Tribalism is too damn bad for Kenya, but it wins! - The XYZ Show
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Tribalism is too damn bad for Kenya, but it wins!

03 Sep Tribalism is too damn bad for Kenya, but it wins!

Posted at 12:44h in Trends in Kenya by
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The tribal card is still the main challenge facing Kenyans. When a politician stands on the podium after the court has not decided in his favor and says ‘we will deal with his people’ it paints a negative picture that corrodes unity in the country. And tribalism played a big role in the just concluded general election where Kenyans were divided after Uhuru was announced the winner. To add on that, the NASA team through its technical advisor pledged to divide the country into Jubilee and NASA controlled regions if the judicial process fails to uphold the law.

The petition that was created by NASA reads; “Kenya has consistently been ruled by only two communities, yet Kenya is a country of about 44 tribes. This has seen rampant discrimination against other communities in basic human rights including distribution of national resources. Successive Kenyan Governments have perpetuated a culture of impunity through rigged elections denying Kenyans from other tribes the ability to self-determine and even grow economically. In the wake of a rigged 2017 election and subsequent killings and ethnic cleansing, it is time we charted our own course as a people who believe in change.”

Besides politicians, the media is also coming up with agendas that divide the nation. The only body that is supposed to be informative and provide some surveillance is coming up with a controversial campaign in a sensitive period. I’m talking about KTN News and the #ADividedNation tag that trended after the Supreme Court nullified the election. Well, the tag might be relevant following the rant from the politicians who lost the case. But, on a general scale, the nation is actually united by the decision that was made by the Supreme court since that’s history.

Kenyans for Kenyans has also failed 

The election has evidently made it hard for Kikuyus and Luos to interact even when it’s for a good cause. Sometimes back, Kenyans used to save one another when one region of the country is in shambles or under attack. Now that’s sort of history. The other day, a renown radio presenter, Carol Radull posted a blood appeal on her Twitter account and some Twitter handlers trolled on her because the patient has a Kikuyu name. That’s crazy! People were bold enough to celebrate another persons misfortune.

 

Changing the narrative 

Tribalism in Kenya started in the colonial era. In 1920 to 1963 Kenya was ruled by the British who used the divide and rule method of governing. For years they played one community against another, in particular, the Kikuyus and Luos whom they considered a threat owing to their big numbers. But this has to change. How? A youth alliance came up with a campaign that’s hoping to end tribalism. Every Thursday the hash tag #TribelessyouthKE  trends on Twitter. This initiative was launched by the youth who are tired of tribal politics.

“I believe young people have the power because we make up the biggest number now, at 64 percent of general voters,” Wanjiku Kihika, the founder of the Tribeless alliance told DW.

“We have an influence of over 3.5 million young people on Twitter and other social media. We also carry out grassroot drives to sensitize young people to shun tribalism and vote wisely,” she added that the movement is about “embracing each other’s diversities.”

 

 

Feature image by Mdogo 

 

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