The subject of negative ethnicity (or tribalism) remains the hottest potato even to government, accomplished journalists, the media in general, avid reputable bloggers and all Kenyans within and without social media. Its always difficult (if not impossible) to delve soberly with fellow Kenyans on this delicate subject. Many people choose not to engage in any conversation about tribalism and when they do, they limit their contribution to crucifying anyone accusing their tribe of practicing negative ethnicity. Time and again i have been called a tribalist just because i condemned tribalism. Tribalism is bad for this country regardless of who practices it. In Kenya the Luo and Kikuyu seem to have a long standing tribal feud with it’s root in politics and to some extension culture. In my opinion, the Luo hate Kikuyus because they feel oppressed and discriminated upon by Kikuyu leaders, their divisive politics and their gullible followers who never question why they are made to hate a fellow human being. On the other hand, the Kikuyu dont just hate the Luo, they fear them and in local parlance wanawadharau. Furthermore, they not only fear and hate Luos; they actually believe they are better than every other tribe hence their insistence on hanging onto power. Kikuyus also believe that they should rule Kenya because they have a numerical advantage over others. It’s this madharau that has had many Kenyans always treating them with suspicion. The cancer of negative ethnicity has eaten into all the fabrics of our societies. Today, kikuyus practice it openly even in church while other tribes also retaliate by doing it to protect themselves from kikuyus. But worse is the fact that this deadly cancer has permeated the very heart of government and policy making. Truth is that the power mongers have to keep feeding the monster of tribalism for their own personal interests. The larger kikuyu, luo and other tribes are just pawns in this game which only the business minded politicians keep winning while the average hate-filled Kenyan continue to wallow in the miasma of destitution. We hate each other, they make money. They use tribalism to keep our eyes off the ball. But when will Kenyans open their eyes and realize that this cancer has eaten them to the marrow! It controls our subconscious and we no longer look at each other as equal Kenyans, paying the same taxes and sharing the same problems. Tribalism has become so entrenched in us that a Kikuyu who is a vagabond or street urchin actually believes that he is a superior human being than a successful Luo businessman or even doctor. It’s almost laughable. It can only compare to racism on a level where a white guy who lives in his van actually believes he is superior to a black man with a stable income, living in his own home and raising a family. That is how dumb negative ethnicity has made us. I will always condemn negative ethnicity. I will always criticize the president not for the sake of it but on particular issues. Unfortunately, whenever I do that I get people calling me a tribalist. When I condemn kikuyus, I get some of them telling me all kikuyus are not tribalists. That there are good ones. Good ones who keep quiet when fellow kikuyus discriminate on other Kenyans on the basis of tribe. Good ones who will not condemn appointments in government that only favour one tribe. If you choose to keep quiet when your tribe practices negative ethnicity, then do not speak in defense of it when I or any other person call it’s bluff. You become a tribalist when you defend tribalists or tolerate tribalism. Very soon this country will burn because of negative ethnicity. We can choose to address it or wait by burying our heads in the sand by telling everyone how we are ‘personally’ not tribalists. Politicians continue to create faults and fissures in our social fabric for their own good while we cheer them. Kenyans must come out and clearly stop this nonsense. I look forward to the day when Kikuyus will fight for the right of Luos to be treated equally and vice versa. I look forward to the day when the same will be done by Kenyans of all the other tribes. As for me, I don’t love githeri or fish but I love kikuyu women and Luo music. Am not a fan or blind supporter of Raila but I tend to agree with most of the issues that he fights for…not necessarily the means. I have no love for President Uhuru Kenyatta but I would love to have a beer with Uhuru Kenyatta. I don’t expect kikuyus to love Raila but I expect them to respect him as a human being just like I respect President Uhuru Kenyatta as a human being. What we cannot keep doing as Kenyans especially on social media, is keep pretending that negative ethnicity is not a problem that affects us personally. It does and we must condemn it objectively and boldly lest we perish. We must learn to agree to disagree on issues without getting personal. Show some love to a brother of a different tribe today. Merry Xmas!!!
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 10:31:50 +0000
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