current crisis and return to our ‘harmonious co-existence' only to
wait for the next eruption of ethnic killings.
In a recent edition of the Daily Nation,
columnist Gitau Warigi argued, ‘Yet the mere resolution of the presidential
election dispute is not going to erase the ugly ethnic hatred that has
finally been exposed. Dialogue is the first step but, inevitably, some
lasting constitutional or other pact must be worked out to ensure
everybody will forever feel safe. And, ‘the facade of a peaceful Kenya
has always been intended to obscure from view the deep fissures in the
country'.
It's clear that many of us recognize the lie we
are living. More so, another opinion article in the same paper chides, ‘It gets even more tragic for Kenya that in this day and age,
corruption and ethnic chauvinism remain the biggest challenges'.
So
its clear to all who want to see. Tribalism or ethnic chauvinism to a
large extent is the driving force behind our politics , behind the
flawed elections and its eventual aftermath. There is a viscous circle
containing in it, tribalism, corruption and politics. The fusion of these three makes for a malevolent potion that is the unannounced fuel for the next epidemic of terror.
In my own
sphere of influence I have often argued that the first in line in this
sad mix is tribalism which then fuels political interests to convert
Kenyans to support and vote one of their own ethnic community or a
friendly ‘one' to get as close to executive power as possible. Hence if
ones ethnic group has a candidate for the presidency then the
obligation is to support him or her regardless of their capacity,
reputation, or leadership qualities. In addition, the community should
then support as many next tier candidates as possible so as to attain
the largest spread of ethnic command of Government. The price in this sport, for which every effort must be expended is Government and the unbridled power the Executive wields.
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above my tribe
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Why?
This is where the corruption element rears its ugly head. The quest for this communal power is inspired by two urges. The first is to ensure that the
community is able to protect itself (read those who have already been
implicated in past corruption related offences) and then go on to
acquire more wealth through manipulation of selected Government
processes. Those not directly in the ethnic political elite then strive
to acquire ‘Godfathers' who will facilitate the same on their behalf creating a system of patronage and inefficiency that winds down to the grassroots. The rationale
as always is, ‘it's our turn now', and ‘if we don't do it someone else will'.
This
misguided and ultimately injurious political way of life had its spring in the 1960s when the
first post-independence government was formed. From the conduct of the Kikuyu in that first administration the lesson was handed down to subsequent generations and Kenyans have thus
adopted the misguided notion that the means to prosperity is the negaton of corrupt gains made by other communities through the elevation of one of their number to public office, and then the manipulation of state systems to ensure such gains are re-directed in their favour.
It is this self-same spirit of tribalism, now clothed in the sophisticated camouflage of coalitions and movements that animates our political passions, paraded in 2002 as NARC and in the present day as the PNU- and allied parties- and the ODM.
The fabric of the camouflage is variously spun. It is sometimes direct, as when, 'We need to get to power so as to sort out our
issues and redistribute national income our way' or 'The previous Government neglected (or
threatened) us so we will join with another power-seeking group to
reverse the situation and punish them in the same vein.' This is why for example Majimbo has been such a great sell. It is a brilliant heuristic for the power-grab hypothesis. A means by which every community can cut a short-cut to the palace. There is in this also an explanation for the alliance of the Luo, Luhya and Kalenjin against the Agikuyu under the guise of greater democracy.
I beg that my arguments are not misinterpreted as an attempt to justify tribal/ethnic
groupings or the selfish seeking of any community's desire for political power including
my own. I have always seen myself as a Kenyan first and a Luo
second and in that sense I believe it is easier for me to temper my own
tribal inclinations (which I will admit exist).
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one kenya
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In spite of those leanings, I am persuaded that we have far
more to gain by seeing ourselves as one, as Kenyans than letting our
ethnic orders get tin our way. Further, I fail to see any way in which a tribal division of Kenya will make life any better for even the most economically endowed ethnic
group.
Our
strength as Kenya and our united future lies in our setting aside those tribal
passions and working together to make Kenya what we dream it could be. This
will require forgiveness, empathy, compromise and humility. There
is no other way and a paerpetuation of what we have witnessed in the last 10 days is not
an option.
A ‘Truth and Justice Commission' is a priority. There persist ,whether we admit them or not,
old wounds that have not healed in many communal hearts. We must now muster the courage to face these head-on, if only to make the future better secure. Otherwise Kenya will continue to exist as the dystopic universe it now is, a world in which the sweat and tears of fifty years are reduced to ash in hours. And we do have the tools to take on this challenge. Combined with genuine
patriotism and a spirit of service, wealth and power will serve to improve the lot of the lowest as we come to an understanding that society, even that of the best off, is affected by the tribulations of those without.
There is
something that I have thought of often but have never been able to find
the correct words to express. I found the words almost exactly as I had
envisioned my thoughts in a recent editorial of the Daily Nation, the Absence of Violence does not mean Peace .
‘Kenya
practices a brutal, inhuman brand of capitalism which encourages fierce
competition for survival, wealth and power. Those who can't compete
successfully are allowed to live like animals in slums. The country is
choking with millions of young, able-bodied people who haven't a hope
of amounting to anything and who are susceptible to the seduction of
false promises'.
To this group the political class plays master puppeteer with the consequences visible in the tears and the ashes around us. It is this that our challenge presents itself. The solution to Kenya's troubles lie in a quiet and
distinct revolution in the minds of the middle class who may not
control the wealth but are most certainly the only real buffer this
country has to true and bloody revolution.
So beyond the bonds of tribe, am I my brother's keeper? Yes. Yes I am. I must be.
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At the moment, I personally and strongly share your fears and concerns on the points that you have raised, and I do still feel afraid that insufficient attention may be paid upon the same as it is now, and envetually that may lead us to the very place where we dread and undesire most in our breathing lives.
It is quite true to notice that and sadly so, none of our so called political leaders have shown any true committment in addressing such fundamental issues facing the nation. This behaviour unfortunately, may be attributable to their attitudes which only seeks to exploit the inherent ethnic sence of belonging for their own personal or group and selfish reasons.
As a result, the vacuume in existence which can only be filled if it is to be catered for, appears hopelessly ignored and unattended for to the detriment and total destruction of our very own existence. I hope and pray that somehow such important realisation is not going to be simply swept aside, only to be covered for the time being, and to appear mercilessly sometime again in the very near future.